Spelling: ie or ei?

Receive, eight and piece have 'ie' or 'ei' in them. These words are often misspelt and therefore it's important to get to know your 'ie' or 'ei' words practically off by heart. There's a little rule that may help you here:

• 'i' before 'e' except after 'c' or when sounded like 'ay'

Naturally, there are exceptions to the rule. Whilst most people will understand what you mean if you write a word with i and e the wrong way round, it's bad English. If you wish to get a good job when you leave school, an excellent grasp of the English language is a must - and spelling is a key component of this subject.

Test yourself in this 11-plus spelling quiz and see if you can get all ten questions correct at first go. Good luck!

Want a break from quizzes? Play our spelling game and see if you can beat the rest. Just click this link – Spelling Practice