2026 SATs National Average Scores & Pass Marks
The latest average scaled scores, expected-standard rates and what they mean for your child’s result.
England figures from the Department for Education. Last updated 2 September 2026.
What Was the Average SATs Score in 2026?
The 2026 national average scaled score was 106 in reading, 105 in maths and 105 in GPS. These are mean scores for pupils who took each test and were awarded a scaled score.
The average and the expected standard answer different questions. The average shows the typical score across England. A scaled score of 100 is the national benchmark for meeting the expected standard.
| Test subject | 2026 average scaled score |
|---|---|
| Reading | 106 |
| Maths | 105 |
| Grammar, punctuation and spelling (GPS) | 105 |
Source: DfE 2026 national headlines. The DfE rounds these figures to whole scaled-score points.
How Many Children Met the Expected Standard in 2026?
The table below shows the percentage of Year 6 children who reached the expected standard in 2026. Reading and maths were combined with teacher-assessed writing for the final row. Source: GOV.UK national curriculum assessments.
| Subject | % Reaching Expected Standard |
|---|---|
| Reading | 75% |
| Maths | 75% |
| Grammar, punctuation and spelling (GPS) | 74% |
| Reading, writing and maths combined | 63% |
These percentages and the average scaled scores above are both national measures. They are not interchangeable: one counts how many pupils reached 100, while the other uses every awarded scaled score.
What Is the SATs Pass Mark?
SATs do not have an official “pass” or “fail”. A scaled score of 100 or above means your child met the expected standard in that test. Scaled scores run from 80 to 120.
80–99
Below expected standard
100–109
Expected standard
110–120
Higher standard
The Standards and Testing Agency recalculates the raw-mark conversion each year to account for differences in paper difficulty. A scaled score of 100 therefore represents the same standard even when the raw-mark threshold changes.
Historical Trends: 2016–2026
The percentage of children reaching the expected standard each year since the current format was introduced in 2016. No tests were held in 2020 or 2021 due to the pandemic.
| Year | Maths | Reading | GPS |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2016 | 70% | 66% | 73% |
| 2017 | 75% | 72% | 77% |
| 2018 | 76% | 75% | 78% |
| 2019 | 79% | 73% | 78% |
| 2022 | 72% | 75% | 73% |
| 2023 | 73% | 73% | 72% |
| 2024 | 73% | 74% | 72% |
| 2025 | 74% | 75% | 73% |
| 2026 | 75% | 75% | 74% |
2020 and 2021 are excluded as SATs were cancelled due to COVID-19. Results in 2022 showed a dip across all subjects as the first cohort to sit tests after the pandemic. Source: DfE national headlines data, 2016–2026.
What Does the Higher Standard Mean?
A scaled score of 110 or above reaches the higher standard in the reading, maths or GPS test. “Greater depth” is the separate term used for teacher-assessed writing.
Maths — Higher Standard
27%
of pupils in 2026
Reading — Higher Standard
31%
of pupils in 2026
In 2026, 30% of pupils reached the higher standard in GPS. The DfE reports these test results separately from greater depth in writing.
Raw Score to Scaled Score
The raw-to-scaled conversion tables are published each year by the Standards and Testing Agency after the papers have been marked. Because paper difficulty varies, the raw mark needed for a scaled score of 100 can change from one year to the next.
In 2026, a maths raw score from 56 to 59 out of 110 converted to a scaled score of 100. The threshold will not necessarily be the same for a different test year. See the official 2026 conversion tables.
You can estimate your child’s likely scaled score using our free SATs Score Calculator. It treats any raw-mark conversion as an estimate.
See What to Practise After a SATs Score
Choose maths, reading or GPS practice and keep completed work together in the parent dashboard.
Start Practising Free →How to Use the Average at Home
I would use the national average for one job: putting the result in context. Then I would put it away and look at the marked paper. The average cannot tell you whether fractions, inference or punctuation caused the trouble.
A result below the expected standard gives the school one piece of information. Your child’s teacher and day-to-day classwork add the rest.
At home, start with the questions that lost marks. Pick one topic and work on that. It is far more useful than staring at a score and wondering what the number says about your child.
For practical advice on preparation, read our how to prepare for SATs guide. If your child is feeling the pressure, our tips for dealing with SATs anxiety may help.
Choose One Subject and Start There
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