Spelling makes up roughly 4 to 8 questions in a typical GL Assessment 11+ English paper, and sits inside the Technical English section (spelling, punctuation and grammar) that is worth around half of the whole paper. Those marks are some of the most winnable in the exam, because spelling rewards steady, systematic practice more than any other English skill.
GL almost never asks a child to spell a word from scratch. Instead it uses an error-spotting format: a sentence is split into four labelled sections (A, B, C and D), with a fifth option for "No mistake". Your child reads the whole sentence and decides which section contains the misspelled word, or chooses "No mistake" if every word is correct. The mistakes are always realistic ones children genuinely make, never random jumbles, so the skill is careful proof-reading rather than guesswork.
This is a very learnable format. Once a child knows the high-frequency tricky words and the common spelling patterns GL tests, they spot the errors quickly and confidently. Every question on this page follows that exact four-section structure with a worked explanation, so your child learns the rule behind each answer.
GL spelling questions cluster around a handful of patterns; GL does not publish exact weightings, so the order below is our research estimate from analysing practice papers and tutor materials, in rough order of frequency:
Difficulty runs from high-frequency Year 3 to 4 words with an obvious error, up to less common Year 5 to 6 words where the wrong spelling is a genuine real-world slip and several correct words look tricky on purpose.
The GL Assessment 11+ English paper tests six connected skills. Comprehension, worth around half the marks, checks understanding of a passage. Vocabulary tests what words mean. Grammar tests whether words are used correctly, and word classes tests naming a word's job. Spelling and punctuation are error-spotting checks on technical accuracy.
| Question type | What it tests | What it looks like | The classic mix-up |
|---|---|---|---|
| SpellingThis page | Spotting a misspelt word by careful proof-reading, or confirming a tricky-looking sentence is correctly spelt. | A sentence split into four labelled sections plus "No mistake", where you pick the section with the spelling error, such as: "They recieved the parcel." | Children look for a punctuation error instead, because punctuation uses the identical four-section "No mistake" format. |
| Comprehension | Reading one passage, then answering mixed questions that check retrieval, inference, vocabulary in context and the author's language. | A passage of around 500 words followed by questions you answer only from the text, such as: "How does the writer suggest the old house is unwelcoming?" | Children answer from outside knowledge or hunt for a spelling or punctuation slip, treating it as an error-spotting task. |
| Vocabulary | What words actually mean: matching synonyms and antonyms, and choosing the word whose meaning fits a sentence. | A word to match by meaning, either from the passage or in a standalone sentence with five options, such as: "reluctant most nearly means ___". | Children name the word's class or judge its grammar, when the question only asks what it means. |
| Grammar | Whether words are used correctly: verb tenses, subject-verb agreement, connectives and homophones chosen by meaning in context. | A gap-fill sentence where you pick the single grammatically correct word from five options, such as: "By Friday she ___ finished the whole book." | Children scan for a punctuation or spelling error, or just name the word's class, instead of testing correct use. |
| Word Classes | Naming the job a word does in a sentence: is it a noun, verb, adjective, adverb or preposition? | A word taken from the passage, with five word-class labels as options, such as: "What part of speech is 'swiftly' in this line?" | Children explain what the word means, as in a vocabulary question, instead of labelling the job it is doing. |
| Punctuation | Spotting a punctuation error by proof-reading: apostrophes, commas, speech marks and sentence punctuation, or confirming there is none. | The same four-section "No mistake" format as spelling, but you pick the section with a punctuation error, such as: "The dog wagged it's tail." | Because the format matches spelling, children scan for a misspelt word instead of a misplaced mark. |
If you are given a whole passage, it is comprehension; a single sentence with a gap to fill is grammar or vocabulary; a sentence split into four sections is spelling or punctuation; and a single word to label is word classes.
Five questions drawn from PrepStep’s spelling bank, spanning Foundation to Challenging. Tap “Show worked explanation” to see the full method after you’ve had a go. The correct answer is highlighted on each question so you can check immediately.
Which section contains a spelling error?
'here' should be 'hear'. 'Here' means in this place; 'hear' means to listen. They are homophones. Look out for this one in the exam! ✓
Which section contains a spelling error?
'passed' should be 'past'. 'Past' is used with movement (walked past); 'passed' is the past tense of 'pass' (she passed the exam). Break it into chunks to spot the tricky bit. ✓
Which section contains a spelling error?
'intresting' should be 'interesting'. Remember: interest + ing = interesting. The 'e' stays in the word. Try writing it both ways and see which looks right. ✓
Which section contains a spelling error?
'aloud' should be 'allowed'. 'Aloud' means out loud (reading aloud); 'allowed' means permitted. You'll have an advantage if you remember this one! ✓
Which section contains a spelling error?
'neccessary' should be 'necessary'. Remember: one 'c' (one collar) and two 's's (two sleeves). You'll have an advantage if you remember this one! ✓
Common mistake 1 of 4
Assuming there must always be an error.
Tip: Around 15 to 20% of GL spelling questions are correctly spelled, with "No mistake" as the right answer. Teach your child that "No mistake" is a real, common answer, so they check every section rather than forcing an error that is not there.
Common mistake 2 of 4
Only checking the longest or hardest-looking word.
Tip: GL often hides the error in an ordinary word and surrounds it with tricky but correct ones to create doubt. Encourage your child to proof-read all four sections word by word, not just the one that looks difficult.
Common mistake 3 of 4
Spelling by ear and dropping unstressed syllables.
Tip: Words like interesting, temperature and February are misspelled because the middle sound is swallowed in speech (intresting, Febuary). Get your child to sound out every syllable, especially the quiet middle ones.
Common mistake 4 of 4
Confusing homophones because the spelling sounds correct.
Tip: their/there/they're, practice/practise and complement/compliment all sound right but mean different things. Teach your child to check the meaning in the sentence, not just whether the word sounds like the one intended.
Every PrepStep 11+ question is original, written to mirror the style and difficulty of the GL Assessment 11+ and grounded in a library of real past-paper patterns, with a worked explanation for each one. PrepStep is built by Ben Jackson, its founder and a parent who has taken one child through the 11+ with another preparing now. Last reviewed: August 2026.
GL uses an error-spotting format. A sentence is split into four sections (A to D), with a fifth option for "No mistake". Your child decides which section contains a misspelled word, or chooses "No mistake" if all the spellings are correct. It is multiple choice, marked on a separate answer sheet, and there is one misspelling per sentence at most.
It is the fifth option, used when every word in the sentence is spelled correctly. Roughly 15 to 20% of GL spelling questions have "No mistake" as the correct answer, and it appears more often in the harder questions. It exists to stop children assuming there is always an error to find, so it is worth practising deliberately.
GL leans on a well-known set of tricky Year 5 to 6 words, including accommodate, necessary, separate, definitely, embarrass, government, environment, immediately, occurrence, rhythm, mischievous, pronunciation and parliament. Homophones such as their/there/they're and practice/practise come up regularly too. Learning these high-frequency words gives the quickest gains.
Difficulty ranges from common words with an obvious error, which a child who reads regularly spots instantly, up to less common words where just one letter is wrong and the misspelling is a genuine common slip. The hardest questions surround the error with correctly spelled but tricky-looking words to create doubt, and use "No mistake" more often.
Practise in the real GL error-spotting format rather than just writing out spelling lists, so your child gets used to proof-reading four sections and considering "No mistake". Focus first on the highest-frequency patterns: homophones, common word endings, and the well-known tricky words. Free PrepStep practice presents each question in the exact GL format with a worked explanation.
Comprehension is about understanding: your child reads a passage of around 500 words and answers questions on its meaning, worth roughly half the English marks. The SPaG parts (spelling, punctuation and grammar) test technical accuracy instead. Spelling and punctuation use an error-spotting format, four sections plus "No mistake", while grammar is usually a gap-fill where your child picks the correct word. Comprehension asks what a text means; SPaG asks whether it is written correctly.
Explore the other GL Assessment english topics, each with free sample questions and worked explanations.
PrepStep has 420 spelling questions in GL Assessment format: five options, instant feedback, and step-by-step explanations. Free to start.
Start practising free No sign-up needed · Works on phone, tablet, and desktop