Essential spelling words

At Netherton School we will be testing children on the essential spelling words 3-4 times each year.  It is up to them to learn these words.

The 290 words in the lists below are those that are used most often when we write.  Together they make up about 75% of most writing, so they are very important.  These words have been arranged in alphabetical order and put in lists according to how often they are used.  Because these words are used so often, it is very important that we learn to spell each one.

Work through the lists with your child.  Take your time and ensure that not only the spelling but the meaning and the ability to use the words correctly is understood and maintained over time.

Level 1 (Year 1 & 2 students)
Students who are spelling proficiently at level 1 will be able to spell some high frequency words (Lists 1-3) correctly).

Level 2 (Year 3 & 4 students)
Students who are spelling proficiently at level 2 will be able to spell most high frequency words (Lists 1-4) correctly).

Level 3 (Year 5 & 6 students)
Students who are spelling proficiently at level 3 will be able to spell most high frequency words (Lists 1-6) correctly).

Level 4 (Year 7 & 8 students)
Students who are spelling proficiently at level 4 will have few errors within high frequency words (Lists 1-7).  Year 8 students should have control over the spelling of most commonly misspelt words.


Essential List 1 (10 words - 25% of writing)
  1. a
  2. and
  3. I
  4. in
  5. it
  6. my
  7. the
  8. to
  9. was
  10. we
Essential List 2 (20 words - 15% of writing)

  1. at
  2. but
  3. for
  4. got
  5. had
  6. he
  7. is
  8. me
  9. of
  10. on
  11. she
  12. so
  13. that
  14. then
  15. there
  16. they
  17. up
  18. went
  19. when
  20. you
Essential List 3 (30 words - 10% of writing)
  1. about
  2. after
  3. all
  4. are
  5. as
  6. back
  7. be
  8. because
  9. came
  10. day
  11. down
  12. get
  13. go
  14. going
  15. have
  16. her
  17. his
  18. home
  19. into
  20. just
  21. like
  22. mum
  23. not
  24. one
  25. our
  26. out
  27. said
  28. some
  29. were
  30. with
Essential List 4 (50 words - 10% of writing)
  1. again
  2. an
  3. around
  4. big
  5. by
  6. can
  7. come
  8. could
  9. dad
  10. did
  11. do
  12. first
  13. food
  14. from
  15. good
  16. has
  17. him
  18. house
  19. if
  20. little
  21. next
  22. night
  23. no
  24. now
  25. off
  26. old
  27. only
  28. or
  29. other
  30. over
  31. people
  32. put
  33. ran
  34. saw
  35. school
  36. see
  37. started
  38. their
  39. them
  40. this
  41. time
  42. took
  43. two
  44. us
  45. very
  46. well
  47. what
  48. will 
  49. would
  50. your
Essential List 5 (50 words - 5% of writing)
  1. am
  2. another
  3. away
  4. bed
  5. been
  6. before
  7. best
  8. brother
  9. called
  10. car
  11. door
  12. everyone
  13. family
  14. five
  15. found
  16. friend
  17. fun
  18. heard
  19. here
  20. know
  21. last
  22. left
  23. log
  24. looked
  25. made
  26. man
  27. more
  28. morning
  29. name
  30. never
  31. once
  32. play
  33. really
  34. room
  35. something
  36. still
  37. thing
  38. think
  39. thought
  40. three
  41. through
  42. told
  43. too
  44. walked
  45. want
  46. way
  47. where
  48. which
  49. who
  50. year
Essential List 6 (70 words - 5% of writing)
  1. also
  2. always
  3. asked
  4. black
  5. boy
  6. bus
  7. cat
  8. coming
  9. cool
  10. dark
  11. decided
  12. dog
  13. eat
  14. end
  15. even
  16. every
  17. eyes
  18. fell
  19. felt
  20. find
  21. four
  22. gave
  23. getting
  24. great
  25. head
  26. hit
  27. how
  28. inside
  29. its
  30. it's
  31. I'll
  32. I'm
  33. jump
  34. knew
  35. later
  36. life
  37. live
  38. lot
  39. lunch
  40. make
  41. minutes
  42. most
  43. much
  44. nice
  45. opened
  46. outside
  47. place
  48. ready
  49. ride
  50. right
  51. run
  52. say
  53. sister
  54. sleep
  55. suddenly
  56. take
  57. tell
  58. ten
  59. top
  60. town
  61. tree
  62. turned
  63. until
  64. wanted
  65. water
  66. while
  67. why
  68. window
  69. woke
  70. yes
Essential List 7 (60 words - 3% of writing)
  1. any
  2. baby
  3. bad
  4. ball
  5. being
  6. bit
  7. boat
  8. bought
  9. camp
  10. dead
  11. died
  12. doing
  13. each
  14. ever
  15. everything
  16. face
  17. fast
  18. father
  19. few
  20. finally
  21. finished
  22. game
  23. girl
  24. gone
  25. ground
  26. guard
  27. hand
  28. happened
  29. happy
  30. help
  31. hole
  32. hot
  33. hour
  34. let
  35. look
  36. many
  37. money
  38. mother
  39. myself
  40. new
  41. parents
  42. picked
  43. playing
  44. presents
  45. road
  46. side
  47. small
  48. sometimes
  49. soon
  50. stay
  51. stop
  52. swimming
  53. tea
  54. than
  55. tried
  56. under
  57. wait
  58. won
  59. work
  60. world
Essential List 8  (Commonly Misspelt Words)
  1. allowed
  2. awhile
  3. believe
  4. breakfast
  5. brought
  6. cannon
  7. can't
  8. caught
  9. centre
  10. chocolate
  11. clothes
  12. couldn't
  13. didn't
  14. different
  15. disappeared
  16. doesn't
  17. dollars
  18. don't
  19. everybody
  20. everyday
  21. everywhere
  22. excited
  23. favourite
  24. field
  25. friends
  26. front
  27. grabbed
  28. having
  29. holidays
  30. hopped
  31. hospital
  32. instead
  33. lightning
  34. luckily
  35. nearly
  36. police
  37. present
  38. probably
  39. quiet
  40. scared
  41. second
  42. someone
  43. stopped
  44. straight
  45. they're
  46. threw
  47. tomorrow
  48. video
  49. wasn't
  50. watch
  51. weren't
  52. we're
  53. whole
  54. won't
  55. you're
  56. programme