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FOR PARENTS · YEAR 1 TO YEAR 6

Common exception words and spelling lists, Year 1 to Year 6

Common exception words are words that don't follow the phonics taught so far, like said, could and people. The Year 3 to 6 lists are statutory; the Year 1 and 2 words are examples.

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Here are the national curriculum's word lists for every primary year, copied exactly from the official appendix: the common exception words for Years 1 and 2, and the statutory spelling lists for Years 3 and 4 and Years 5 and 6. Each list prints on its own, and there are ideas for practising a few words at a time.

By the Litsee team · Last reviewed · About this guide

The short answer: common words with a tricky bit

Most words your child meets in Key Stage 1 can be read and spelt with the phonics they've been taught. Common exception words are the ones that can't yet, like said or could. The national curriculum says that by the start of Year 2, “Pupils’ reading of common exception words [for example, you, could, many, or people], should be secure.” (DfE national curriculum).

The appendix also explains why they're worth learning: “Many of the words listed as ‘example words’ for years 1 and 2, including almost all those listed as ‘exception words’, are used frequently in pupils’ writing, and therefore it is worth pupils learning the correct spelling.” (DfE English Appendix 1). From Year 3, the lists change: “The word-lists for years 3 and 4 and years 5 and 6 are statutory. The lists are a mixture of words pupils frequently use in their writing and those which they often misspell.”

The lists, Year 1 to Year 6

Pick a list. Your choice is kept only in the page address, so you can bookmark your child's list. Each list prints on its own page.

Year 1 common exception words (45 words)

Examples in the appendix; schools may use others, depending on their phonics programme.

  • the
  • a
  • do
  • to
  • today
  • of
  • said
  • says
  • are
  • were
  • was
  • is
  • his
  • has
  • I
  • you
  • your
  • they
  • be
  • he
  • me
  • she
  • we
  • no
  • go
  • so
  • by
  • my
  • here
  • there
  • where
  • love
  • come
  • some
  • one
  • once
  • ask
  • friend
  • school
  • put
  • push
  • pull
  • full
  • house
  • our

From the national curriculum, English Appendix 1. Contains public sector information licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0.

Why some words are exceptions

A word is an “exception” because of where children are in their phonics, not because it's strange. The appendix says: “The ‘exception words’ contain GPCs which have not yet been taught as widely applicable, but this may be because they are applicable in very few age-appropriate words rather than because they are rare in English words in general.” For Year 1 it adds: “Pupils’ attention should be drawn to the grapheme-phoneme correspondences that do and do not fit in with what has been taught so far.” (DfE English Appendix 1).

So when your child learns said, it helps to notice that the s and the d are just what you'd expect: only the middle is tricky. Many schools call these tricky words or red words. Our phonics at home guide explains the other words schools use.

Practising at home, a few words at a time

  • Pick three to five words, not the whole list. Add new ones when these feel easy.
  • Find the tricky bit. Say the word, look at which part fits the sounds and which doesn't.
  • Look, say, cover, write, check. A routine some schools use for spelling practice.
  • Use them in a sentence your child makes up, ideally a silly one they'll remember.
  • Spot them in books. Reading the words in a real story is practice too. The DfE's reading framework explains that rereading a book builds the words a child reads at a glance (DfE reading framework).

Don't confuse these lists with the Year 1 phonics check, which is about decoding words from their sounds, including made-up ones (STA leaflet for parents).

A note on accents

The appendix notes that “Some words are exceptions in some accents but not in others”: for example, past, last, fast, path and bath aren't exceptions in accents where the a sounds as it does in cat. If a word on the list sounds perfectly regular to your family, that's why.

Questions parents ask

What are common exception words?

Common words whose spelling doesn't follow the phonics your child has been taught so far, like said, could or people. Children learn them as they meet them, while noticing which parts do fit the sounds they know. Schools may call them tricky words or red words.

What are the Year 2 common exception words?

The national curriculum's examples for Year 2 include door, because, find, could, people, water, parents and Christmas: 64 words in all, listed in full on this page. Schools may teach others too, depending on their phonics programme.

Are the Year 3 and 4 spelling words statutory?

Yes. The national curriculum says the word lists for Years 3 and 4 and for Years 5 and 6 are statutory. Schools decide when to teach each word within the two years.

How can I help my child learn common exception words?

A few words at a time, little and often. Point out the part that fits the sounds they know and the tricky part that doesn't, read them in books together, and let your child write them in sentences of their own.

Sources

  1. National curriculum in England: English Appendix 1: Spelling Department for Education, September 2013, checked 3 November 2026
  2. National curriculum in England: English programmes of study (key stages 1 and 2) Department for Education, September 2013, updated 16 July 2014, checked 3 November 2026
  3. The reading framework Department for Education, July 2023, updated 22 September 2023, checked 3 November 2026
  4. Open Government Licence v3.0 The National Archives, undated, checked 3 November 2026
  5. Phonics screening check: information for parents Standards and Testing Agency, updated 15 September 2025, checked 3 November 2026

About this guide

Written by the Litsee team and checked line by line against the sources listed on this page.

The word lists are copied word for word from the DfE's English Appendix 1 and contain public sector information licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0. The practice ideas are our own suggestions; follow your child's school's approach where it has one.

Spotted something wrong or out of date? Email info@litsee.com and we will fix it. Last reviewed: .

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