Do you have to do regular spelling tests at school? How do you feel about them? For some pupils, they're a common part of school life – and there's a good chance this was the case for your parents or guardians, too. However, despite spelling tests having been an accepted part of the school calendar for a long time, some people think it's time to move on. They argue that these tests are unfair to students and put too much pressure on them when they should be learning to love words and reading. On the other hand, soome people think that they're an effective, tried-and-tested way of keeping track of students' progress with spelling and an important part of school life, even if they're not enjoyable. What's your view? Should spelling tests be scrapped?
Yes – they create too much pressure Pupils should be taught to enjoy words and reading at a young age rather than focusing on tests, which put them under pressure and can be stressful. Besides, how important are spelling tests? A lot of writing is done on computers and there are tools such as spell-checkers that people can use to make sure they're spelling words correctly, so putting pupils through spelling tests is unnecessary. Plus, some children with conditions such as dyslexia can struggle with spelling, so tests might not be fair. (Dyslexia is a learning difficulty that mainly affects reading and writing.) Instead of tests, which could damage some children's confidence, there should be more inclusive ways of measuring progress with spelling.
No – spelling tests still have a role to play Proper spelling is important for communication and making sure people understand each other. This doesn't just mean things like handwritten letters. Even in the digital world, people frequently write to each other using email. Good spelling can be crucial for making sure people aren't misunderstood – and spell-checkers aren't always the answer. While these tools are useful, they aren't always available and they certainly aren't foolproof, so it's best not to rely on technology alone. Having a good understanding of spelling matters, and doing well in a test can feel rewarding. Spelling is linked to other skills such as reading and writing so it makes sense for teachers to check how well their students are performing.
