Key stage 2 modified test administration guidance: administering modified large print versions
Updated 10 March 2025
This guidance will help you prepare to administer the modified large print (MLP) versions of the key stage 2 (KS2) tests. You should follow it to ensure pupils using MLP versions of the tests can access them properly and are not at a disadvantage.
This information expands on 鈥楾est administration鈥 in the 2025 KS2 assessment and reporting arrangements (ARA).
You should use this guidance together with the:
- KS2 test administration guidance
- test administration instructions provided with the MLP test materials
The test administration instructions include information about what you should do before, during and after each test. Schools may also use past papers to help pupils prepare for the tests.
Headteachers are responsible for the test administration arrangements within their school. Failure to adhere to this guidance could lead to a .
1. Planning for the tests
1.1 Access arrangements
In addition to the KS2 access arrangements guidance, you should follow the specific guidance below when administering the MLP versions of the tests.
Adults providing support for an access arrangement must not be a relative, carer or guardian of the pupil.
Test administrators should note for their own records where an access arrangement was provided in the tests and, if appropriate, the name of the scribe, transcribe, reader, prompter or translator used by each pupil.
Additional time
Pupils using the MLP tests are automatically entitled to up to 100% additional time in the tests. You should use your discretion about whether to use the full amount of additional time, based on what is normal classroom practice, and tell the pupils how much time they are allowed before each test starts. Pupils who are automatically allowed additional time may also use other access arrangements if this reflects normal classroom practice.
Making further adaptations to the tests
The Standards and Testing Agency (STA) has already made changes to the wording and layout of the standard test questions, where appropriate, to produce the MLP versions of the tests 鈥 for example, some tables, diagrams or charts may have been simplified.
If you make further adaptations to the MLP versions of the tests, you must take care to ensure the page layout and accuracy of the materials are not affected. If you adapt the corresponding text, questions or page references incorrectly, pupils may be disadvantaged. We are unable to compensate or give special consideration where schools have incorrectly modified test papers.
There may be questions in the mathematics tests that are unsuitable for further enlargement. We will inform schools of particular questions that should not be enlarged 鈥 for example, questions that require the pupil to measure length. For mathematics test papers, the modified test administration instructions will provide guidance if there are questions that are unsuitable for further enlargement.
Scribes
If a scribe supports a pupil with a visual impairment, you must make it clear to the marker which responses the pupil has written, and which the scribe has written.
All language, punctuation and phrasing must be the pupil鈥檚 own. Particular care should be taken when scribing the English grammar, punctuation and spelling test papers.
The scribe must pause for the pupil to dictate relevant spellings in 鈥楶aper 1: questions鈥 and for all spellings to be dictated in 鈥楶aper 2: spelling鈥. Correct spelling is required for the award of the mark for the majority of questions in Paper 1, especially for questions assessing contracted forms, verb forms, plurals, prefixes and suffixes. Correct spelling is required for the award of the mark in all questions in Paper 2.
In the mathematics test, any diagram that has been scribed must show evidence of the pupil鈥檚 work 鈥 for example, pin marks. We will not accept diagrams scribed without such indication.
At the end of each test, test administrators should make a note for their own record of which pupils used a scribe, including the name of the scribe and the test the scribe was used in, and give the information to their headteacher. You do not need permission from STA or your local authority to use a scribe if it reflects normal classroom practice for the pupil. However, schools must notify STA of their use on the by Friday 23 May.
Word processors or other technical or electronic aids
Pupils who normally use word processors, technical or electronic aids in the classroom, including low vision aids such as closed-circuit television or OCR scanners, may use these for the tests, provided the functionality does not give the pupil an advantage. You do not need permission from STA or your local authority, but schools must notify STA of their use on the PAG by Friday 23 May.
Rest breaks
Test administrators should consider using rest breaks for pupils who find it difficult to concentrate or who may experience fatigue. Schools do not need to notify or receive approval from STA if they are using rest breaks, but the arrangement must reflect normal classroom practice. Schools must supervise pupils and keep them under test conditions during rest breaks.
Schools may want to split a test into sections for pupils using the MLP versions of the tests who are known to need a rest break. Rest breaks should be used by stopping and restarting the clock, so the pupil has the same overall test time. The content of the test must not be discussed during rest breaks. The pupils must complete the test on the same day it was started. You must send any partially completed test scripts for marking.
Squared paper
The MLP version of the mathematics test includes space for working but does not include gridlines. We discourage the use of additional squared paper, as pupils may lose marks if they make an error or omission when they transfer their working to the test paper.
However, if using squared paper is part of normal classroom practice, then it can be used as an access arrangement. Schools do not need to notify or receive approval from the STA if a pupil uses squared paper.
Before the pupil鈥檚 test script is sent for marking, ensure any square paper used is:
- labelled with the pupil鈥檚 name, school name and school DfE number
- securely attached to the pupil鈥檚 test script at the end of the test
Additional paper
If pupils require additional paper, before the pupil鈥檚 test script is sent for marking, ensure any additional paper used where a pupil has recorded their answers is:
- labelled with the pupil鈥檚 name, school name and school DfE number
- securely attached to the pupil鈥檚 test script at the end of the test
Highlighting questions
You may highlight whole questions on the MLP papers 鈥 for example, with a highlighter pen 鈥 if this helps pupils to recognise the questions more easily. You must take care not to invalidate the test by drawing the pupil鈥檚 attention to the correct response.
1.2 Equipment for the tests
MLP versions of the tests are designed so standard classroom equipment can be used. The test administration instructions provided with the MLP test materials will list specific equipment needed for each test.
1.3 Use of rooms for modified tests
You should consider administering MLP versions of the tests to pupils in a separate room from other pupils taking the tests. The instructions and content of the MLP tests may be slightly different from the standard versions, and pupils using MLP tests are automatically entitled to up to 100% additional time.
Administering the tests in a separate room from the rest of the cohort will avoid distracting pupils using different versions of the tests. Pupils using MLP versions of the tests may need more space to lay out their test papers and equipment.
2. Administering the tests
2.1 When to open test materials
Each test pack includes instructions on the front detailing when you can open the test materials to prepare for their administration.
You must not open the test packs early to familiarise yourself with the test content.
2.2 Pupils鈥 responses
Pupils using MLP test papers will usually answer on the test paper in the spaces provided but they may also use separate sheets of paper, if required.
Before the pupil鈥檚 test script is sent for marking, ensure any separate sheets used where a pupil has recorded their answers are:
- labelled with the pupil鈥檚 name, school name and school DfE number
- securely attached to the pupil鈥檚 test script at the end of the test
2.3 Instructions for mathematics
Models
Models may be provided for pupils to handle or look at, for specific questions within the MLP mathematics Papers 2 and 3: reasoning. If applicable, the MLP test administration instructions will include guidance.
2.4 Assistance
You must ensure nothing you say or do during the test could be interpreted as giving pupils an advantage 鈥 for example, indicating an answer is correct or incorrect, or suggesting the pupil look at an answer again.
3. Test administration on Monday 12 May
3.1 English grammar, punctuation and spelling Paper 1: questions
Format
鈥楶aper 1: questions鈥 is a combined question and answer booklet.
Pupils will have 45 minutes to answer the questions, plus up to 100% additional time. The paper is worth 50 marks in total.
Equipment
Each pupil will need a dark pencil or a blue or black pen.
Rubbers are allowed, but please encourage pupils to cross out answers they wish to change instead of rubbing them out.
If this is normal classroom practice, pupils may use:
- technical or electronic vision aids, including low-vision aids such as closed-circuit television or OCR scanners
- highlighter pens
Turn off any grammar and spell check functionality if pupils use an electronic aid to record their answers.
Pupils are not allowed:
- a dictionary or thesaurus
- electronic spell checkers
- bilingual word lists or electronic translators
Assistance
Administrators should ensure that pupils are able to locate all answer spaces correctly.
If a pupil requests it, you may read a question to them on a one to one basis.
You must not explain any subject-specific terminology. If any other word in a question is unfamiliar to a pupil, you may explain it or show them objects or pictures to help them understand.
You may explain or rephrase a question provided you do not give away subject-specific information 鈥 for example, if a question asks to 鈥渋nsert a pair of commas鈥, 鈥榠nsert鈥 may be explained, but not 鈥榗ommas鈥.
If used, readers must read the question to the pupil in full. Readers may also read any part of the pupil鈥檚 response back to them if the pupil requests this. Notes for readers in the English grammar, punctuation and spelling test give examples of how to read particular types of questions.
The following examples illustrate how to deal with some common situations:
Question: 鈥淚 do not understand the question.鈥
Answer: 鈥淩ead the question again and pay attention to words that tell you what to do.鈥
Question: 鈥淲hat does 鈥榓dverb鈥 mean?鈥
Answer: 鈥淚 cannot tell you but think hard and try to remember. We can talk about it after the test.鈥
3.2 English grammar, punctuation and spelling Paper 2: spelling
Format
鈥楶aper 2: spelling鈥 includes a test transcript and an answer booklet. The test administrator should read the test transcript and the pupil should write 20 spellings in the answer booklet.
Pupils will have approximately 15 minutes to complete the test, plus up to 100% additional time, but it is not strictly timed. The paper is worth 20 marks in total.
The MLP version of the spelling test is administered in a similar way to the standard version. The modified test papers will include specific modified test administration instructions.
The answer lines in the spelling answer sheet are numbered. You should use these numbers to help pupils to locate the correct line to write on before reading the sentence aloud, including the missing word for pupils to spell. Alternatively, pupils may write their answers in a numbered list on plain paper.
Equipment
Each pupil will need a dark pencil or a blue or black pen.
Rubbers are allowed, but please encourage pupils to cross out answers they wish to change instead of rubbing them out.
If this is normal classroom practice, pupils may use:
- technical or electronic vision aids, including low-vision aids such as closed-circuit television or OCR scanners
- highlighter pens
Turn off any grammar and spell check functionality if pupils use an electronic aid to record their answers.
Pupils are not allowed:
- a dictionary or thesaurus
- electronic spell checkers
- bilingual word lists or electronic translators
Assistance
Pupils should not require any assistance during the administration of 鈥楶aper 2: spelling鈥.
You should take care not to overemphasise spelling when reading out the words that pupils are asked to spell.
4. Test administration on Tuesday 13 May
4.1 English reading
Format
This test consists of a reading answer booklet and a separate reading booklet. All pupils must receive an unused reading booklet. Do not reuse reading booklets if you administer the test to groups of pupils at different times.
Pupils will have one hour to read the 3 texts in the reading booklet and answer the questions, plus up to 100% additional time. The paper is worth 50 marks in total. They can approach the test as they choose 鈥 for example, by working through one text and answering the questions before moving onto the next.
Changes have been made to the layout and wording of some questions in the MLP reading answer booklet, compared with the standard version of the test. The layout of the reading booklet may also vary.
The number of marks and type of question are indicated within the test to help pupils judge how much to write.
You must not refer to the standard test paper when administering this test.
Equipment
Each pupil will need a dark pencil or a blue or black pen.
Rubbers are allowed, but please encourage pupils to cross out answers they wish to change instead of rubbing them out.
If it is normal classroom practice, pupils may use:
- technical or electronic vision aids, including low-vision aids such as closed-circuit television or OCR scanners
- monolingual English electronic spell checkers, provided they do not give definitions of words
- highlighter pens
You may give pupils additional lined paper if they request it.
Pupils must not use a dictionary or thesaurus.
Assistance
You must not read the English reading test to individuals or to a group, except for the general instructions. However, you may read and rephrase, if necessary, the information provided in the test instructions on pages 2, 3 and 4 of the reading answer booklet to ensure all pupils understand them.
You may help pupils to identify and interpret aspects of pictures, but you must not help with the reading of any text. Pupils with a severe visual impairment may need extra time to interpret pictures and diagrams. You may stop the clock while pupils examine them.
If a pupil asks a question about test content, you must not explain the meanings of any words or expressions.
The example below illustrates how to deal with a common situation:
Question: 鈥淚 do not understand the question.鈥
Answer: 鈥淩ead the question again and pay attention to words that tell you what to do.鈥
5. Test administration on Wednesday 14 May
5.1 Mathematics Paper 1: arithmetic
Format
Paper 1 assesses arithmetic.
Pupils will have 30 minutes to answer the questions, plus up to 100% additional time. The paper is worth 40 marks in total.
You must not refer to the standard test questions when administering this test.
Equipment
Each pupil will need a dark pencil or a blue or black pen.
Rubbers are allowed, but please encourage pupils to cross out answers they wish to change instead of rubbing them out.
If it is normal classroom practice, pupils may use:
- technical or electronic vision aids, including low-vision aids such as closed-circuit television or OCR scanners
- highlighter pens
Pupils are not allowed:
- calculators
- tracing paper
- other mathematical equipment, such as angle measurers or mirrors
Assistance
If a pupil requests it, you may read a question to the pupil on a one to one basis.
If reading to a pupil, you can read words and numbers but not mathematical symbols. This is to ensure pupils are not given an advantage by having the function inadvertently explained by reading its name.
The example below illustrates how to deal with a common situation:
Question: 鈥淒o I need to multiply when I calculate 95% of 240?鈥
Answer: 鈥淚 cannot tell you but think hard and try to remember. We can talk about it after the test.鈥
5.2 Mathematics Paper 2: reasoning
Format
Paper 2 assesses reasoning.
Pupils will have 40 minutes to answer the questions, plus up to 100% additional time. The paper is worth 35 marks in total.
Models may be provided within the MLP test administration pack for specific questions. If applicable, the MLP test administration instructions will include guidance.
The paper may contain diagrams, graphs and pictures. Where necessary, we have simplified or adapted these for pupils with a visual impairment, but they might still need help locating the correct diagrams or clarifying their layout. Compared with standard versions of the tests, some non-essential diagrams, graphs and pictures may have been omitted.
Pupils will need to draw in response to some questions. Where this is the case, pupils should use the method they think is most suitable. If appropriate, the area covered by the shape may be shaded or marked so that the marker can clearly read it.
You must not refer to the standard test questions when administering this test.
Equipment
Each pupil will need:
- a dark pencil or a blue or black pen
- a sharp, dark pencil for mathematical drawing
- a ruler, showing centimetres
- an angle measurer or protractor
- a mirror
Rubbers are allowed, but please encourage pupils to cross out answers they wish to change instead of rubbing them out.
If it is normal classroom practice, pupils may use:
- technical or electronic vision aids, including low vision aids such as closed-circuit television or OCR scanners
- monolingual English electronic spell checkers
- bilingual word lists
- bilingual dictionaries or electronic translators, provided they only give word for word translations
- highlighter pens
Pupils are not allowed:
- calculators
- tracing paper
Assistance
If a pupil requests it, you may read a question to the pupil on a one to one basis.
If reading to a pupil, you can read words and numbers but not mathematical symbols. This is to ensure pupils are not given an advantage by having the function inadvertently explained by reading its name.
At a pupil鈥檚 request, you may point to parts of the test paper such as charts, diagrams, statements and equations, but you must not explain the information or help the pupil by interpreting it.
You must not explain any subject-specific terminology. If any context or words related to a question are unfamiliar to a pupil, you may explain it or show them related objects or pictures to help them understand.
The examples below illustrate how to deal with some common situations:
Question: 鈥淲hat does 鈥榪uadrilateral鈥 or this symbol (鈥>鈥 or 鈥<鈥) mean?鈥
Answer: 鈥淚 cannot tell you but think hard and try to remember. We can talk about it after the test.鈥
Question: 鈥淲hat is 鈥0.6鈥?鈥
Answer: 鈥淭hat is nought point six.鈥
Further guidance for any specific questions is included in the MLP test packs.
6. Test administration on Thursday 15 May
6.1 Mathematics Paper 3: reasoning
Format
Paper 3 assesses reasoning.
Pupils will have 40 minutes to answer the questions, plus up to 100% additional time. The paper is worth 35 marks in total.
Models may be provided within the MLP test administration pack for specific questions. If applicable, the MLP test administration instructions will include guidance.
The paper may contain diagrams, graphs and pictures. Where necessary, we have simplified or adapted these for pupils with a visual impairment, but they might still need help locating the correct diagrams or clarifying their layout. Compared with standard versions of the tests, some non-essential diagrams, graphs and pictures may have been omitted from the MLP versions.
Pupils will need to draw in response to some questions. Where this is the case, pupils should use the method they think is most suitable. If appropriate, the area covered by the shape may be shaded or marked so that the marker can clearly read it.
You must not refer to the standard test questions when administering this test.
Equipment
Each pupil will need:
- a dark pencil or a blue or black pen
- a sharp, dark pencil for mathematical drawing
- a ruler, showing centimetres
- an angle measurer or protractor
- a mirror
Rubbers are allowed, but please encourage pupils to cross out answers they wish to change instead of rubbing them out.
If it is normal classroom practice, pupils may use:
- technical or electronic vision aids, including low vision aids such as closed-circuit television or OCR scanners
- monolingual English electronic spell checkers
- bilingual word lists
- bilingual dictionaries or electronic translators provided they only give word for word translations
- highlighter pens
Pupils are not allowed:
- calculators
- tracing paper
Assistance
If a pupil requests it, you may read a question to them on a one to one basis.
If reading to a pupil, you can read words and numbers but not mathematical symbols. This is to ensure pupils are not given an advantage by having the function inadvertently explained by reading its name.
At a pupil鈥檚 request, you may point to parts of the test paper such as charts, diagrams, statements and equations, but you must not explain the information or help the pupil by interpreting it.
You must not explain any subject-specific terminology. If any other word in a question is unfamiliar to a pupil, you may explain it or show them related objects or pictures to help them understand.
The examples below illustrate how to deal with some common situations:
Question: 鈥淲hat does 鈥榪uadrilateral鈥 or this symbol (鈥>鈥 or 鈥<鈥) mean?鈥
Answer: 鈥淚 cannot tell you but think hard and try to remember. We can talk about it after the test.鈥
Question: 鈥淲hat is 鈥0.6鈥?鈥
Answer: 鈥淭hat is nought point six.鈥
Further guidance for any specific questions is included in the MLP test packs.
7. After the tests
7.1 Packing and sending test scripts for marking
Instructions for completing attendance registers and packing scripts for marking are provided in the .
7.2 Amendments to mark schemes
In some cases, changes are made to the standard questions for the MLP version of the test. This may result in a change to the standard mark scheme for these questions.
These changes are recorded in the amendments to mark schemes for MLP tests, which will be available to download with the test materials from 伊人直播 after the test period.
8. Help and support
8.1 Modified tests
Schools can discuss the suitability of, and order, MLP versions of KS2 tests by contacting the national curriculum assessments helpline on 0300 303 3013 or emailing modifiedtestshelpline@pia.co.uk.
8.2 General enquiries
For general enquiries about test administration at KS2, call the national curriculum assessments helpline on 0300 303 3013 or email assessments@education.gov.uk.
8.3 Message us
For queries relating to access arrangements to meet a pupil鈥檚 specific needs, schools can use the 鈥楳essage us 鈥 access arrangements鈥 form on the .