2025 Key stage 2 English reading test mark schemes - Marking guidance and content domain coverage

Sep 15, 2026

Uploaded by Maeve

The 2025 Key stage 2 English reading test mark schemes set out how the Standards and Testing Agency applies a consistent approach when marking externally assessed reading answers. The document describes the test’s purpose in assessing comprehension via a paper format, the two-booklet structure with three texts and 50-mark questions, and the content domain areas covered. It explains how acceptable and unacceptable responses are identified, when zero marks apply, and how question-specific mark schemes are organized using points and lists.

LanguageEnglish

CategoryExam

FormatPDF

Pages42

Reading Time1 h 46 min

AccessFree to download

Introduction

Structure of the test

Content domain coverage

Explanation of the mark schemes

Mark schemes for the English reading test

Section 1: A Life-changing Game

Section 2: In the Cave

Section 3: Longbow Girl

2025 national curriculum tests Key stage 2 English reading test mark schemes Reading answer booklet Key stage 2 English reading test mark schemes Contents 1. Introduction 3 2. Structure of the test 3 3. Content domain coverage 4 4. Explanation of the mark schemes 6 5. Mark schemes for the English reading test 8 Section 1: A Life-changing Game 8 Section 2: In the Cave 15 Section 3: Longbow Girl 26 Key stage 2 English reading test mark schemes 1. Introduction The Standards and Testing Agency (STA) is responsible for the development and delivery of key stage 1 and 2 statutory and optional tests. STA is an executive agency of the Department for Education. The 2025 tests assess the national curriculum. This test has been developed to meet the specification set out in the test framework1 for English reading at key stage 2. It assesses the aspects of comprehension that lend themselves to a paper test. A new test and new mark schemes will be produced each year. Key stage 2 tests are marked by external markers, who receive training to ensure the mark schemes are applied consistently and fairly. The mark schemes are provided to show teachershow the tests are marked. The pupil examples are based on responses gathered from the test trialling process. Scaled score conversion tables are not included in this document. Conversion tables will be produced as part of the standards maintenance process. Scaled score conversion tables2 for the 2025 tests will be published in July 2025. The standards confirmation meeting will take place in July 2025. 2. Structure of the test The key stage 2 English reading test comprises: • a reading booklet containing three texts that increase in demand throughout the booklet • a reading answer booklet containing questions (50 marks) . [1 www.gov.uk/government/publications/key-stage-2-english-reading-test-framework](1 www.gov.uk/government/publications/key-stage-2-english-reading-test-framework)[ ](1 www.gov.uk/government/publications/key-stage-2-english-reading-test-framework)[2 www.gov.uk/guidance/scaled-scores-at-key-stage-2](2 www.gov.uk/guidance/scaled-scores-at-key-stage-2) | Key stage 2 English reading test mark schemes | | | | | | | | | | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | | 3. Content domain coverage
The 2025 test meets the specification set out in the test framework. Table 1 sets out the areas of the content domain that are assessed in the test.
Table 1: Content domain coverage for the 2025 key stage 2 English reading test | | | | | | | | | | | 2a | 2b | 2c | 2d | 2e | 2f | 2g | 2h | | | Give or explain the meaning of words in context. | Retrieve and record
information
or identify
key details
from fiction and
non-fiction. | Summarise
main ideas
from more than one paragraph. | Make inferences from the text or explain and justify inferences with evidence
from the text. | Predict what might happen from details
stated and implied. | Identify and / or explain how
information
or narrative content is related and
contributes
to meaning
as a whole. | Identify and / or explain how
meaning is enhanced through choice of words and phrases. | Make comparisons within the text. | | Qu. | Section 1: A Life-changing Game | | | | | | | | | 1 | | 1 | | | | | | | | 2 | 1 | | | | | | | | | 3 | | | | 1 | | | | | | 4 | | | | 2 | | | | | | 5 | | 1 | | | | | | | | 6 | 1 | | | | | | | | | 7 | | | | 1 | | | | | | 8 | | | | 1 | | | | | | 9 | 1 | | | | | | | | | 10 | | 1 | | | | | | | | 11 | | 1 | | | | | | | | 12 | 1 | | | | | | | | | 13 | | 1 | | | | | | | | Qu. | Section 2: In the Cave | | | | | | | | | 14 | | 2 | | | | | | | | 15 | | | | | | | 1 | | | 16 | | | | 1 | | | | | | 17 | 1 | | | | | | | | | 18 | | 1 | | | | | | | | 19 | | | | 1 | | | | |

FAQs

Who is responsible for developing and delivering the Key stage 2 English reading test?

The Standards and Testing Agency (STA) is responsible for developing and delivering statutory and optional Key stage 1 and 2 tests, including the 2025 English reading test.

What does the Key stage 2 English reading test consist of?

It includes a reading booklet with three texts that increase in demand, and a reading answer booklet containing questions worth 50 marks.

How are answers marked and what is the rule for unacceptable responses?

Incorrect or unacceptable answers receive 0 marks, and no half marks are awarded. Each question’s mark scheme lists acceptable points used to determine the mark.

Sep 15, 2026

Uploaded by Maeve