Pseudo Words (Alien Words)
15 free practice questions with explanations
PassNova has 15 free Phonics Screening Check practice questions on Pseudo Words (Alien Words), each with a clear explanation. Practise them in the browser with instant feedback — 100% free, no sign-up, on any device. Updated for 2026.
Pseudo Words (Alien Words): example questions & answers
15 worked examples with answers and explanations below. Practise them in the browser with instant feedback on every answer.
What sounds would you blend together for the pseudo word 'zub'?
- A/z/ /u/ /b/✓
- B/z/ /a/ /b/
- C/z/ /o/ /b/
- D/z/ /i/ /b/
Answer: Zub is not a real word, so you read it by blending /z/ /u/ /b/. Alien words like this check that you can decode, not just remember words you know.
What sounds would you blend together for the pseudo word 'tep'?
- A/t/ /o/ /p/
- B/t/ /e/ /p/✓
- C/t/ /a/ /p/
- D/t/ /i/ /p/
Answer: Tep would sound like /t/ /e/ /p/. This is a pseudo word created for phonics screening tests.
What sounds would you blend together for the pseudo word 'nop'?
- A/n/ /o/ /p/✓
- B/n/ /a/ /p/
- C/n/ /e/ /p/
- D/n/ /i/ /p/
Answer: Nop would sound like /n/ /o/ /p/. This is a pseudo word (not a real word) that you decode using phonics.
What sounds would you blend together for the pseudo word 'yop'?
- A/y/ /u/ /p/
- B/y/ /o/ /p/✓
- C/y/ /a/ /p/
- D/y/ /i/ /p/
Answer: Yop is not a real word, so you read it by blending /y/ /o/ /p/. Alien words like this check that you can decode a word from its letters rather than recognising it by sight.
What sounds would you blend together for the pseudo word 'tem'?
- A/t/ /a/ /m/
- B/t/ /u/ /m/
- C/t/ /i/ /m/
- D/t/ /e/ /m/✓
Answer: Tem would sound like /t/ /e/ /m/. This is a pseudo word created for phonics screening tests.
What sounds would you blend together for the pseudo word 'rin'?
- A/r/ /a/ /n/
- B/r/ /i/ /n/✓
- C/r/ /e/ /n/
- D/r/ /o/ /n/
Answer: Rin would sound like /r/ /i/ /n/. This is a pseudo word (not a real word) that you decode using phonics.
What sounds would you blend together for the pseudo word 'gop'?
- A/g/ /u/ /p/
- B/g/ /a/ /p/
- C/g/ /i/ /p/
- D/g/ /o/ /p/✓
Answer: Gop would sound like /g/ /o/ /p/. This is a pseudo word created for the phonics test.
What sounds would you blend together for the pseudo word 'jeg'?
- A/j/ /e/ /g/✓
- B/j/ /a/ /g/
- C/j/ /i/ /g/
- D/j/ /o/ /g/
Answer: Jeg would sound like /j/ /e/ /g/. This pseudo word uses the 'j' sound.
What sounds would you blend together for the pseudo word 'vot'?
- A/v/ /o/ /t/✓
- B/v/ /a/ /t/
- C/v/ /e/ /t/
- D/v/ /i/ /t/
Answer: Vot would sound like /v/ /o/ /t/. This is a pseudo word for the phonics test.
What sounds would you blend together for the pseudo word 'vus'?
- A/v/ /e/ /s/
- B/v/ /a/ /s/
- C/v/ /u/ /s/✓
- D/v/ /o/ /s/
Answer: Vus is not a real word, so you read it by blending /v/ /u/ /s/. This pseudo word uses the 'v' sound at the start.
What sounds would you blend together for the pseudo word 'bim'?
- A/b/ /a/ /m/
- B/b/ /o/ /m/
- C/b/ /i/ /m/✓
- D/b/ /e/ /m/
Answer: Bim is not a real word, so you read it by blending /b/ /i/ /m/. Sounding out each letter in order is the way to read an alien word.
What sounds would you blend together for the pseudo word 'mub'?
- A/m/ /a/ /b/
- B/m/ /i/ /b/
- C/m/ /u/ /b/✓
- D/m/ /o/ /b/
Answer: Mub would sound like /m/ /u/ /b/. This is a pseudo word (not a real word) that you decode using phonics.
What sounds would you blend together for the pseudo word 'shab'?
- A/sh/ /i/ /b/
- B/sh/ /e/ /b/
- C/sh/ /a/ /b/✓
- D/sh/ /o/ /b/
Answer: Shab would sound like /sh/ /a/ /b/. This pseudo word uses the 'sh' digraph.
What sounds would you blend together for the pseudo word 'thop'?
- A/th/ /o/ /p/✓
- B/th/ /a/ /p/
- C/th/ /i/ /p/
- D/th/ /e/ /p/
Answer: Thop would sound like /th/ /o/ /p/. This pseudo word uses the 'th' digraph.
What sounds would you blend together for the pseudo word 'splot'?
- A/s/ /p/ /l/ /o/ /t/✓
- B/s/ /pl/ /o/ /t/
- C/splot/
- D/sp/ /l/ /o/ /t/
Answer: Splot has five sounds: /s/ /p/ /l/ /o/ /t/. This pseudo word has three consonants blended at the start.