Statutory spelling words (Years 3–6) · Year 4
The National Curriculum has two lists of words that every pupil should be able to spell: one for Years 3 and 4 (accident, believe, library, separate) and one for Years 5 and 6 (necessary, rhythm, environment, yacht). They are words people often get wrong.
Key facts
- Say it as it is spelt: Feb-ru-ar-y, lib-rar-y, diff-er-ent, en-vi-ron-ment. Saying every part helps you write every part.
- Watch the double letters: address, accommodate, committee, embarrass, necessary (one c, two s).
- Find a word inside the word: there is a rat in separate, finite in definite, bus in business, ledge in knowledge.
- Remember silent letters and tricky sounds: island, rhythm, yacht, guarantee, conscience, stomach.
- Learn them a few at a time: look, say, cover, write, check. Then use them in a sentence of your own.