Key Stage 3 Assessment
Assessment at Key Stage 3 (Years 7-9) is based around pupils’ knowledge of the content covered by the curriculum each year. Regular knowledge quizzes take place in each subject throughout each year and assessed pieces of work are completed each term. These include End of Year Exams in many subjects at the end of each academic year. The document below outlines all the details of our Key Stage 3 assessment system.
Key Stage 3 Assessment and Grading System
Year 7-9 End of Year Exams
End of Year Exams in Year 7, 8 and 9 are held in Term 5 (Year 7 and 8) and Term 6 (Year 9). They take place in normal lessons over a 2 week period.
They are designed to assess the knowledge and skills pupils have learned throughout the year and to compare pupils’ progress with attainment targets set earlier in the year. They also support teachers in assessing learning and identifying priorities for the next stages of teaching and learning. The results of the exams will form part of the basis for setting pupils in the next academic year in subjects such as Maths, where pupils are set on attainment, and to ensure a spread of ability in mixed ability classes. They also help identify pupils who would benefit from additional literacy and numeracy support.
The process of completing exams at the end of each year helps pupils to identify their strengths and areas to work on, develop their revision skills and identify which revision strategies work best for them. The experience of preparing for and completing exams at Key Stage 3 should ultimately lead to secure building of knowledge and effective recall. In the long term this should also lead to success in GCSE and A Level exams in the future.
Revision guidance and support
When preparing for assessments throughout the year and the End of Year Exams pupils will need to complete some revision. Some revision will take place in lessons but it is also expected that pupils prepare for exams independently at home. To help pupils to prepare they will be set revision homework including Personalised Learning Checklists PLCs), which are lists of what knowledge and skills are required for each assessment or exam. In addition pupils may be set revision tasks to complete.
As part of the preparation for assessments and exams pupils will have a revision skills assembly early in the academic year and specific guidance will be provided by subject teachers throughout the year. Guidance, PLCs and tasks will be made available via subject Google Classrooms.
In addition, before the End of Year Exams an assembly and tutor session will be dedicated to revision tips and exam timetables. In Year 7, PSHE lessons in the month before the exams look at the reasons for revision and different types of revision strategies.
To help parents and carers support with revision information about the types of revision strategies discussed in school and revision tips are available from our Key Stage 3 Revision Guidance Booklet (available using the link below).
Subject teachers will advise pupils the best way to prepare for their subject’s exam. Specific revision guidance is also available for each subject via their subject Google Classroom.
Revision Guidance for Years 7-9
Further, our revision webpage provides more guidance on revision across all year groups.