How should I use these word lists at home?

Work through one pattern group at a time (15–25 words) rather than all 100 at once. Say each word aloud (or have someone say it), then have your child write or type it without looking. This hear-then-spell approach mirrors how spelling is tested at school and in NAPLAN. Short daily sessions of 10–15 minutes are more effective than longer weekly sessions.

Are these the same words as in the year-level spelling guides?

No. The year-level guides describe curriculum expectations and spelling patterns students are typically expected to know. These word lists provide 100 specific, practisable words at each year level. The two resources complement each other: use the guide to understand what to focus on, and these lists to get the actual words for practice.

Do these lists use Australian English spelling?

Yes. All Australian word lists use Australian English spelling conventions throughout: -our (colour), -ise (organise), -re (centre), -ence (defence). This matters because Australian students need to learn the correct forms for school and NAPLAN. If your child is practising with US-formatted resources elsewhere, the Australian-specific spelling in these lists ensures they are learning the right conventions.

What if my child is above or below their year level?

Choose the list that matches their current spelling ability, not their school year. If your child finds Year 4 words too easy, try Year 5. If Year 3 feels challenging, that is a great place to build from. Spelling development varies widely and that is completely normal. The goal is steady progress from wherever they are right now.

Kindy–Year 9 · Australian Curriculum aligned · 100 words per level

Australian Spelling Words by Year Level

Printable spelling word lists for Australian students from Kindy through Year 9. 100 words per level, organised by pattern group and aligned to the Australian Curriculum.

These are practice word lists aligned to the Australian Curriculum. They are not official curriculum documents. Individual schools may vary in their scope and sequence.

Practise spelling free See all word lists

Word lists by year level

Each year level includes 100 words arranged into pattern groups of 15–25 words. Groups focus on a specific spelling pattern, phonics rule, or vocabulary theme so practice is targeted and manageable.

Year labels here show children who are typically ages 4–5 (Kindy) through 14–15 (Year 9), but spelling ability varies widely within any year group. Choose the list that matches your child's current ability, not their school year.

Kindy

Short vowel CVC, sight words, word families

100 words · 4 pattern groups

Year 1

Short vowels, digraphs, blends, sight words, word families

100 words · 5 pattern groups

Year 2

Long vowels, r-controlled, suffixes, compounds, contractions

100 words · 5 pattern groups

Year 3

Vowel teams, r-controlled, prefixes, homophones, multisyllabic

100 words · 5 pattern groups

Year 4

Greek & Latin roots, complex affixes, syllabication, academic

100 words · 5 pattern groups

Year 5

Complex vowels, NAPLAN vocabulary, academic word families

100 words · 5 pattern groups

Year 6

Advanced affixes, etymology, cross-curricular vocabulary

100 words · 5 pattern groups

Year 7

Complex morphology, NAPLAN Year 7 vocabulary, analytical words

100 words · 5 pattern groups

Year 8

Rare patterns, confusable pairs, discipline-specific terms

100 words · 5 pattern groups

Year 9

NAPLAN Year 9 vocabulary, literary & scientific terms, etymology

100 words · 5 pattern groups

All word lists

Kindyages 4–5 Year 1ages 5–6 Year 2ages 6–7 Year 3ages 7–8 Year 4ages 8–9 Year 5ages 9–10 Year 6ages 10–11 Year 7ages 11–12 Year 8ages 12–13 Year 9ages 13–14

Preparing for NAPLAN spelling?

These word lists build the spelling vocabulary your child needs across the curriculum. For targeted NAPLAN preparation with the same audio-first, hear-and-type format as the real test, see the dedicated NAPLAN practice pages.

NAPLAN spelling practice hub Year 5 NAPLAN words Year 7 NAPLAN words

Related resources

Spelling words hub AU Year-Level Guide NAPLAN spelling practice NAPLAN Year 3 NAPLAN Year 5

Australian Spelling Words: Frequently Asked Questions

Frequently Asked Questions

Practise at your child's level, wherever that is

Lit Spelling's adaptive lists complement any existing curriculum. Kindy to Year 9 vocabulary, audio-first sessions, instant feedback, tricky words revisited automatically.