Phonics Screening Check

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.

Sample questions

Pseudo Words (Alien Words): example questions & answers

12 worked examples with answers and explanations below. Practise all 15 Pseudo Words (Alien Words) questions free in the browser, with instant feedback on every answer.

  1. If 'bib' is a real word, what sound would 'bub' make?

    • A/b/ /u/ /b/
    • B/b/ /i/ /b/
    • C/b/ /a/ /b/
    • D/b/ /o/ /b/

    Answer: Bub would sound like /b/ /u/ /b/. This is a pseudo word (not a real word) that you decode using phonics.

  2. What sounds would you blend together for the pseudo word 'tig'?

    • A/t/ /i/ /g/
    • B/t/ /a/ /g/
    • C/t/ /o/ /g/
    • D/t/ /e/ /g/

    Answer: Tig would sound like /t/ /i/ /g/. This is a pseudo word created for phonics screening tests.

  3. What sounds would you blend together for the pseudo word 'nap'?

    • A/n/ /a/ /p/
    • B/n/ /e/ /p/
    • C/n/ /i/ /p/
    • D/n/ /o/ /p/

    Answer: Nap is actually a real word, but as a pseudo word structure it would blend /n/ /a/ /p/. (Note: nap is actually real!)

  4. What sounds would you blend together for the pseudo word 'pog'?

    • A/p/ /o/ /g/
    • B/p/ /a/ /g/
    • C/p/ /i/ /g/
    • D/p/ /u/ /g/

    Answer: Pog would sound like /p/ /o/ /g/. This is a pseudo word (not a real word) that you decode using phonics.

  5. What sounds would you blend together for the pseudo word 'tum'?

    • A/t/ /u/ /m/
    • B/t/ /a/ /m/
    • C/t/ /e/ /m/
    • D/t/ /i/ /m/

    Answer: Tum would sound like /t/ /u/ /m/. This is a pseudo word created for phonics screening tests.

  6. What sounds would you blend together for the pseudo word 'rin'?

    • A/r/ /i/ /n/
    • B/r/ /a/ /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.

  7. What sounds would you blend together for the pseudo word 'gop'?

    • A/g/ /o/ /p/
    • B/g/ /a/ /p/
    • C/g/ /i/ /p/
    • D/g/ /u/ /p/

    Answer: Gop would sound like /g/ /o/ /p/. This is a pseudo word created for the phonics test.

  8. What sounds would you blend together for the pseudo word 'jig'?

    • A/j/ /i/ /g/
    • B/j/ /a/ /g/
    • C/j/ /e/ /g/
    • D/j/ /o/ /g/

    Answer: Jig would sound like /j/ /i/ /g/. This pseudo word uses the 'j' sound.

  9. What sounds would you blend together for the pseudo word 'wot'?

    • A/w/ /o/ /t/
    • B/w/ /a/ /t/
    • C/w/ /i/ /t/
    • D/w/ /e/ /t/

    Answer: Wot would sound like /w/ /o/ /t/. This is a pseudo word for the phonics test.

  10. What sounds would you blend together for the pseudo word 'vig'?

    • A/v/ /i/ /g/
    • B/v/ /a/ /g/
    • C/v/ /e/ /g/
    • D/v/ /o/ /g/

    Answer: Vig would sound like /v/ /i/ /g/. This pseudo word uses the 'v' sound.

  11. What sounds would you blend together for the pseudo word 'dib'?

    • A/d/ /i/ /b/
    • B/d/ /a/ /b/
    • C/d/ /e/ /b/
    • D/d/ /o/ /b/

    Answer: Dib would sound like /d/ /i/ /b/. This is a pseudo word created for phonics screening.

  12. What sounds would you blend together for the pseudo word 'mug'?

    • A/m/ /u/ /g/
    • B/m/ /a/ /g/
    • C/m/ /i/ /g/
    • D/m/ /o/ /g/

    Answer: Mug is actually a real word, but as a pseudo word structure it blends /m/ /u/ /g/.

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