Phonics Screening Check

Tricky Words

15 free practice questions with explanations

PassNova has 15 free Phonics Screening Check practice questions on Tricky 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

Tricky Words: example questions & answers

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

  1. Which is a tricky word you need to remember?

    • Athe
    • Bcat
    • Cdog
    • Dmap

    Answer: 'The' is a tricky word because the 'e' doesn't make its usual sound. You have to remember how it sounds.

  2. Which is a tricky word you need to remember?

    • Ato
    • Btap
    • Ctag
    • Dtan

    Answer: 'To' is a tricky word with an unusual sound. You have to remember it.

  3. Which is a tricky word you need to remember?

    • Ado
    • Bdog
    • Cdig
    • Ddug

    Answer: 'Do' is a tricky word. The 'o' doesn't make its usual short sound.

  4. Which is a tricky word you need to remember?

    • Ago
    • Bgap
    • Cgot
    • Dgum

    Answer: 'Go' is a tricky word. The 'o' makes an unusual sound.

  5. Which is a tricky word you need to remember?

    • Ashe
    • Bsit
    • Csun
    • Dsat

    Answer: 'She' is a tricky word with sounds that don't follow the rules you've learned.

  6. Which is a tricky word you need to remember?

    • Ahe
    • Bhat
    • Chot
    • Dhut

    Answer: 'He' is a tricky word. The 'e' doesn't sound like you'd expect.

  7. Which is a tricky word you need to remember?

    • Awas
    • Bwin
    • Cwet
    • Dwit

    Answer: 'Was' is a tricky word because the 'a' sound is unusual.

  8. Which is a tricky word you need to remember?

    • Aare
    • Bant
    • Carm
    • Dart

    Answer: 'Are' is a tricky word. The vowel makes a sound you have to remember.

  9. Which is a tricky word you need to remember?

    • Ayou
    • Byes
    • Cyam
    • Dyell

    Answer: 'You' is a tricky word because it sounds very different from how it looks.

  10. Which is a tricky word you need to remember?

    • Acome
    • Bcap
    • Ccup
    • Dcot

    Answer: 'Come' is a tricky word because the vowel pattern 'o-e' doesn't follow the split digraph rule.

  11. Which is a tricky word you need to remember?

    • Asaid
    • Bsad
    • Csat
    • Dset

    Answer: 'Said' is a tricky word. The 'ai' doesn't sound like the 'ai' digraph you learned.

  12. Which is a tricky word you need to remember?

    • Amy
    • Bmay
    • Cmany
    • Dme

    Answer: 'My' is a tricky word. The 'y' acts like a vowel here but doesn't make its expected sound.

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