Year 1 and 2 Common Exception Words ✏️

Every word on the year 1 and 2 statutory spelling list, sorted by length — 92 in all. Use it to check which words a pupil knows, to set homework, or just to see what the game can pick. To play, go back to Year 1 & 2 Spellings.

Play Year 1 & 2 Spellings 🥭

Easy — Year 1 & 2 spellings

The shortest words on the list (3–4 letters).

Any Are Ask Bath Both Busy Cold Come Door Even Eye Fast Find Full Gold Half Has Here His Hold Hour Old One Our Put She The Was Who You

Medium — Year 1 & 2 spellings

The middle of the list (4–5 letters).

After Again Break Child Class Climb Could Kind Last Love Many Mind Most Move Once Only Pass Past Path Poor Pull Push Said Says Some Sure They Told Were Wild Your

Hard — Year 1 & 2 spellings

The longest words on the list (5–9 letters).

Beautiful Because Behind Children Christmas Clothes Every Everybody Father Floor Friend Grass Great House Improve Money Parents People Plant Pretty Prove School Should Steak Sugar There Today Water Where Whole Would

About this list

The Year 1 and 2 common exception words are the words children in England learn to spell in Key Stage 1 that don't follow the usual phonics rules — said, friend, because, people. They come from the National Curriculum's English Appendix 1. Very short words from the Year 1 list (a, I, is, be, do and the like) and the titles Mr and Mrs are left out — too short to play as hangman. Everything else is here.

Tips for learning these spellings

Say it the way it's spelled. Saying "Feb-ru-ary" or "Wed-nes-day" out loud, letter by letter, fixes the silent parts in memory.

Look for the tricky bit. Most words on the list have one part that breaks the usual pattern — learn that part, not the whole word.

Little and often. Five words a day beats fifty on a Sunday. A spelling-list link makes a short daily round easy.

Questions

Is this the official list?
Yes — from English Appendix 1 of the National Curriculum in England (2014), under the Open Government Licence.

Can I use these words in my own lessons?
Absolutely — this list is here to use. To play it online now, start a game.

Play more: Year 1 & 2 Spellings · Year 1 & 2 Spellings guide · Year 3 & 4 Spellings · Year 5 & 6 Spellings · For teachers