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Master Year 1 Phonics in Just Minutes a Day

150 guided practice questions covering all phonics phases (2-5), pseudo words, and tricky words to help your child succeed in the Phonics Screening Check.

150+
Practice Questions
4
Full Mock Tests
✓
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Let's learn our sounds together! 🔤 From tricky phonics patterns to early reading — I'll cheer you on every single step of the way.

Phonics Pro • Phonics · Ages 5–7

Why Choose PassNova Phonics?

📚 150 Questions

Comprehensive coverage of all phonics phases with detailed explanations for every answer.

🎯 All Phases Covered

From Phase 2 single sounds through Phase 5 trigraphs and advanced blending.

👽 Pseudo Words

Practice with alien/made-up words to test true phonics knowledge, not just word recognition.

✓ Tricky Words

Master sight words that don't follow phonics rules: the, was, said, come, and more.

📊 Difficulty Levels

50% easy, 35% medium, 15% hard — progressive challenge to build confidence.

💡 Clear Explanations

Every answer includes an explanation to help parents support learning at home.

Complete Curriculum

Phase 2: Single Sounds

15 questions covering basic letter sounds (a-z)

Phase 3: Consonant Digraphs

15 questions on ch, sh, th, ng, ck, wh, ph

Phase 3: Vowel Digraphs

15 questions on ai, ee, oa, oo, ay

Phase 4: Split Digraphs

15 questions on a-e, e-e, i-e, o-e, u-e patterns

Phase 4-5: Trigraphs

15 questions on igh, ear, air, ure

Blending CVC Words

15 questions on consonant-vowel-consonant blending

Blending CCVC Words

15 questions on multi-consonant blends

Pseudo Words

15 questions on decoding alien/made-up words

Tricky Words

15 questions on sight words: the, was, said, come, etc.

Mixed Decoding

15 questions combining all phonics elements

What Are Pseudo Words?

Pseudo words (also called "alien words") are made-up words that follow phonics rules. They're a crucial part of the real Phonics Screening Check because they test whether children can truly decode using phonics knowledge, rather than just recognizing familiar words by sight.

Examples of pseudo words your child will practice:

tig
/t/ /i/ /g/
bub
/b/ /u/ /b/
pog
/p/ /o/ /g/
thaim
/th/ /ai/ /m/
splat
/s/ /p/ /l/ /a/ /t/
gop
/g/ /o/ /p/

Why they matter: Being able to decode pseudo words shows your child truly understands phonics and can apply the rules to any word, real or made-up.

About the Real Screening Check

FORMAT
One-to-one with teacher
QUESTIONS
40 (20 real + 20 pseudo)
TIME
4-9 minutes (child's pace)
PASS MARK
32/40 (80%)
COST
Free (school administered)
AGE
Year 1 (age 5-6)

Key Statistics

150+
Practice Questions
4
Full Mock Tests
✓
Money-Back Guarantee

Frequently Asked Questions

The Phonics Screening Check is a statutory assessment in the UK for Year 1 pupils (age 5-6). Teachers listen to children read 40 words (20 real, 20 pseudo) one-to-one. Children must score at least 32/40 (80%) to meet the expected standard.
Pseudo words test genuine phonics knowledge. A child might recognize "cat" as a familiar word, but a pseudo word like "tig" shows they can truly decode by sounding out letters. This ensures they've learned to blend, not just memorized words.
A digraph is two letters making one sound (e.g., "ch" in "chip", "ai" in "rain"). A trigraph is three letters making one sound (e.g., "igh" in "light"). Learning these is essential for progressing beyond Phase 2.
Split digraphs are pairs of vowels separated by a consonant that make one sound. For example, in "make" the "a_e" pattern makes a long 'a' sound. Other examples: "time" (i_e), "nose" (o_e), "cute" (u_e).
Tricky words don't follow phonics rules and must be learned by sight. Examples include "the", "was", "said", "come", "my", "by". Children learn these alongside phonics.
Use PassNova's 150 questions for guided practice. Read the explanations together, practice blending sounds aloud, play phonics games, and read phonics books. Keep sessions short and fun - 5-10 minutes daily is better than long cramming sessions.
Children who don't achieve the expected standard in Year 1 can retake the screening check in Year 2. Most children pass with continued phonics practice and support.
Yes! Phonics is the foundation for reading fluency. Children who master phonics early become confident, independent readers. The screening check ensures all children have this essential skill.

Year 1 Phonics Screening Course

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✓ 150 questions ✓ All phases covered ✓ Lifetime access ✓ Parents' guides included