How the check works

What the check is

• 40 words in total, split into two sections of 20.
• Half are real words (like "clip" or "chess") and half are made-up "alien" words, shown with a little monster picture so your child knows it isn't a real word.
• It happens in June, in Year 1 (usually age 5–6).
• It's done one-to-one with a teacher and only takes a few minutes.

How to run it at home

• Show your child one word at a time and ask them to read it aloud.
• There's no need to rush — let them take their time sounding it out.
• Sounding out each letter/sound and then blending it into the word ("c-l-i-p… clip") is exactly what's expected, not a sign of struggling.
• If they get stuck, gently move on to the next word rather than giving the answer.
• Keep it light and low-pressure — no clock-watching, and stop if it stops being fun.

What counts as correct

• Reading the whole word straight off, or sounding it out and then blending it correctly, both count as correct.
• Regional accents are absolutely fine — the check accepts them.
• For made-up words, more than one pronunciation can be right — tap the ? on any monster word to see the accepted pronunciations from the official guidance.
• If your child reads it wrong then corrects themselves, that still counts as correct.
• One thing that counts as incorrect: turning a made-up word into a similar real word (e.g. reading "jair" as "chair") — the sounds have to match the letters.

The pass mark and what results mean

• The threshold in recent years has been around 32 out of 40 (it's set nationally each year).
• Children who don't meet it get another go in Year 2.
• This is just a snapshot of decoding skills at one point in time, not a judgment of your child's reading — plenty of children who don't pass first time catch up quickly.

Common marking mistakes to avoid

• Marking a word wrong just because your child sounded it out slowly — slow-but-correct blending still counts.
• Being thrown by an accent and marking a normal regional pronunciation as wrong.
• Not realising there's more than one acceptable way to say a made-up word — check the ? hint before marking.
• Treating a self-correction as a mistake — the corrected final answer is what counts.

Pronunciation hints for the monster words come from the official DfE phonics screening check scoring guidance.

This is an unofficial practice tool for family use and is not affiliated with the UK Department for Education or the official phonics screening check.

Phonics Check Buddy is free for everyone and nothing is ever paywalled. If it’s useful to your family, you can support the app — donations just help keep it running.