Better Speller / Guides

How to Give a Spelling Test at Home

To give a spelling test at home, read each word aloud, use it in a sentence, say the word again, and let your child write it with one try. Check the answers together at the end, and note the misses for more practice.

How to run the test

Pick a quiet spot and have the list ready. Use the week's list from school.
Say the word, the sentence, then the word again. Hearing the word in a sentence shows your child which word you mean, which matters for words that sound alike.
Give one try. Do not help or hint during the test, so the result shows what your child can really spell.
Mark the test at the end. Going through the answers together afterward keeps the test calm and gives you a natural moment to talk about the misses.
Look at each miss together. Show the correct spelling next to what your child wrote, and read the meaning aloud.
Retest only the misses on another day. A short follow-up the next day shows which words have stuck.

Giving the test with Better Speller

Test mode gives one attempt per word and scores the result, like a school test.
Hear Word and Hear Sentence let your child hear the word and its sentence again. You can record both in your own voice, or let the built-in voice read them.
The results screen marks every word right or wrong and shows the score.
A button on the results practices just the missed words, so the misses become the next round.
If the school test is handwritten, an iPad with Apple Pencil can take handwritten answers in Handwriting Mode. See the Apple Pencil guide.

Common questions

How many tries should a spelling test give?

One. A test with a single try per word shows what your child can spell without help. Use practice mode, which allows several attempts per word, for learning.

Should my child write or type the spelling test?

Match the real test. If the school test is handwritten, practice by hand too. On iPad, Better Speller's Handwriting Mode lets your child write each answer with Apple Pencil. On other devices, answers are typed.

Can I read the test words in my own voice?

Yes. Record each word and its example sentence in your own voice, or let the built-in voice read them.

Try it with your own list

Better Speller is free to try, with no account and no ads, on iPhone, iPad, Mac and Android.