Phonics Screening Check Past Papers: Free Year 1 & Year 2 Materials
Every official phonics screening check from 2012 to 2026, free to download and print. Each year has the pupil materials (the 40 words), answer sheet, practice sheet, scoring guidance and the pass mark.
Latest phonics screening check (2026)
The check Year 1 took in June 2026. Print the pupil materials to read from and the answer sheet to score on.
2026 phonics screening check
Pass mark 31 out of 40
Turn a mock phonics check into a grapheme-by-grapheme gap analysis
Our phonics QLA tools take each child’s answers from any past check and show which graphemes and word types are causing trouble, for each child and the whole class. Practice materials are included, and free versions are available to try.
All phonics screening check past papers by year
Tap a year to open it. Using several different years gives children plenty of fresh words to practise on.
2025 phonics screening check
Pass mark 32 out of 40
2024 phonics screening check
Pass mark 32 out of 40
2023 phonics screening check
Pass mark 32 out of 40
2022 phonics screening check
Pass mark 32 out of 40
No checks in 2020 or 2021. They were cancelled because of COVID-19.
2019 phonics screening check
Pass mark 32 out of 40
The 2019 check is also available as a slideshow, handy for practising on a screen.
2018 phonics screening check
Pass mark 32 out of 40
2017 phonics screening check
Pass mark 32 out of 40
2016 phonics screening check
Pass mark 32 out of 40
2015 phonics screening check
Pass mark 32 out of 40
2014 phonics screening check
Pass mark 32 out of 40
2013 phonics screening check
Pass mark 32 out of 40
2012 phonics screening check
Pass mark 32 out of 40
The very first phonics screening check.
Phonics screening check pass marks
The pass mark (threshold) is the number of words out of 40 a child needs to read correctly to meet the expected standard. It is published at the end of June, after the check.
| Year | Pass mark | Year 1 pupils meeting it |
|---|---|---|
| 2026 | 31 out of 40 | 82% |
| 2012 to 2025 | 32 out of 40 | see GOV.UK statistics |
No checks were taken in 2020 or 2021. National figures: phonics screening check attainment statistics.
How to practise the phonics check at home
- Start with the practice sheet from any year, so your child gets used to real words and “alien” words.
- Do ten words at a time, not all 40. Stop while it’s still fun.
- When they get stuck, point to each sound, say it together, then blend: “sh-ar-p, sharp”.
- Note the tricky sounds (like “ir”, “oy” or “ph”) and practise just those over the next few days.
What the phonics check is for
The phonics screening check confirms whether a child can decode words using phonics to the expected standard by the end of Year 1. It isn’t a reading comprehension test. Children who don’t meet the standard get extra support and retake it in Year 2. Some children with particular needs may not take it, and the school should explain this to parents. Results are published nationally and help schools see where their phonics teaching needs strengthening.
Phonics screening check FAQ
When is the 2027 phonics screening check?
The 2027 check takes place in the week of Monday 14 to Friday 18 June 2027. Children who are absent can take it the following week, 21 to 25 June.
What is the pass mark for the phonics screening check?
In 2026 the threshold was 31 out of 40, the first change since the check began in 2012, when it was set at 32 every year. The 2027 threshold will be published on 28 June 2027, after the check has been marked.
What happens in the phonics screening check?
Each child sits one to one with a teacher and reads 40 words aloud. Some are real words and some are pseudo-words, often shown with a picture of an alien so children know they are made up. The pseudo-words check that children are decoding with phonics rather than recognising words they already know. It usually takes a few minutes.
Who takes the phonics check?
Year 1 pupils in state-funded schools in England. Children who don't meet the expected standard in Year 1 retake it in June of Year 2.
How many children pass the phonics check?
In 2026, 82% of Year 1 pupils met the expected standard, and 89% had met it by the end of Year 2.
Do schools tell parents the result?
Yes. Schools must report each child's phonics check score to parents by the end of the summer term, including whether they met the expected standard.
How can I help my child practise for the phonics check?
Use the pupil materials from a past year and ask your child to read the words aloud. Treat the alien words as a game. If they get stuck, sound out each letter or group of letters and blend them together, then try the next one. Short, cheerful sessions of a few minutes work far better than going through all 40 words at once.
Are these the official phonics check materials, and are they free?
Yes. These are the official phonics screening check materials published by the Standards and Testing Agency for every year since 2012, free to download and print.
Other primary assessments
Official guidance: 2027 phonics check arrangements (GOV.UK)