Spelling Rules — Main Test
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About this resource
The Main test covering the full KS1 spelling rules: plurals, suffixes (including root changes), contractions, and common exception words (the words children can’t sound out phonetically).
What you'll learn
- Common exception words DfE NC English KS1 spelling, Appendix 1 (Y1–Y2)
- Contractions DfE NC English KS1 spelling, Appendix 1 (Y2)
- Plurals (-s, -es) DfE NC English KS1 spelling, Appendix 1 (Y1)
- Suffixes (-ing, -ed, -er, -est) DfE NC English KS1 spelling, Appendix 1 (Y1)
- The prefix un- DfE NC English KS1 spelling, Appendix 1 (Y1)
Inside this resource
- 18 questions
For the student — how to do this
This test has 18 questions. Harder rules! Like: baby → babies (change -y to -ies). Plus shortened words called contractions: do not = don't.
And lots of tricky words like "said", "was", "where" — words you can't just sound out. You have to KNOW these.
For parents and carers
The schoolbook Y2 spelling assessment. Adds harder rules: -y → -ies plurals (baby → babies), contractions (do not → don't, I am → I'm), and the high-stakes common exception words — the 100+ words at KS1 that don't follow phonetic rules.
Common exception words are tested in the Y2 SATs SPaG paper. Daily practice (a few words a day) is the only reliable way to learn them — there's no rule, you just have to remember them.
For teachers and tutors
Full KS1 spelling assessment. Question distribution: plurals incl. -y → -ies (3), suffixes (3), prefix un- (2), contractions (3), common exception words Y1+Y2 (5), Y2-specific spelling patterns (2).
SATs alignment: the Y2 SPaG SATs paper draws heavily from this content. Pupils scoring 70%+ are typically secure for the spelling section.
How to check the work
Auto-marked. For exception words, the Review screen will reveal which specific words tripped them up — those go on the home/school spelling list for daily practice.