KS2 English textbook

Chapter 2: The statutory word list and the dictionary

  • Strand Spelling
  • Level Year 4
  • Practice 96 questions with step-by-step solutions

National Curriculum for England, Key Stage 2 English, Year 4. Content: Spell the words on the statutory Years 3 and 4 word list, from accident to certain, with their meanings, Spell the words on the statutory list, from circle to extreme, with their meanings, Spell the words on the statutory list, from famous to important, with their meanings, Spell the words on the statutory list, from interest to opposite, with their meanings, Spell the words on the statutory list, from ordinary to regular, with their meanings, Spell the words on the statutory list, from reign to women, with their meanings, Use a dictionary to check spelling and meaning: put words in alphabetical order, using the first two or three letters.

Open Year 4 chapter

By the end of this chapter you will be able to

  • Spell the words on the statutory list, and say what each word means
  • Find the tricky letters in a word, and learn the word with them
  • Put words in alphabetical order, looking at the second and third letters when the first letters match
  • Use the guide words, headword and definition in a dictionary to check the spelling and meaning of a word
  • Use a dictionary to find the correct spelling of a word that is spelt wrongly

You should already know

  • Alphabetical order by the first letter (Year 3)
  • The first half of the Year 3 and 4 word list, and its spelling patterns (Chapter 1 of this book and Year 3)
  • Index, glossary and dictionary (Year 3, Chapter 9)

Where this leads

  • Prefixes, suffixes and word families (Chapter 3)
  • Plurals and possession (Chapter 4)

Lessons in this chapter

  1. 2.1 The statutory word list: accident to certain
  2. 2.2 The statutory word list: circle to extreme
  3. 2.3 The statutory word list: famous to important
  4. 2.4 The statutory word list: interest to opposite
  5. 2.5 The statutory word list: ordinary to regular
  6. 2.6 The statutory word list: reign to women
  7. 2.7 The dictionary: alphabetical order, entries and definitions
  8. Summary and key words
  9. Check-up and practice test questions

Read the whole chapter on one page (good for printing).

Practise with real exam questions

The DfE publishes every past KS2 test, with mark schemes, for free.

KS2 English past papers