One of the most challenging parts of the Year 6 SATs is the amount of technical grammatical concepts and spellings that come up in the exam.
The English exam not only tests a child’s ability to read and write creatively but also assesses their grasp of the nuts and bolts of the language—Spelling, Punctuation, and Grammar (SPaG). For many students, mastering these technical elements can be daunting.
This blog will guide you through the most important elements and how to help your child succeed in this part of the English SATs.
What Does The Year 6 SPaG Papers Exam Cover?
SPaG paper 1 is 45 minutes and is worth 50 of the 70 marks. Here, the examiners want to see what your child knows about the language and how they can use that knowledge in different situations.
Many of the questions within this test ask students to employ their knowledge to demonstrate grammatical rules, correct usage of punctuation, and spelling.
SPaG paper 2 is around 15 minutes and is worth 20 of those 70 marks. This paper is basically a spelling test where the teacher reads out 20 words for the students to write down. They also read out sentences to go along with each word to provide some context, which helps with homophones (words that sound the same but are spelt differently), such as complement and compliment or sauce and source. Schools should cover the required words for this paper but of course, there’s no harm in practising them at home.
SPaG is targeted so that what the children know about the language should be tested together with how such knowledge can be applied within different contexts.
Much of the test is SPaG, meaning many of the questions within this test ask students to employ their knowledge to demonstrate grammatical rules, correct usage of punctuation, and spelling.
The types of questions to be given shall range from parts of speech identification to grammatical error correction in sentences to the application of complex punctuation and spelling tricky words correctly.
How is the SPaG Component Tested?
Here is a breakdown of the content, marks, and timings:
| Paper | Content | Duration | Marks |
|---|---|---|---|
| Paper 1: Grammar, Punctuation, and Spelling (Questions) |
|
45 minutes | 50 |
| Paper 2: Spelling |
|
Approximately 15 minutes (not strictly timed) | 20 |
What is Tested in the SPaG Section?
In the SPaG section of the Year 6 SATs, students can expect to encounter a variety of questions designed to test their technical knowledge of English. Some of the main areas covered include:
- Grammar Concepts: Questions may involve identifying nouns, verbs, adjectives, adverbs, prepositions, conjunctions, and pronouns. Additionally, students might need to correct sentence structure, use appropriate verb tenses, and ensure subject-verb agreement.
- Punctuation: Students will be tested on their ability to use punctuation marks correctly. This includes mastering the use of commas, full stops, question marks, exclamation marks, apostrophes, colons, and quotation marks. More advanced punctuation concepts such as the use of hyphens, dashes, and parentheses might also be included.
- Spelling: A variety of spelling challenges can be expected, from common words and tricky homophones to more complex multi-syllabic words. The exam often includes sections where students need to choose the correct spelling of a word or identify spelling errors in a given text.
- Sentence Construction: Students may be asked to rewrite sentences to make them grammatically correct, transform direct speech to indirect speech (and vice versa), and combine or split sentences effectively.
Understanding these components and preparing specifically for them can dramatically improve a child’s confidence and performance in the SPaG section and Spelling sections of their English SATs.
Let’s go through a few examples of question types that may come up.
- Rewrite this sentence in the past progressive tense: The dog chases the cat down the alley.
The main simple present tense verb in the sentence is chases, so we would need to add the correct form of the verb, “to be” and the present participle form of the verb “chase”.
This sentence would therefore be rewritten as:
The dog was chasing the cat down the alley.
Here’s another example question:
- Which verb is a synonym of the verb create?
Tick one.
display []
sell []
manufacture []
dismantle []
The answer in this case is manufacture as the question is looking for a synonym (or something with the same meaning).
Here are two tables that provide some information on the different areas covered in the papers, and difficulty levels:
Paper 1: Spelling, Punctuation and Grammar
| Element | Difficulty Level | Topics |
|---|---|---|
| Basic Punctuation | Easy | Covers full stops, commas, question marks, and capital letters, which are foundational skills. |
| Word Classes Identification | Easy | Recognising nouns, verbs, adjectives, and adverbs, which are consistently taught throughout primary school. |
| Simple Present and Past Tenses | Easy | Focuses on straightforward identification and use of common verb forms. |
| Sentence Functions | Moderate | Requires understanding of declarative, interrogative, imperative, and exclamatory sentences, as outlined in the curriculum. |
| Present and Past Progressive Tenses | Moderate | Involves recognising continuous verb forms, particularly challenging with irregular verbs. |
| Tense Consistency | Moderate | Demands ensure verb tense consistency in writing, which requires careful attention to sentence context. |
| Advanced Punctuation | Challenging | Includes semicolons, colons, hyphens, and parentheses, which demand precise understanding and application. |
| Subordinate and Relative Clauses | Challenging | Involves identifying and constructing sentences with subordinate and relative clauses, adding complexity. |
| Future Tense and Conditional Forms | Challenging | Tests understanding of less familiar verb forms, like future perfect and conditional sentences. |
| Error Correction in Sentences | Challenging | Combines skills like identifying and correcting grammatical or punctuation errors within a context. |
Paper 2: Spelling
| Element | Difficulty Level | Topics |
|---|---|---|
| Spelling of Common Words | Easy | Focuses on words students encounter frequently, aligning with curriculum spelling lists. |
| Spelling of Words with Regular Patterns | Easy | Includes phonetic spellings and consistent patterns taught throughout primary school. |
| Spelling of Tricky Words | Moderate | Covers irregularly spelt words like “though” and “enough,” which require memorisation and familiarity. |
| Spelling Homophones | Challenging | Requires distinguishing between homophones like “their,” “there,” and “they’re,” requiring contextual understanding. |
| Multi-syllabic and Complex Words | Challenging | Focuses on longer words with prefixes, suffixes, or irregular patterns, demanding careful attention. |
What are 6 Common Problems that Students Encounter in Their SPaG Test?
One of the greatest issues that have arisen with SPaG (Spelling, Punctuation, and Grammar) is that this is not about a fluent writing test or the use of English that “sounds right.” It is rather based on rote memorisation and the correct application of specific grammatical terms, punctuation conventions, and spelling rules.
While many students (and adults) can tell when a sentence sounds grammatically or stylistically awkward, the SPaG test requires a sophisticated knowledge of why it is right or wrong, and the technical vocabulary to describe it.
1. The Gap Between Intuitive Usage and Technical Knowledge
Most of us learn English in an organic, experiential manner. We develop an ear for phrases that “sound right” and grow accustomed to certain spelling patterns. SPaG exams push students beyond intuitive language use, asking them to identify or explain language features, such as the past progressive tense, fronted adverbials, or subordinating conjunctions.
A sentence like “I was running through the forests with the wind at my back” may be perfectly natural to write, but the test requires knowing it uses the past progressive tense and being able to label it as such.
2. Having to Memorise Complex Terminology
Terms like ‘subjunctive mood,’ ‘determiners,’ or ‘relative clauses’ may be unfamiliar or even intimidating. While students instinctively use such structures in their writing, they normally find it difficult to label them and explain how they work.
For some students, the stress of learning a long list of technical labels is heightened when those labels are tested under time pressure in an examination.
3. Punctuation Pitfalls
Punctuation can be fiddly, especially for younger learners, and remembering all the finer details is challenging. Students usually know they need commas, full stops, and capital letters, but the correct usage of semicolons, colons, or apostrophes—particularly in possessives versus contractions—can trip them up.
Usually, the SPaG test requires the highest degree of accuracy in such areas, penalizing minor slips that might go unnoticed in ordinary writing tasks.
4. Spelling Irregularities and Homophones
English is replete with words that are not phonetically regular, including ‘though’, ‘enough’, and ‘weird’. There are also homophones: words that are pronounced similarly but vary in meaning and spelling, for example, ‘their’, ‘there’, and ‘they’re’.
Students should be able to discriminate between these and spell them, which requires mere memorisation and practice.
5. Exam Pressure and Time Constraints
Even those students who know the grammatical rules and spelling conventions find it very pressurizing to demonstrate this in the timing confines of a formal test.
There is a danger of careless errors or a mental block on the precise terminology. Once again, good examination techniques, including preparation under timed conditions and developing tactics to address awkward questions, can bring dividends.
6. Transfer to New Contexts
It’s quite common that the students memorise the grammatical, punctuation, and spelling rules through certain worksheets and practice exercises. On the other hand, to put these in a new format of questions might be tricky for them.
Sometimes, an examination question combines two or more skills (e.g., identification and subsequent correction of a punctuation error within a sentence employing the subjunctive) unless each has been fully mastered.
By focusing both on practical use and explicit grammar knowledge, students may best prepare themselves for the SPaG test. Targeted practice, continuous reviewing of terminology, and regular spelling drills are examples of strategies that can assist with the transition between what sounds/feels right and what is technically right.
In developing instincts for good writing in this manner, young learners develop the potential for explaining and justifying their choices under test conditions.
Why is a Tutor Important for SPaG Paper Preparation?
I’ve worked with many students for SPaG preparation and some of the students’ parents are highly-educated.
However, most people are not experts in the technical features of English. Students may benefit from the input of a tutor who specialises in SATs preparation as many points require explanation.
Parents can, of course, assist their children during the process, but I have generally found that even parents specialising in complex professions such as law and medicine may not know the various types of determiners, spelling rules, and so on.
A Personal Story: Overcoming SPaG Challenges
I’ll never forget one of my students, Bianca, who initially struggled with SPaG.
Like many others, she found the technical terms intimidating and often second-guessed herself when using punctuation. Tenses were especially challenging with her, and we went over the different tenses many times, so she could master them at her own pace.
Bianca would say things like, “I know this sounds right, but I don’t know why!”
Through consistent practice and creative exercises, such as turning grammar rules into fun posters and working on real-life examples, Bianca’s confidence began to grow. She enjoyed forming her sentences based on her interests to illustrate points.
By the time her SATs arrived, Bianca not only understood the rules but could confidently explain them.
She told me afterwards that she enjoyed the exam. She even got full marks in the SPaG paper!
Moments like these remind me how personalised learning, targeted strategies and a little encouragement can make all the difference.
What are the Best Resources for SPaG Success?
As the requirements for the SPaG papers are so specific to this paper, resources both free and paid play a large part in achieving success in this area:
Use our free KS2 SATs SPaG diagnostic to group errors by skill, then move to the matching module in the SATs SPaG Misconception Mastery Pack for explanation, focused practice and rechecking. If gaps also appear in Maths or Reading, the Complete SATs Fix the Gap Bundle combines all three subject packs; the Complete Year 6 Mastery Bundle adds structured writing practice too.
The Illustrated First Aid in English
The First Aid in English is an excellent resource for children. It is an oldie but a goody, as it was first published in 1938, yet still offers timeless value for students. I remember using the First Aid in English as a child, and the exercises in it helped me develop my understanding of vocabulary and grammar.
Illustrated First Aid in English
Illustrated First Aid in English Answers
Haydn Richards
Haydn Richards Junior English
This series deals with many skills required in comprehension, spelling, punctuation and grammar. They are approachable books, and I have seen how working through them can improve a child’s grasp of English. The books vary greatly in their difficulty, so it can be challenging to pick the right book for your child. A tutor would be able to help you find the right resource.
Junior English Book 1 (Year 2/3)
Junior English Book 2 (Year 3/4)
Junior English Book 3 (Year 4/5)
Junior English Book 4 (Year 5/6)
Test material
Test practice workbooks are useful for achieving success in the SPaG paper. I know quite a few students who have completed a lot of success using the following materials:
KS2 SATs Buster – Grammar (CGP)
Spelling
My favourite spelling resources for students are the Schofield and Sims books. They deal with all the spelling rules and are graduated in difficulty. In most cases, books 4-6 should tackle most of your child’s needs, but select the book which suits your child’s level.
What Exercises Can My Child Do To Build Grammatical Awareness?
1. Labelling Parts of Speech
A simple exercise that I often do with students to build their grammatical awareness, is to write out a sentence from a fiction or non-fiction text and then ask the student to break down the sentence into its different parts of speech.
For instance:
This method of engaging a student helps with grammatical awareness as it allows the student to see how words can change their function within a sentence.
For instance, if I were to examine the word “like” in the following sentence, it no longer functions as a preposition, and would be as a verb:
Similarly, if I were to analyse the word, “soul” in the following sentence, it no longer functions as a noun and becomes an adjective:
The way that words change in function is always a complex part of the SPaG paper.
Children generally enjoy fixed structures and simple answers, but there is considerable technicality involved as you cannot label a word a verb, noun, adjective, etc – you need to think about how the word functions within the sentence.
2. Creating Fun and Visual Posters
Another delightful activity is crafting engaging visual posters with your child to illustrate complex grammatical concepts.
For example, you can create a poster dedicated to different tenses: display examples of past, present, and future tenses in various contexts using vibrant colours and playful illustrations. By highlighting each tense in its colour or section, you turn abstract rules into a lively, memorable experience.
This hands-on approach not only reinforces understanding through visual learning but also sparks creativity and excitement about grammar.
3. Correcting Passages
This activity is less fun than the last two, but it tests your child’s understanding of grammar, punctuation and spelling in depth.
It entails taking a short extract from a book, article, etc and then filling it with errors for your child to correct and rewrite. You can tailor this to the level of your child.
Conclusion: preparing for SPaG success
The Year 6 SPaG test can feel daunting, but focused practice, clear explanations and regular encouragement help children build confidence. Labelling parts of speech, creating visual posters and correcting passages can make grammar more manageable, while Illustrated First Aid in English provides structured practice at home.
If your child needs guided support, explore our English tuition or view Classes, Times & Prices and use the form to tell us their year group and areas of difficulty.