Who sits the 2026 Phonics Screening Check?

Two groups sit the 2026 check: Year 1 children, aged 5 to 6 (born between 1 September 2020 and 31 August 2021); and Year 2 children who did not meet the expected standard in the <a href='/phonics-screening-tests/2025/'>2025</a> check and are retaking it. For how the check works, see the <a href='/phonics-screening-tests/'>Phonics Screening</a> page.

What happens if my child does not pass the 2026 Phonics Screening Check?

A child who does not meet the expected standard (32 out of 40) in the 2026 check retakes it in Year 2, the following year, in 2027.

Is the 2026 Phonics Screening Check free to download?

Yes - the 2026 Phonics Screening Check is free to download, with the teacher's answer sheet.

What is the pass mark for the 2026 Phonics Screening Check?

The expected standard for the 2026 Phonics Screening Check is 32 out of 40 - children who score 32 or more meet the standard.

Where does the 2026 Phonics Screening Check come from?

The Phonics Screening Check is produced each year by the Standards and Testing Agency (STA), part of the Department for Education.

2026 Phonics Screening Check

In June 2026, the Year 1 Phonics Screening Test is scheduled to take place for all children in Year 1 in England. Use previous years Phonics Screening Tests to help prepare your child for their upcoming Phonics Screening Check.

About the 2026 Phonics Screening Check

Children that were unable to take the 2025 Phonics Screening Test in June 2025 will need to take the 2026 Phonics Screening Test in Year 2.

The best way to prepare for the Year 1 Phonics Screening 2026 is to use practice papers from the 2022 Phonics Screening Test, 2023 Phonics Screening Test, 2024 Phonics Screening Test and 2025 Phonics Screening Test.

When is the 2026 Phonics Screening Check?

Schools have the freedom to choose a day within the week commencing Monday 8th June 2026. As some schools are larger than others, the test can take place on one day or across several days.

Teachers will administer the tests within that week and submit teacher assessment data shortly afterwards to the Primary Assessment Gateway (PAG).

Who takes the 2026 Phonics Screening Test?

The 2026 Phonics Screening will be taken by children in Year 1, the first year of Key Stage 1.

2026 Phonics Screening Test Downloads

Once available we will publish the 2026 Phonics Screening Test Downloads here along with word lists and whole-class PowerPoint presentations. These additional resources will be published by Exam Ninja.

2026 Phonics Screening Test Words

Once the 2026 Phonics Screening Test has taken place, the full list of words (real words and pseudo-words, split across Section 1 and Section 2) will be published here.

2026 Phonics Screening Test Threshold

Once the 2026 Phonics Assessment for Year 1 is released by the government we will publish the threshold pass mark here. That said, it is normally 32 marks out of 40 and a deviation from this is not expected. Children who score 32 marks or more meet the expected standard while those that score below 32 have not.