Autumn Term Spelling Progress Tests Guidance

The KS2Gems 2022 guide provides detailed instructions for administering Year 5 Spelling Progress Tests during the Autumn Term. The guide includes two tests, each with a teacher version, and an analysis grid to pinpoint areas where students may need further assistance. The tests are designed to be flexible and can be administered at the discretion of the class teacher, ideally after certain weeks in the Y5 Spelling Programme. The first test is recommended after Weeks 4-6, and the second test after Weeks 8-11. Each test assesses different spelling domains, with specific questions aligned to statutory word lists and other relevant spelling rules.

When administering the test, it is crucial to give clear instructions to the pupils, ensuring they understand the process and what is expected of them. The test should take approximately 15 minutes and includes a sequence of 20 spellings. Teachers are advised to maintain a consistent 12-second gap between spellings and to avoid emphasising the spellings when reading them out. For marking, each correct spelling is awarded one mark, with specific guidelines provided for determining the correct answers, including considerations for crossed-out responses, the use of upper and lower case letters, and the presence of apostrophes or hyphens. The teacher versions of the tests provide example sentences for each target word to be spelled by the students.