11+ English Spelling Exercises
Spelling is one of the few parts of the 11+ where marks are genuinely there for the taking. Unlike comprehension or creative writing, spelling rewards steady practice: the patterns that come up are predictable, the exception words are a finite list, and ten minutes a day beats an hour at the weekend every single time.
Exam boards test it in different ways — spotting the misspelt word in a sentence, choosing the correct spelling from four options, or simply losing accuracy marks in the writing task — so the worksheets below cover a mix of styles. The areas that come up most often are:
- Prefixes and suffixes — un-, dis-, mis-, -ful, -ly, -tion, and what happens to the root word when you add them.
- Spelling rules — doubling the final consonant, dropping the silent e, changing y to i, and the "i before e" rule along with its exceptions.
- Homophones — their / there / they're, practice / practise, affect / effect: words where only the meaning tells you which spelling is right.
- Plurals and word endings — -s, -es, -ies, -ves, and the irregular plurals that break every pattern.
- Common exception words — the ones that follow no rule at all and have to be learned by sight.
Every spelling exercise below is free to download, comes with an answer sheet where available, and is designed to be ink-friendly so you can print it at home without using a whole cartridge.
Practice Papers
| Title | Level | Download |
|---|---|---|
| Easy Practice Paper 1 | Easy | Question Paper Answers |
| Easy Practice Paper 2 | Easy | Question Paper Answers |
| Easy Practice Paper 3 | Easy | Question Paper Answers |
| Easy Practice Paper 4 | Easy | Question Paper Answers |
| Easy Practice Paper 5 | Easy | Question Paper Answers |
| Easy Practice Paper 6 | Easy | Question Paper Answers |
| Medium Practice Paper 1 | Medium | Question Paper Answers |
| Medium Practice Paper 2 | Medium | Question Paper Answers |
| Medium Practice Paper 3 | Medium | Question Paper Answers |
| Medium Practice Paper 4 | Medium | Question Paper Answers |
| Medium Practice Paper 5 | Medium | Question Paper Answers |
| Medium Practice Paper 6 | Medium | Question Paper Answers |
| Medium Practice Paper 7 | Medium | Question Paper Answers |
| Medium Practice Paper 8 | Medium | Question Paper Answers |
| Hard Practice Paper 1 | Hard | Question Paper Answers |
| Hard Practice Paper 2 | Hard | Question Paper Answers |
| Hard Practice Paper 3 | Hard | Question Paper Answers |
| Hard Practice Paper 4 | Hard | Question Paper Answers |
| Hard Practice Paper 5 | Hard | Question Paper Answers |
| Hard Practice Paper 6 | Hard | Question Paper Answers |
| Hard Practice Paper 7 | Hard | Question Paper Answers |
| Hard Practice Paper 8 | Hard | Question Paper Answers |
How to get the most from a spelling exercise
- Little and often. Ten focused minutes a day will move spelling further than a single long session at the weekend. Spelling is memory work, and memory likes repetition.
- Look, cover, write, check. Still the most reliable method there is. Say the word out loud in syllables as it is written, then check it back letter by letter — not just at a glance.
- Learn the rule, not just the word. If your child understands why "hoping" drops the e but "hopping" doubles the p, they can spell hundreds of words they have never seen before.
- Keep a personal error list. Every word your child gets wrong goes on a running list, and that list gets revisited every few days. Those words are worth ten times more practice than the ones they already know.
- Use the words in writing. A spelling learned in a list is fragile; a spelling used in a sentence sticks. Ask your child to write one sentence using each tricky word.
- Mark it together. Talking through why a spelling was wrong is where the improvement actually happens — a tick or a cross on its own teaches very little.
Frequently asked questions
Are these 11+ spelling exercises really free?
Yes. Every spelling worksheet and answer sheet on myFreeSchool is completely free to download, print and share. There is no sign-up, no paywall and no limit on downloads.
How is spelling tested in the 11+?
It varies by exam board. Some papers ask your child to spot the misspelt word in a sentence, some use multiple choice, and some test spelling indirectly through the writing task where accuracy carries marks. These worksheets cover all of those styles.
How long should a spelling exercise take?
Most sheets take 5 to 10 minutes, which makes them ideal for a short daily session. Little and often works far better for spelling than one long weekly push.
Which spelling rules matter most for the 11+?
Prefixes and suffixes, doubling the final consonant, dropping the silent "e", changing "y" to "i", plurals, homophones such as their/there/they're, and the common exception words that simply have to be learned by sight.
What is the best way to learn a tricky spelling?
Look, cover, write, check remains the most reliable method. Say the word out loud in syllables as it is written, then check it letter by letter. Keep a running list of the words your child gets wrong and revisit that list every few days.
Do the spelling exercises come with answers?
Yes. Where an answer sheet is available you will see an "Answers" button next to the question paper, so you can mark the work at home straight away.