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 formal summer exams at the end of each academic year. The download at the bottom of the page outlines all the details of our Key Stage 3 assessment system.
Year 7-9 Summer Exams
Summer Exams in Year 7, 8 and 9 are held at the end of the academic year. They take place predominantly during one week and are held in normal lesson time.
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/Computing, 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.
Some revision will take place in lessons but it is also expected that pupils prepare for exams independently at home. As part of the preparation for exams pupils will have an exams assembly and tutor meetings dedicated to revision tips and exam timetables. In Year 7, PSHE lessons in the month before the exams are looking at the reasons for revision and different types of revision strategies.
Information about the types of revision strategies discussed in school and revision tips are available from our Key Stage 3 Revision Guidance Booklet (available from the downloads at the bottom of the page).
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.