Year 6 spelling words and practice
In Years 5 and 6 the NSW English syllabus asks children to spell longer words by their parts: endings such as tion, sion and ous, prefixes that change to match the word, Greek and Latin roots such as port and graph, and the quiet syllable that makes words like separate hard. A child is expected to say why a word is spelt the way it is, not only to copy it.
48 Year 6 words below, grouped by pattern, each from Learnest's own Stage 3 questions. The device reads a word aloud, then the sentence it comes from, your child types it, and the slip shows the right spelling with the tricky part marked.
Practise the words
Pick a pattern, or ten mixed words.
Turn the sound up. The first word plays when you press Start.
Words to practise
Every word right. Pick another pattern, or try the mixed ten again.
Email me this for later
We email you this score and the words to practise, so you can come back to them. Your email address only: nothing about your child.
Ten words can show a pattern that slips, not fix it. On English days Learnest sets spelling by pattern, names the slip under a wrong answer and brings the pattern back until it holds.
14 days free, then A$10 a month for one child and A$5 for each extra child. You add a card today and pay A$0. Cancel online before day 14 and you pay nothing.
This browser cannot read words aloud. Ask a grown-up to read the words: say the word, then its sentence, then the word again, while your child writes it down. The list is the answer sheet.
The Year 6 words, by pattern
Ask a grown-up to read the words: say the word, then its sentence, then the word again, while your child writes it down. The list is the answer sheet.
Word roots and parts: port, vis, spect, struct, graph, scope
- visible The stars were visible after the clouds cleared.
- export Australia will export wheat to other countries.
- vision
- report
- spectator Every spectator cheered when the ball went in.
- structure The bridge is a strong steel structure.
- erupt
- predict
- attract
- projector
- interrupt Please do not interrupt while someone else is speaking.
- audience
- geography In geography we learnt about rivers and deserts.
- microscope We looked at onion cells under a microscope.
- autobiography
Greek and French spellings: ch, ph, que, rh
- echo Our voices made an echo in the empty hall.
- trophy Our team won a shiny trophy.
- dolphin A grey dolphin jumped out of the sea.
- chorus
- elephant
- machine The washing machine hummed in the laundry.
- character My favourite character in the book is the brave girl.
- parachute
- unique
- rhythm Clap along to the rhythm of the song.
- orchestra The school orchestra played at the concert.
- choir
Prefixes that change to match the word: ir, in, im
- irresponsible Leaving the gate open was irresponsible.
- inedible Those berries are inedible, so do not eat them.
- irresistible
- innumerable
- irrelevant
- immeasurable
Long words with a quiet syllable
- temperature The temperature dropped below ten degrees last night.
- vocabulary Reading every night helps your vocabulary grow.
- unfortunately Unfortunately, the game was cancelled because of rain.
- necessary Warm clothes are necessary in winter.
- probably
- extraordinary The magician did an extraordinary trick.
- caterpillar
Words that sound the same, or nearly
- except Everyone came to the party except Yusuf, who was sick.
- affect The loud music did not affect my sleep.
- paws The cat licked its paws clean after dinner.
- stationery Grace bought new stationery for school, such as pens and paper.
- whether Zara could not decide whether to swim or read.
- principal The principal spoke at the school assembly.
- dessert We had fruit salad for dessert.
- chord Isla pressed three piano keys at once to play a chord.
Questions parents ask
What spelling should a Year 6 child be able to do?
Stage 3 of the NSW English syllabus, which Year 6 follows, works on word roots such as port, spect and graph, the Greek and French spellings ch, ph and que, prefixes that change to match the word, long words with a quiet syllable, and homophones such as affect and effect. The syllabus sets patterns, not a list of words, so schools choose their own words. The words on this page come from Learnest's own Stage 3 questions and show those patterns.
How does the practice work?
Pick a pattern, or ten mixed words, and press Start. The device reads a word aloud, then the sentence it comes from, and your child types the word and presses Check. A right answer gets a tick. A wrong one shows the right spelling with the letters that differ marked, and the pattern it follows. At the end you see the score and the words to practise, and can try those again or print them.
What if the device cannot read the words aloud?
Some browsers have no voice, and a tablet with the sound off says nothing. Then a grown-up reads the words from the list on this page: say the word, the sentence, then the word again, and let your child write it. The list is the answer sheet, and it prints on a few pages, with a sheet of lines for your child at the end.
Spelling by pattern, every English day.
Ten words can show a pattern that slips, not fix it. On English days Learnest sets spelling by pattern, names the slip under a wrong answer and brings the pattern back until it holds.
14 days free, then A$10 a month for one child and A$5 for each extra child. You add a card today and pay A$0. Cancel online before day 14 and you pay nothing.
Learnest is not affiliated with ACARA, NESA, the NSW Department of Education or the Australian Maths Trust. Every word and sentence on this page is Learnest's own, from the questions it sets. None comes from a school list or a past paper.