Phonics Screening Check Practice Online
Help your child get ready for the Year 1 phonics screening check with this free practice tool. It follows the same shape as the real check: 40 words to read aloud, a mix of real words and alien (made-up) words. You listen, tap Correct or Incorrect for each word, and at the end you see a score and which letter patterns need a little more practice.
It is made for parents, teachers and tutors, and takes about ten minutes. The words are our own practice words, so the real check will still hold some surprises. At the end you can have a free full report emailed to you, showing every word and which letter patterns to practise first.
How the practice check works
- Sit somewhere quiet with your child and press Start. A few practice words come first, so they know what to expect.
- Your child reads each word aloud. Words with a picture of an alien are made up. They check that your child can sound out and blend, not just remember words.
- You tap Correct or Incorrect for each word. Sounding out first and then blending is fine, and so is changing their mind: the last try is the one that counts.
- After all 40 words you see the score straight away.
What you see at the end
- Your child’s score out of 40, with the 2026 threshold (31 out of 40) shown for reference.
- The score for each section, and for real words compared with alien words.
- A breakdown by letter pattern: simple words, consonant digraphs, vowel digraphs, split digraphs and mixed digraphs, so you can see what to practise next.
- A full report by email, showing every word, the sounds expected and the sounds heard, and a short list of words to practise. It is free.
Is this the official phonics screening check?
No. This is a practice tool with its own original words, and its score is not an official result. The real check is run by your child’s school in June. In 2027 it takes place in the week of 14 June. If you would like to try the real thing, you can download every official check from 2012 to 2026 on our page here.
Tips for a good practice session
- Keep it short and cheerful. Ten minutes is plenty, and you can stop and come back another day.
- Let your child try first. If they get stuck, point to each sound, say the sounds together, then blend them.
- For alien words, any sensible pronunciation of the letters is fine, including regional accents.
- Praise effort, not just right answers.
- Use the letter-pattern results to choose one pattern to practise for a few days. Our phonics practice cards are grouped by the same patterns.
Printable phonics practice cards
Five packs of word cards, grouped by the same letter patterns as the check: simple words, consonant digraphs, vowel digraphs, split digraphs and mixed digraphs. Each pack has 5 sets of 6 words (3 real and 3 alien), big and clear on the page, with tips for parents and an adult guide to saying the alien words.
Pack 1 (simple words) is free. Use the letter-pattern results above to choose where to start.
Microphone and privacy
You do not need a microphone: just tap Correct or Incorrect. If you would like to hear each word again, the tool can record it so you can play it back. Recordings stay in your browser tab and are not uploaded to us. If you switch on the optional speech suggestion, your browser (Chrome or Edge) may send the audio to its own speech service.
Who is it for?
Parents practising at home, Year 1 teachers and teaching assistants running a quick mock check, and tutors who want to see which sounds to focus on.
What is the phonics screening check?
What is the phonics screening check? It is a short Year 1 reading check. Each child reads 40 words aloud, one to one with a teacher: 20 real words and 20 made-up words. Children who do not meet the expected standard retake it in Year 2.
What are alien words?
Alien words are made-up (pseudo) words, usually shown with a picture of an alien so children know they are not real. They check that your child is using phonics to decode words rather than recognising ones they already know.
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. The 2027 threshold will be published on 28 June 2027, after the check has been marked
Do I need a microphone?
No. You listen to your child read and tap Correct or Incorrect for each word. The recording option is there if you would like to play a word back.
Is the practice check free?
Yes, the practice check is free to use.
Are these the same words as the real check?
No. The words are our own practice words, written to follow the same pattern as the real check. The official past checks are free to download on our past phonics check materials page.
How can I help my child practise?
Try a short session of about ten minutes, let your child have a go first, and then use the letter-pattern results to choose one pattern to practise over the next few days. Sounding out and then blending is a good habit to encourage.