National curriculum assessments

Key stages 1 & 2

Notes for readers in the
English grammar, punctuation
and spelling test: questions
Key stage 1 and key stage 2
This document gives examples of how particular types of question in the key stage 1 and
key stage 2 English grammar, punctuation and spelling tests should be read aloud to a pupil.
It is intended to help schools understand what may and may not be read to a pupil. As with
all access arrangements, readers must never provide an unfair advantage; the support given
must not change the test questions and the answers must be the pupil’s own.

The use of a reader should be normal classroom practice. Schools must have evidence to
show that resources are routinely committed to providing this support.

The questions in this document have been selected from English grammar, punctuation and
spelling test materials and are annotated. It is important to note that the live test papers will
not contain specific notes for readers.

General guidance for readers:

• Readers should read all text with neutral intonation and take care not to
overemphasise particular elements of the questions unless they are in bold or
underlined.
• Subject-specific terminology must not be explained.
• The names of punctuation marks should not be read aloud.
 Notes for readers in the English grammar, punctuation and spelling tests
New Item 3 – 18 December 2017 10:49 AM – Version 1

1 Why do the underlined words start with a capital letter?

King Fred had a party at Greystone Palace on Sunday afternoon.

1 mark

Notes for the reader

For this type of question, you should read out all the text.

You may emphasise words that are underlined or in bold, but you must not explain subject-
specific terminology. In this example, the words ‘capital letter’ must not be explained.

Page 02 of 18
 Notes for readers in the English grammar, punctuation and spelling
G003103 – 18tests
December 2017 10:46 AM – Version 3

2 Write s or es to make each word a plural.

fox

card

match 1 mark

Notes for the reader

This type of question should be read as follows:

1. Write s or es to make each word a plural.

2. Read out the words indicating the blank space by saying ‘blank’, e.g. fox BLANK.

Do not read the letters individually, but encourage the pupil to follow them as you read so
that they can see the spelling differences.

Page 03 of 18
 Notes for readers in the English grammar, punctuation and spelling
Q2 – 18tests
December 2017 10:50 AM – Version 5

3 Tick the correct word to complete the sentence below.

I hope we will play musical chairs at the party.

Tick one.

when

if

that

because
1 mark

Notes for the reader

This type of question should be read as follows:

1. Tick the correct word to complete the sentence below.

2. Read out the sentence indicating the blank space by saying ‘blank’: I hope BLANK
we will play musical chairs at the party.
3. Read out the four options. Do not repeat the sentences with any of the options
inserted.

Page 04 of 18
 Notes for readers in the English grammar, punctuation and spelling
G003609 – 18tests
December 2017 10:45 AM – Version 2

4 Which pair of verbs correctly completes the sentence below?

Pluto ______ now called a dwarf planet, but once it _____ classified
as a planet.

Tick one.

was is

was was

is is

is was
1 mark

Notes for the reader

This type of question should be read as follows:

1. Which pair of verbs correctly completes the sentence below?

2. Read out the sentence indicating each blank space by saying ‘blank’:
Pluto BLANK now called a dwarf planet, but once it BLANK classified as a planet.
3. Read out the list of options as pairs, e.g. was is, was was, leaving a brief pause
between each pair.
4. Do not repeat the sentences with any of the four options inserted.

Page 05 of 18
 Notes for readers in the English grammar, punctuation and spelling
New Item 1 – 18tests
December 2017 10:49 AM – Version 1

5 Complete the passage below with adjectives derived from the

nouns in brackets. One has been done for you.

Elaine is a very talented [talent] painter. Her teacher says that her use

of colour is [drama]. Her [artist] style 1 mark

was praised by judges in an art competition.

Notes for the reader

This type of question should be read as follows:

1. Complete the passage below with adjectives derived from the nouns in brackets. One has
been done for you.
2. Then read out the example that has been completed. The word in brackets should be
read aloud as part of the sentence: Elaine is a very talented [talent] painter.
3. Then read the remainder of the question indicating each blank space by saying ‘blank’:
Her teacher says that her use of colour is BLANK [drama]. Her BLANK [artist] style was
praised by judges in an art competition.
4. You may rephrase the question, e.g. What is the adjective form of ‘drama’?

Page 06 of 18
 Notes for readers in the English grammar, punctuation andG00247
spelling
– 18tests
December 2017 10:41 AM – Version 1

6 Rewrite the underlined verbs in the simple present.

One has been done for you.

My mum’s alarm clock woke me at 6am.

wakes

Suddenly, I heard a crash from my brother’s bedroom.

“Great. So much for my lie in!” I thought.

1 mark

Notes for the reader

This type of question should be read as follows:

1. Rewrite the underlined verbs in the simple present. One has been done for you.
2. Then read out the example that has been completed:
My mum’s alarm clock woke me at 6am.
My mum’s alarm clock wakes me at 6am.
3. Read the remainder of the question:
Suddenly, I heard a crash from my brother’s bedroom.
Suddenly, I BLANK a crash from my brother’s bedroom.
“Great. So much for my lie in!” I thought.
“Great. So much for my lie in!” I BLANK.
4. You may rephrase the question, e.g. Write ‘heard’ in the simple present. Change
‘thought’ into the simple present.

Page 07 of 18
 Notes for readers in the English grammar, punctuation and spelling
New Item 2 – 18tests
December 2017 10:50 AM – Version 1

7 Circle the correct words so that the sentence makes sense.

We mixed eggs or and milk together when that

1 mark

we made scrambled eggs.

Notes for the reader

This type of question should be read as follows:

1. Circle the correct words so that the sentence makes sense.

2. Read the sentence with the options: We mixed eggs or and milk together when that we
made scrambled eggs.
3. Tell the pupil to circle the correct words.

Page 08 of 18
 Notes for readers in the English grammar, punctuation and spelling
G003788 – 18tests
December 2017 10:40 AM – Version 4

8 Draw a line to match each prefix to a word to make five different

words. Use each prefix only once.

Prefix Word

re mature

de understood

mis legible

im frost

il do
1 mark

Notes for the reader

This type of question should be read as follows:

1. Draw a line to match each prefix to a word to make five different words. Use each prefix
only once.
2. Read the first word: mature.
3. Read out all the options: re, de, mis, im, il.
4. Read the second word: understood
5. Read out all the options: re, de, mis, im, il.

Each word must be followed by the full list of prefix options. Do not read the letters
individually. Do not read the words with the prefixes attached, e.g. remature.

Page 09 of 18
 Notes for readers in the English grammar, punctuation and spelling
G003685 – 18tests
December 2017 10:44 AM – Version 3

9 Label the boxes with V (verb), S (subject) and O (object).

Nadia ate strawberries.

1 mark

Notes for the reader

For this type of question, you should read out all the text.

You may rephrase the question, e.g. What part of the sentence is ‘Nadia’? Is it a verb, a subject
or an object? If you rephrase this type of question, you must offer all three alternatives for
each word in the sentence.

Page 10 of 18
 Notes for readers in the English grammar, punctuation and spelling
G00093b – 18tests
December 2017 10:42 AM – Version 1

10 Insert three commas in the correct places in the sentence below.

For the school trip I need to bring a packed lunch some sun

cream a hat a raincoat and a clipboard. 1 mark

Notes for the reader

For this type of question, you should read out all the text. Care must be taken to read the
sentence with a neutral intonation, without emphasising where the punctuation mark
should go.

Page 11 of 18
 Notes for readers in the English grammar, punctuation and spelling
G003046 – 18tests
December 2017 10:46 AM – Version 5

11 Which punctuation mark should be used in the place indicated by

the arrow?

“Why did you do that?” he asked Harry was surprised by his

classmate’s actions.

Tick one.

exclamation mark

full stop

question mark

comma
1 mark

Notes for the reader

For this type of question, you should read out all the text.

Care must be taken to read everything with a neutral intonation.

Page 12 of 18
 Notes for readers in the English grammar, punctuation and spelling tests
G005050 – 18 December 2017 10:41 AM – Version 4

12 Tick one box to show the correct place for a dash in the
sentence below.

African elephants are the largest animals in the world they can weigh up

1 mark

to 10 tonnes.

Notes for the reader

This type of question should be read as follows:

1. Tick one box to show the correct place for a dash in the sentence below.
2. African elephants are the largest animals in the world they can weigh up to 10 tonnes.
3. Tell the pupil to choose the correct box.

Care must be taken to read everything with a neutral intonation, without emphasising
where the punctuation mark should go.

Page 13 of 18
 Notes for readers in the English grammar, punctuation and spelling
G003645 – 18tests
December 2017 10:45 AM – Version 3

13 Explain how the use of commas changes the meaning in the

two sentences.

Mangoes, which are grown in hot countries, taste delicious.

Mangoes which are grown in hot countries taste delicious.

1 mark

Notes for the reader

This type of question should be read as follows:

1. Explain how the use of commas changes the meaning in the two sentences.
2. a) Mangoes (PAUSE) which are grown in hot countries (PAUSE) taste delicious.
3. b) Mangoes which are grown in hot countries taste delicious.

You should use pauses to indicate where the commas are placed, but you must not read
out the name of the punctuation mark. For example, you must not read:
Mangoes (comma) which are grown in hot countries (comma) taste delicious.

Page 14 of 18
 Notes for readers in the English grammar, punctuation and spelling
G003912 – 18tests
December 2017 10:43 AM – Version 3

14 Which sentence is punctuated correctly?

Tick one.

Immediately after, dinner we did the washing up.

Immediately after dinner we did, the washing up.

Immediately after dinner, we did the washing up.

Immediately, after dinner we did the washing up.

1 mark

Notes for the reader

For this type of question, you should read each of the sentences, using pauses to indicate
where the commas are placed, but you must not read out the name of the punctuation
mark.

For example, you should read:

Immediately after (pause) dinner we did the washing up.

In questions that test other punctuation marks in this way (e.g. apostrophes), you may
be required to read the same sentence four times. There may be no audible difference
between the sentences when read aloud. Encourage the pupil to follow the words as you
read so that they can see the punctuation differences.

Page 15 of 18
 Notes for readers in the English grammar, punctuation and spelling
New Item 4 – 18tests
December 2017 10:49 AM – Version 1

15 What is the sentence below? The end punctuation is covered.

What is your name

Tick one.

a question

a command

a statement

an exclamation
1 mark

Notes for the reader

For this type of question, you should read out all the text. Care must be taken to read the
sentence with a neutral intonation.

The covered punctuation mark will make no audible difference to the sentence.

Page 16 of 18
 Notes for readers in the English grammar, punctuation and spelling
G003898 – 18tests
December 2017 10:40 AM – Version 2

16 Tick one box in each row to show whether the underlined word is an
adjective or an adverb.

Sentence Adjective Adverb

It is a direct flight to Spain.

I hate arriving late.

The door opened wide.

That is the wrong spelling.

1 mark

Notes for the reader

This type of question should be read as follows:

1. Tick one box in each row to show whether the underlined word is an adjective or an
adverb.
2. Read each line of text in the table by first reading the whole sentence and then
reading the underlined word. You may rephrase the question by reading the sentence
and asking whether the underlined word is an adjective or an adverb.

Page 17 of 18
Key stage 1 and key stage 2
Notes for readers in the English grammar, punctuation and spelling test: questions
Electronic PDF version product code: STA/18/8111/e ISBN: 978-1-78644-877-4

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