Phonics Screening Check

Vowel Digraphs

15 free practice questions with explanations

PassNova has 15 free Phonics Screening Check practice questions on Vowel Digraphs, 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

Vowel Digraphs: example questions & answers

15 worked examples with answers and explanations below. Practise them in the browser with instant feedback on every answer.

  1. Which word has the 'ai' sound like in 'wait'?

    • Arain
    • Brant
    • Crang
    • Drung

    Answer: Rain has the 'ai' sound (like 'ay'). Rant, rang, and rung have short vowel sounds.

  2. Which word has the 'ai' sound?

    • Amist
    • Bmask
    • Cmaid
    • Dmust

    Answer: Maid has the 'ai' sound (like 'ay'). Mask, mist, and must have short vowel sounds.

  3. Which word has the 'ee' sound like in 'tree'?

    • Atin
    • Bten
    • Ctap
    • Dtee

    Answer: Tee has the long 'ee' sound like in tree. Tap, ten and tin have short vowel sounds.

  4. Which word has the 'ee' sound?

    • Asit
    • Bsat
    • Cset
    • Dsee

    Answer: See has the long 'ee' sound. Sat, set and sit have short vowel sounds.

  5. Which word has the 'oa' sound like in 'coat'?

    • Abelt
    • Bboat
    • Cband
    • Dbill

    Answer: Boat has the 'oa' sound (like 'oh'). Band, belt, and bill have short vowel sounds.

  6. Which word has the 'oa' sound?

    • Atank
    • Btint
    • Ctoad
    • Dtoss

    Answer: Toad has the 'oa' sound (like 'oh'). Tank, toss and tint have short vowel sounds.

  7. Which word has the 'oo' sound like in 'spoon'?

    • Amask
    • Bmend
    • Cmoon
    • Dmoan

    Answer: Moon has the long 'oo' sound (/uː/). Mend, moan, and mask have different sounds.

  8. Which word has the 'oo' sound like in 'look'?

    • Abook
    • Bbulk
    • Cback
    • Dbake

    Answer: Book has the short 'oo' sound (/ʊ/). Back, bake, and bulk have different sounds.

  9. Which word has the 'ai' sound in the middle?

    • Apaint
    • Bprint
    • Cplant
    • Dpoint

    Answer: Paint has the 'ai' sound in the middle. Plant, point, and print have different vowel sounds.

  10. Which word has the 'ee' sound in the middle?

    • Ashift
    • Bshock
    • Csheep
    • Dshape

    Answer: Sheep has the 'ee' sound in the middle. Shift has 'i', shock has 'o', and shape has 'ay'.

  11. Which word has the 'oa' sound in the middle?

    • Agolf
    • Bgoat
    • Cgate
    • Dgust

    Answer: Goat has the 'oa' sound. Golf, gate, and gust have different vowel sounds.

  12. Which word has the 'oo' sound like in 'moon'?

    • Afast
    • Bfood
    • Cfoot
    • Dfelt

    Answer: Food has the long 'oo' sound (/uː/). Foot has the short 'oo' sound, while fast and felt have short vowels.

  13. Which word has the sounds /b/ /oa/ /t/?

    • Abat
    • Bboot
    • Cboat
    • Dbit

    Answer: Boat has the sounds /b/ /oa/ /t/. Bat is /b/ /a/ /t/, boot is /b/ /oo/ /t/, and bit is /b/ /i/ /t/.

  14. Which word has the sounds /s/ /ee/ /n/?

    • Aseen
    • Bsun
    • Csin
    • Dsoon

    Answer: Seen has the sounds /s/ /ee/ /n/. Sin is /s/ /i/ /n/, sun is /s/ /u/ /n/, and soon is /s/ /oo/ /n/.

  15. Which word has the 'ay' sound like in 'day'?

    • Apant
    • Bpest
    • Cplay
    • Dpink

    Answer: Play has the 'ay' sound. Pant, pest, and pink have short vowel sounds.

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