Phonics screening check-style practice – Set 3

Phonics screening check-style practice – Set 3: 40 words, marked instantly with every answer explained. Free, no sign-up, no adverts in the test.

For the adult

Your child reads 40 words aloud: 20 real words and 20 alien words, in two sections, like the Year 1 phonics screening check. You tap ✓ or ✗ for each word. Takes about 10 minutes.

  • 40 words to read aloud, one at a time
  • No time limit
  • An adult listens and taps ✓ or ✗ for each word
How to mark (for the adult)
  • Sit somewhere quiet. Before you start, tell your child: “Some words are real words. Some are alien words – names of aliens. Read every word aloud.”
  • The child sees one word at a time. Alien (pseudo) words have an alien picture next to them, as in the real check.
  • Tap ✓ if your child reads the word correctly and ✗ if not. Do not say the word for them and do not tell them if they are right until the end.
  • Sounding out first is fine – mark the whole word your child says at the end. Saying letter names (“bee, eh, dee”) instead of sounds does not count as reading the word.
  • Alien words: any sensible way of reading the letters is right. Where a word has more than one sensible reading, a note under the word tells you what to accept.
  • Real words: the word must be read as the real word (for example, ‘snow’ must rhyme with ‘go’, not ‘cow’). Regional accents are always fine.
  • Section 1 has 20 words with simpler sounds; section 2 has 20 words with trickier sounds. You can take a break between sections.
  • These marking tips are Classfern guidance for this practice, based on the official principles for the check (see sources).

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Practice in the style of the check. Not an official test. Written by Classfern for practice. Not affiliated with or endorsed by any exam board, testing agency, school district or government department.

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