Terminology
The terminology used for the assessments varies both in type and context. Where assessments are made in-school by class teachers, these are referred to as Teacher Assessments. These assessments make up part of the final assessment at the end of all Key Stages.
Where assessment is completed through testing, these assessments are known as National Curriculum Tests.
Colloquially the assessments—particularly in the test form—are referred to as SATs. This terminology is rooted in the original intention to introduce Standard Assessment Tasks when the assessments were first introduced. The term is variously believed to stand for Statutory Assessment Tests, Standard Attainment Tests, Standardised Achievement Tests and Standard Assessment Tests. "SATs" is pronounced as one word, rather than the American SATs (where the letters "SAT" are pronounced individually).
Read more about this topic: National Curriculum Assessment