KS2 SATs 2025: Maths Papers Question Breakdown

With the confidentiality period on the KS2 SATs 2025 papers now lifted, we can at last delve into the content in depth with a detailed question-level analysis. 

This article examines the 2025 SATs papers, offering a detailed question breakdown and analysis of domain coverage to support Year 6 teachers, maths coordinators and school leaders in preparing for the Key Stage 2 SATs in 2026. 

As Third Space Learning supports pupils with maths, this analysis does not go into detail on the English grammar, punctuation and spelling paper, or the English reading paper. Additionally, it does not look at the English writing national curriculum test, which uses a teacher assessment judgment.

If you’re short on time or need a summary to share with staff, don’t miss the free download: Maths SATs 2025 Question Breakdown: Staff Discussion Points.

What to expect from this article

We’ve completed a question breakdown and analysed all three maths test papers from the KS2 SATs 2025. As always, we take a detailed look at the two reasoning papers, which provide pupils with the greatest opportunity to demonstrate deeper mathematical understanding.

But, this year, we’ll also take a closer look at the arithmetic paper and carry out a more in-depth analysis to compare its content with the past five years.

For each of the three papers, we’ll explore:

• The level of difficulty and cognitive demand
• Year group coverage
• Content domain coverage
• Question structures
• How the 2025 papers compare to previous years’ papers 

We’ll also highlight notable omissions from this year’s content and share practical tips to help prepare for the 2026 KS2 Maths SATs.

Difficulty and cognitive demand of the KS2 SATs 2025 maths papers

Before eagerly diving into the 2025 SATs papers, let’s take a moment to reflect on the key insights Third Space Learning has gathered from the last four SATs exam cycles.

KS2 SATS 2019 Maths Papers Question Breakdown

‘The papers all seemed to have massive ‘cliff edges’ in difficulty this year….The overall cognitive complexity of the questions was higher than in previous years….The work required for one or two marks was higher than previous years….The level of spatial awareness and processing required was also high.’

KS2 SATS 2022 Maths Papers Question Breakdown

‘Mixed response to the level of difficulty and cognitive demand.….Fair in regards to challenging those children who should be aiming for greater depth in maths…..The question images tripped up some children on at least 2 examples….The proportion of questions testing Year 6 content has reduced…..Contexts for questions seemed much more relatable…..Question setters showed an impressive ability to over-complicate.’

KS2 SATS 2023 Maths Papers Question Breakdown

‘The lowest percentage of Year 6 content of all the previous 5 cycles of SATS exams (36%)…. No cliff edge and a more gradual increase in difficulty……the number of marks did not always match the amount of work required……increased content from the Year 3 curriculum….The expected standard could be achieved with no Year 6 maths…..Contexts for questions were again generally relatable……The level of spatial awareness required was high.’

KS2 SATS 2024 Maths Papers Question Breakdown

‘A return to ‘cliff edge’ questions with both Paper 2 and 3 having clear turning points where the level of cognitive demand required a sudden step-up….Too few marks offered for too much work…. Significant increase in the proportion of Year 6 content coverage….More difficult to reach the expected standard without any exposure to the Year 6 curriculum compared to the previous two SATs cycles…Content coverage broadly similar to previous years… A solid understanding of mathematical vocabulary was important… Reduced focus on spatial awareness and increased focus on the use of mathematical equipment.’

GET THE ANALYSIS ON PREVIOUS SATS

SATs have been running in their current incarnation for 7 years; there were no government standardised assessments in 2020 and 2021 as a result of the Covid-19 pandemic. Get all the analysis and results from previous national assessments below.
And find out which are the top 20 year 6 maths revision topics to focus on this year.

– SATs papers 2025
– SATs papers 2024
– SATs results 2024
– SATs papers 2023
– SATs results 2023
– SATs papers 2022
– SATs results 2022
– SATs papers 2019
– SATs results 2019
– SATs papers 2018
– SATs results 2018
– SATs papers 2017
– SATs results 2017
– SATs results 2016

What did teachers think of the maths KS2 SATs 2025 papers?

This year, respondents of the 2025 SATs teacher review survey had mixed opinions on the maths papers. More so than in previous years. 

But, one thing teachers did agree on was that, just like in 2024, Reasoning Paper 2 was the most challenging of the three maths papers. 

Reactions to Arithmetic Paper 1 were far more varied and ranged from it being ‘meatier’, with ‘a lot to do’:

To ‘we had done harder in class’ and ‘very similar to previous years.’

Reactions to Paper 2 ranged from being ‘awful’ and ‘tricky:

While others even thought it was ‘easy’ and ‘not too bad’.

Overall, teacher reactions aligned with Reasoning Paper 3 being easier and more gentle than Paper 2.  

Overall consensus of the three maths SATS papers: a gradual increase in difficulty and fewer reasoning questions.

Following the sharp rise in difficulty (cliff edge) seen in Papers 2 and 3 last year, it was a relief to see the KS2 SATs 2025 papers mark a return to a more gradual increase in challenge across all three papers. 

However, in all three papers, some of the more demanding questions appeared earlier than we would typically expect.

Reasoning Paper 2 featured the fewest total questions in any single paper in the past five SATs cycles – just 23 questions, compared to 27 in 2024 and 26 in 2023. Notably, there was an increase in 2-mark questions, with 11 in 2025 compared to just 8 in 2024, and only 7 in 2023. 

Whilst the questions weren’t necessarily more difficult, the shift toward awarding 2 marks more frequently is a welcome change, especially given the concerns many teachers have had in recent years over the amount of work involved in answering some of the 1-mark questions. 

KS2 SATs 2025: Arithmetic Paper 1

Arithmetic Paper 1 covered all four operations within the first two pages. This is similar to what we have seen before. However, unlike previous years, the 2025 paper didn’t stick to the simpler, small whole-number calculations on these first two pages. 

Question 4 required children to add two decimal numbers with different numbers of decimal places, a question we don’t normally see until page 3 or 4.

Arithmetic Paper 1, Question 4

Children were also introduced to the first 2-mark question much earlier in the paper than is usually typical, with the first long multiplication question as early as question 14. Previously, we haven’t seen the first long multiplication question introduced until question 20 on the paper.

Arithmetic Paper 1, Question 14

KS2 SATs 2025: Reasoning Paper 2

Surprisingly, 7 of the first 15 questions were worth 2 marks, a notable shift compared to 2024, where none of the first 15 questions carried 2 marks, and only 1 in 2023.

The increase in difficulty was more gradual than in 2024. Question 9 was the first ‘wordy’ problem. Despite its length, it was conceptually straightforward, a division with remainders problem. 

However, the phrasing may have confused some children, asking for ‘the greatest number of groups of 3 he could make’ rather than the simpler ‘how many groups of 3?’

Reasoning Paper 2, Question 9

This was followed by the first of the two-step problems in question 11, requiring children to complete an addition calculation, followed by subtraction. In 2024, children didn’t come across a two-step problem until question 17.

KS2 SATs 2025: Reasoning Paper 3

This year’s Reasoning Paper 3 followed a similar format to the 2024 paper, with a gradual overall increase in difficulty. The first two-step problem wasn’t until question 6 this year, compared to question 3 in 2024. 

Interestingly, once again, the exam writers decided to use a problem involving a truck with boxes weighed in kilograms, similar to question 13 of the 2024 paper. 

Reasoning Paper 3, Question 6

Reasoning Paper 3 2024: Question 13 

Breakdown of the KS2 SATs papers 2025 by year group content

Slight increase in the proportion of Upper Key Stage 2 content, with a fall in Year 6 content.

The 2024 KS2 maths SATs test papers contained a significant increase in the proportion of Year 6 content. This year, there was a 6% fall in Year 6 content, 48% down to 42%, compared to 2024. 

Despite the drop, this is still a much higher percentage than the two years post Covid. In 2022 and 2023, Year 6 curriculum content made up only 37% and 36% of the papers.

Making up for the drop in Year 6 content, Year 5 content rose significantly from 19% in 2024 to 27% in 2025. 

Overall, Upper Key Stage 2 content coverage rose from 67% in 2024 to 69% in 2025.

Lower Key Stage 2 content coverage remained steady, Year 3 curriculum content once again accounted for 11% of the questions Year 4 content dipped from 21%in 2024 to 20% in 2025.

Looking at the last 6 years’ SATs test cycles, including 2025, it’s clear the split between Upper and Lower Key Stage 2 remains fairly constant. The biggest variation is between the proportion of content taken from Year 5 and Year 6.

Arithmetic Paper 1 

As with previous years, the proportion of content from each year group remained broadly similar, with a small fall in the percentage of Year 4 and 6 content and a slight increase in content from Year 3 and 5. 

The split between Lower and Upper Key Stage 2 curriculum content across the past few years remains consistent with around 63% to 64% Upper Key Stage 2 content and 36% to 37% Lower Key Stage 2.

Analysis of the last 5 years’ arithmetic papers have shown that questions in the arithmetic paper are the same type each year. The variation in year group content is down to the complexity of the questions and size of the numbers within each question type.

Reasoning Paper 2

While the general consensus on social media following Reasoning Paper 2 was that it was tough, many didn’t feel the paper was quite as awful as 2024.  

The content split by year group matches this overall sentiment. 2025’s Reasoning Paper 2 had 7% fewer Year 6 content questions than last year, falling from 48% to 41% of questions covering Year 6 content. 

In fact, there was a rise in Year 3 and Year 5 content in Reasoning Paper 2.  

Overall, the split between Upper and Lower Key Stage 2 content remained the same as it was in 2024 with 67% of the content taken from the Upper Key Stage 2 curriculum. 

Reasoning Paper 3

Once again, Reasoning Paper 3 was widely regarded as the more straightforward of the two reasoning papers across social media.

This year’s paper had a staggering 12% reduction in the proportion of Year 6 content compared to the 2024 paper. It dropped down to 42%, in line with 2023. 

Following the same theme as the previous two papers, there was a sharp rise in Year 5 content from 19% in 2024 to 35% in 2025. Consequently, the overall proportion of Upper Key Stage 2 content rose from 73% in 2024 to 77% in 2025.

Lower Key Stage 2 content coverage dropped significantly. Just 4% of questions covered the Year 3 curriculum, the lowest percentage in the past six SATs cycles.  

Could children reach the expected level without exposure to any Year 6 content?

Based on data from the past 5 SATs cycles, it’s certainly possible to reach the expected standard without any exposure to the Year 6 curriculum. 

Even when taking into account the years when pupils needed to achieve 53% of marks to reach the expected standard, the highest of any year, the Year 3-5 content coverage for 2025 is still 5% higher than this at 58%. 

Last year witnessed the narrowest gap between the percentage of Year 3-5 curriculum questions and the percentage required to reach the expected standard. 

Due to a lower percentage of Year 6 content coverage for 2025, it is highly likely that the percentage required to reach the expected standard will rise this year. However, given the data from previous years, it is unlikely that it will jump to 58%, meaning it’s possible for pupils to still reach the expected standard with Year 3-5 content alone.  

The raw to scaled score conversion will be released with SATs results in July.

Read more: standardised scores 

Breakdown of the KS2 SATs 2025 papers by content domain 

Breakdown of all 3 papers 

As usual, three content domains dominated the questions this year. Number and place value, calculation and fractions, decimals and percentages accounted for 70% questions across the 3 papers (compared to 71% in 2024).  In fact, number and place value and calculations accounted for almost half of all questions across the three papers at a staggering 46%. 

This is no surprise, the percentage of questions from each content domain is relatively similar each year with just a few minor differences. For example, shape questions in 2025 dropped to 3% from the usual 5-7%. Additionally, the percentage of number and place value, ratio and proportion and measurement questions slightly increased this year. 

Breakdown of arithmetic

No surprises and high marks from a small set of question types

There were no content surprises in this year’s Arithmetic Paper 1. While the order of the questions may have caught some children off guard, with some of the trickier questions featuring earlier in the paper than they had previously seen, every question was in line with questions from the previous papers.

Previously, the arithmetic analysis has looked at the overall content domain split and found this and year group coverage to be broadly similar year on year. 

However, after noticing similar questions crop up in the last five papers, this year’s analysis goes into much more detail to look at exactly how each content domain is broken down into specific question types.

Essentially, the arithmetic paper uses the same question types and the same number of each question type every year. They simply use different numbers and are presented in a different order.

The table below shows the number of questions for each content domain and each topic within each domain over the past three years. 

The arithmetic paper follows a specific formula, which is repeated year on year.

Content domain	Total no. of questions 2025-2023	No. of questions2025-2023	Topic overview
Place value	0 – 1	0 – 1	Partitioning
Calculation	17 – 18	1-2	Addition
		2	Subtraction
		6	Multiplication
		1	Multiply three 1-digit numbers
		1	Multiply by 10 and 100
		2-3	Short multiplication
		2	Long multiplication (one 3-digit by 2-digit and one 4-digit by 2-digit)
		7	Division
		5	Short division
		2	Long division (one 3-digit ÷ 2-digit and one 4-digit ÷ 2-digit)
Fractions	9	3	Addition
		2	Subtraction
		3 – 4	Multiplication
		1 – 2	Division
Decimals	4- 5	1	Addition
		1	Subtraction
		1	Multiplication
		1 – 2	Multiply and divide decimals by 10, 100 and 1,000
Percentages	2-4	2	Percentage of a number
Order of operations	1-2	1 – 2	Order of operations

Assuming the arithmetic continues to follow this format, you can confidently assume exactly which questions will appear next year and how many of each question type.

By focusing on these 21 question types, you can truly tailor interventions to provide pupils the best possible opportunity to achieve high scores in the arithmetic paper.

If children are secure with calculation and fraction, decimal and percentages, they are highly likely to achieve a good score in the arithmetic paper. Historically, over the past five years:

• 50% of questions are calculations involving the 4 operations;
• 75% of questions are either calculation or fractions, meaning pupils can achieve a high score by focusing on the 4 operations with whole numbers, fractions and mixed numbers.
• 94% of the paper consists of either calculation or fractions, decimals and percentages questions.

Question structures for the 2025 arithmetic paper

Only one answer box first question this year

In recent years, we have seen the answer box presented first for several questions in the arithmetic paper. This year, this style of presentation was used considerably less, appearing only once in the whole paper.

Arithmetic Paper 1, Question 3

Return of the fraction multiplied by a large whole number

2025 saw the return of an old SATs arithmetic question favourite: a fraction multiplied by a whole number. This is much more easily solved as a fraction of a number question than a multiplying fractions question.

Arithmetic Paper 1, Question 35

Other than in 2024, this type of question has appeared every year in the past 5 years.

2023 Arithmetic Paper 1, Question 36

2022 Arithmetic Paper 1, Question 36

The fact that it keeps reappearing clearly means it’s important that children understand that ‘x’ and ‘of’ are the same. Working out these fractions by multiplying the whole number is a much harder calculation than calculating them as a fraction of the number.

Repetition of questions throughout the paper

As seen every year, certain question types are repeated throughout the paper.

This year’s repeated questions were:

• Four operations
• Adding fractions
• Subtracting fractions
• Multiplying fractions
• Percentage of a number

These questions generally increase in difficulty as the paper progresses, but this isn’t always the case. For example:

Question 27: 19% of 2,300 came before the less tricky question 32:  % of 540. 

Arithmetic Paper 1, Question 27

Arithmetic Paper 1, Question 32

An in-depth analysis of the question types shows that each year, you can expect to see two long multiplication questions: 

• One multiplying a 3-digit number by a 2-digit number;
• One multiplying a 4-digit number by a 2-digit number. 

You can also expect to see two long division questions:

• One dividing a 3-digit number by a 2-digit number;  
• One dividing a 4-digit number by a 2-digit number.

Breakdown of Reasoning 

Overall distribution of marks for the reasoning papers is similar each year. Here are a few notable observations:

• Number and place value had the highest percentage of the past 6 years at 19%.
• Fractions, decimals and percentages had the lowest percentage it’s had over the past 6 years at 15%. This comes after a gradual increase over the previous 5 years.
• Measurement had its highest percentage of questions at 15% than previous years. 
• Shape had its lowest percentage of the past 6 years, whilst position and direction slightly increased.

Question structures for the 2025 Reasoning Paper 2 and Paper 3

More relatable question contexts than in previous years. 

As with the 2024 reasoning papers, there appears to have been a shift away from using strange or obscure contexts within the questions, something SATs writers appear to have enjoyed previously. 

Aside from the recent obsession with using boxes loaded onto trucks, the questions were generally relatable to the children.

For example:

Reasoning Paper 2 Question 3

And

Reasoning Paper 2, Question 19

Reasoning Paper 3 saw a return of the favourite annual question: calculating change after buying items from a shop. Possibly, the most popular of all the SATs reasoning questions that is repeated every year.

Reasoning Paper 3, Question 8

Increased focus on spatial awareness.

Whilst 2024 saw a decrease in spatial awareness questions and an increase in questions requiring mathematical equipment, it was the opposite in the 2025 papers. Not a single question required children to use any technical mathematical equipment, such as rulers or protractors, but there was an increase in the number of questions involving spatial awareness.

2025 also marked the return of nets and cubes with a question involving a less commonly seen cube net.

Reasoning Paper 2, Question 10

The symmetry question was also slightly trickier than commonly seen, involving semi-circles rather than the typical grid. This question highlights the importance of ensuring children have all the equipment they are permitted for this paper. 

In previous years, some teachers have stated that mirrors aren’t necessary, however, the lack of mirrors for this question would have disadvantaged some children.

Reasoning Paper 2, Question 8

Measurement questions featured prominently in both reasoning papers

Our teacher survey noted that many teachers felt the papers were heavily weighted towards measurement this year. And, they were right.  

Seven questions in Reasoning Paper 2 involved measurement or converting units of measurement, whilst another six measurement questions also featured in Reasoning Paper 3.

These ranged from a line graph question on converting kilograms and pounds:

Reasoning Paper 2, Question 7

To a distance word problem:

Reasoning Paper 2, Question 11

To a question requiring students to convert between millimetres and metres:

Reasoning Paper 2, Question 12

And several questions involving kilogram boxes:

Reasoning Paper 2, Question 16 

Some found one question more difficult on the reasoning papers, which also involved measurement. While this appeared to be a tricky question at first glance, once broken down into steps, it wasn’t as bad as it initially appeared. 

A good question for challenging the greater depth children!

Reasoning Paper 2, question 21

The 3 mark question

As per usual, the one 3-mark question of the maths SATs made an appearance in Reasoning Paper 3. However, it did appear earlier on in the paper at question 17. Typically, this question is usually around question 21. 

As with the 2024 paper, the 3-mark question required children to carry out a long multiplication calculation, followed by long division. This year, however, the numbers used were relatively straightforward.

Reasoning Paper 3, Question 17

Common question types missing from the KS2 SATs 2025 papers

In recent years, there has been an increase in the number of questions involving the four operations with numbers missing. 

2024 saw a multiplication, subtraction and division question involving missing numbers, whereas 2023 saw a multiplication missing number question. However, the 2025 papers didn’t contain a single missing number question.

Also absent from the 2025 papers was the ‘What number did x think of?’ question, requiring children to work out the initial number following a set of steps

What content was missing? 

Question 4 of the mark scheme details the content coverage of the 2025 KS2 maths SATs papers. According to the listed domains, the following were missing from the 2025 KS2 maths SATs papers:

• Roman numerals
• Estimating answers / using rounding or estimation to find answers
• Using factor pairs
• Rounding decimals
• Division with answers with up to 2dp
• Similar shape problems using scale
• Expressing missing number problems algebraically
• Generate and describe linear number sequences
• Perimeter and area
• Comparing / classifying shapes
• Parts of a circle
• The mean

Tips to prepare pupils for the 2026 maths SATs papers

SATs may only just be over for another year, but it’s never too early to gather valuable insights to support planning for your next Year 6 cohort and help children prepare for the standards and testing agency exams. 

While planning for SATs 2026 might not be top of your list right now, these ideas are worth bookmarking for when you’re ready.

As ever, content missing from this year’s paper could make an appearance next year. Use the list of missing content above, the tips below along with practice papers and past papers to help guide your preparation for 2026.

Arithmetic Practice

• Focus on securing confidence with the 4 operations, using both smaller and larger numbers.
• Ensure children are able to add and subtract fractions and mixed numbers with different denominators, multiply fractions by whole numbers and by fractions and divide fractions by whole numbers.
•  Build confidence with adding, subtracting, multiplying and dividing decimals by decimals and whole numbers, including multiplying and dividing by 10, 100 and 1000.
•  Teach children that questions such as \frac{4}{5} x 240 is the same as calculating \frac{4}{5} of 240 – a much easier method of solving this type of question.

 Reasoning practice

• Prime numbers are regularly features in the reasoning paper. Ensure children recognise prime numbers up to 20 as a minimum, ideally up to 100.
• Practise missing number calculations involving all 4 operations – these may return in 2026.
•  Give children the opportunity to use the equipment allowed in the exam, such as mirrors for symmetry questions.
• If something is in the National Curriculum, assume it could appear. Certain topics are guaranteed to make an appearance every year, but never leave a topic out, under the assumption it won’t be tested.

KS2 SATs 2025 papers are over: what now?

After eight intense months preparing children for the KS2 maths SATs 2025, and with nearly two months of post-SATs fun left before the summer term holidays, there’s often the temptation to take the foot off the pedal with maths.

Keep the momentum going. You may have covered some curriculum areas quickly to prioritise key SATs content, and there may still be gaps in understanding that need attention to prepare children ahead of secondary school.

Once results arrive in July, Maths Leads should take the opportunity to delve into the papers for a clear picture of how their cohort performed across different content domains. This analysis can help pinpoint both strengths to build on and areas that may need greater focus moving forward.

For Year 6 teachers, the current priority, alongside end-of-year highlights like plays, assemblies and residentials, is helping pupils make a smooth and confident transition into secondary maths.

Above all, take time to celebrate the effort, growth and determination you and your pupils have shown throughout the year

How did Third Space Learning work out the year group and content domain coverage percentages?

Where two or more references are given, we have taken the primary reference as the reference that informs the data. For example, for question 7a on Reasoning Paper 1, the given references are 6S1/5M6. We have used the primary reference for this question of 6S1, therefore classifying the question as a Year 6 statistics question.

When converting to percentages, some figures have been rounded up or down. In such form, these are just shy of, or over 100%.