Giving the test
Hand out the sheets face down and let everyone write their name and the date first; a test without a name is the most common problem of the week. Then read each word three times: the word on its own, the word in a short sentence, and the word again. Say the number before the word so nobody loses the line, and wait until the pencils stop before you move on. Keep the same pace for every word, even the easy ones.
For the bonus lines, say clearly that they are extra and do not count toward the score. A word from last week's list, a word the class asked about, or a longer word built from the week's pattern all make good bonus words. The score field prints as a fraction with the number of words, so marking is a matter of counting the correct lines and writing the number in front of the slash.
Choosing the line style
Young writers who are still learning letter sizes need the wide three-line rows: tall letters reach the top line, small letters stay under the dotted middle line, and the tails of g, j, p, q and y hang below the base. Ten words give the tallest rows; fifteen and more switch to two columns to keep the rows wide enough. Once a class writes confidently on a single line, switch to narrow lines, which fit 25 words and the bonus lines on one page with room to spare.
The half sheet option is for narrow lines and short lists. Two sheets per page cut the paper for a weekly test in half, and the small sheets are easy to glue into an exercise book or keep in a folder.
Using the study list
Type the week's words into the box and a second page is added with each word printed in bold and two boxes to copy it. Send that page home on the first day of the week. The method on the page is simple: read the word, cover it with a hand or a card, write it from memory, uncover it and check letter by letter, then write it once more. Students who find a word hard can circle it on the study list and practice that one again the next day.
The test sheet itself never shows the words, so you can print both pages from the same file, hand out the study list on Monday and keep the test sheet for Friday. In the wide style, the copy boxes carry the same three guide lines as the test, so the practice looks exactly like the test.
Keeping tests in a folder
Give each student a folder or a section of a binder for spelling tests and keep every sheet, marked and dated. After a few weeks the folder shows the pattern: which letter groups keep going wrong, whether the score moves, and which bonus words were caught. Before a longer review test, let students go through their own folder and write down the words they missed; that list is a better study list than any you could write for the whole class.
Parents like to see the folder at a conference too. A row of dated sheets says more than a single grade.
Tools and printables for spelling practice
The word search generator turns the same word list into a printable puzzle from 8 by 8 to 25 by 25 squares with an answer key, a quiet way to see the words a few more times during the week. The word unscrambler finds every word that can be made from a set of letters, which helps when you build an anagram warm-up from the list or check a student's claim that a word exists. The random word generator gives you common English words by length or starting letter when you need a few extra bonus words that fit the week's pattern.
For the rest of the week's work, the printable homework planner has a row for every subject and a box for tests and projects, so the Friday test has a place on the page from Monday on. The reward chart gives younger students a star for every study list they finish.
Frequently asked questions
Is the spelling test sheet free?
Yes. Print a class set every week, at school or at home, as often as you need. There is no signup and no watermark; one small line at the bottom of each page names our website.
What is the difference between wide and narrow lines?
Wide lines are the three-line handwriting rows young writers know from their exercise books: a top line, a dotted middle line for the small letters and a solid base line. With 10 words they fill the page in one tall column, with 15 or more they split into two columns. Narrow lines are single lines with the number in front, for students who write at a normal size.
How do the two half sheets work?
With narrow lines and up to 15 words you can print two identical sheets on one page, one above the other, with a dashed cut line between them. Each half has its own name, date and score fields and its own bonus lines. Cut the stack down the middle and you have two tests per page, which halves the paper for a weekly test.
What is the study list page for?
Type the words of the week into the box, one per line, and the file gets a second page. Each word is printed once in bold, followed by two empty boxes to copy it into. Send it home on Monday and keep the test sheet for Friday. The page prints without the words when the box is empty, so the test sheet stays a surprise.
How are the bonus lines marked?
Bonus lines come after the numbered words, below a darker rule and labelled B1 to B3, so the score line stays out of a certain number while a harder word or two can earn extra credit. Set Bonus words to 0 if you do not use them.
Why are some characters missing from my word list?
The PDF uses a standard font that covers English and most Western European letters, but no emoji and no other scripts such as Greek, Cyrillic or Chinese. Those characters are left out, a few rare accented letters lose the accent, and a note under the box tells you when that happens. The preview shows the text exactly as it will print.