What do National Curriculum levels mean?
Reading Writing
Recognise familiar words  Use
Level 1
knowledge of letters & sound-
symbol relationships  Identify
best parts of stories
Understand simple texts 
Reading is accurate  Give
Level 2
opinions on text  Use more
than one decoding strategy
Read fluently and accurately 
Read independently & establish
meaning  Understand main
Level 3
points  Locate books & find
information
Understand ideas, themes,
events & characters in range of
texts  Use inference and
Level 4
deduction  Refer to the text to
back up view.  Locate & use
ideas & information
Select essential points & use
inference and deduction  ID
key features, themes &
Level 5
characters & select information
to support view  Collate
information from a range of
sources
(Note this table is highly condensed. Find more detailed descriptions at http://www.marlcliffe.sheffield.sch.uk/info)
The National Curriculum measures attainment in levels: at KS1 from L1 to L3; at KS2 L2 to L5. For convenience, these levels can be further split into
sub-levels: in order, 1c, 1b, 1a, 2c, 2b, 2a, 3c, 3b, 3a, 4c, 4b, 4a, 5c, 5b, 5a. However, the preferred terms for sublevels are low, secure and high. A
separate P level scale assesses below L1c. Assessment begins at five years old - there’s a separate system for the Foundation Stage.
Maths (not shape, space, measure, data & applied maths)
Write in simple words & phrases  Know how full
stops are used  Letters clearly shaped
Tackle stories & non-fiction  Use appropriate and
interesting words  Series of sentences, sometimes
with capital letters and full stops  Simple words
usually spelt correctly  Letters accurate & well-
sized
Writing is organised, imaginative & clear  Use
forms of writing appropriately  Extend ideas
logically in sequence  Use interesting & varied
words  Basic grammar correct  Spelling usually
accurate  Full stops, capital letters & question
marks  Joined-up handwriting
Writing in a range of forms is lively and thoughtful 
Ideas sustained & developed in interesting ways and
organised appropriately for reader  Vocabulary
choices are adventurous & words used for effect 
Use complex sentences, extending meaning 
Spelling accurate  Punctuation within sentences 
Handwriting fluent
Writing is varied & interesting, conveying meaning
clearly in a range of forms for different readers,
using more formal style where appropriate 
Vocabulary choices are imaginative & precise 
Simple & complex sentences in paragraphs  Range
of punctuation: commas, apostrophes & inverted
commas
Count, order, add and subtract up to 10 objects  Read & write
0-10.
Count sets of objects reliably  Use recall of addition and
subtraction facts to 10  Order numbers to 100  Solve + & -
problems  Know subtraction is inverse of addition  Recognise
sequences
Understand place value to 1000 & approximate  Use decimals
 Negative numbers  Use recall of + & - to 20 in problems  +
& - 3 digit numbers  Know 2, 3, 4, 5 and 10 x-tables Solve
problems involving x or ÷  Recognise equivalent fractions
x & ÷ numbers by 100  In solving number problems, use a
range of methods in +, -, x, ÷  Know all x-tables &
corresponding ÷ facts  Use efficient methods of + & - & short x
& -  + & - & order decimals  Check answers make sense 
Recognise proportions & use fractions & percentage  Describe
number patterns & relationships: multiple, factor & square 
Use simple formulae
x & ÷ numbers & decimals by 10, 100 & 1000  Order, + & -
negative numbers  +, -, x, ÷ with decimals  Simplify fractions
 Solve problems involving ratio & proportion  Fractions &
percentages  Use calculator appropriately  Understand and
use appropriate method for solving x & ÷ problems - 3 digit by 2
digit. Check using inverse & estimate  Use formulae involving 1
or 2 operations  Use brackets