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English Quiz - Phonics - Digraphs (Vowel) (Questions)

This quiz is on digraphs and asks KS1 children to recognise vowel digraphs - the two letter vowel sounds they see when reading. This game is aimed at Year 1 children and should be a reminder of the phonics sounds they have previously learned. Getting to know digraphs will give them a good foundation of literacy and the intricacies of the English language.

Within words, we have consonant sounds like ‘p’, ‘t’ and ‘s’. We also have vowel sounds. These sounds can consist of two vowels like ‘ai’ or one vowel and one consonant like ‘ay’. Both ‘ai’ and ‘ay’ make the same vowel sound. Test your knowledge on all of the vowel sounds.

To see a larger image, click on the picture.

1. Which of these is not a phonics sound?
[ ] an
[ ] or
[ ] ou
[ ] aw
2. Which of these is not a vowel sound?
[ ] ap
[ ] oy
[ ] ay
[ ] ew
3. This is a fur coat. Which of these answers is another way of making the 'ur' sound?
[ ] ir
[ ] oa
[ ] ou
[ ] aw
4. This is a picture of a wheel. Which of these answers is another way of making the 'ee' sound?
[ ] ea
[ ] or
[ ] ai
[ ] ay
5. Which of these words isn't in the 'ay' family?
[ ] clay
[ ] snail
[ ] stray
[ ] stop
6. Which of these words isn't in the 'oa' family?
[ ] coat
[ ] grow
[ ] shown
[ ] can't
7. Which of these words isn't in the 'oo' family?
[ ] foot
[ ] wood
[ ] tooth
[ ] cook
8. Which of these words isn't in the 'ea' family?
[ ] strain
[ ] tea
[ ] seen
[ ] clean
9. Which of these words isn't in the 'ou' family?
[ ] round
[ ] clouds
[ ] cow
[ ] claw
10. The word 'mountain' has two vowel sounds in it - what are they?
[ ] ou and in
[ ] un and ai
[ ] ou and ain
[ ] ou and ai

You can find more about this topic by visiting BBC Bitesize - Phonics digraphs and trigraphs

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English Quiz - Phonics - Digraphs (Vowel) (Answers)
1. Which of these is not a phonics sound?
[x] an
[ ] or
[ ] ou
[ ] aw
All the other sounds make what we call a vowel sound. When you say 'or', 'ou' and 'aw', it sounds like you are saying a vowel. Vowel sounds can have consonants at the end of them.
2. Which of these is not a vowel sound?
[x] ap
[ ] oy
[ ] ay
[ ] ew
The last three answers all make a vowel sound, even though they have a consonant in them.
3. This is a fur coat. Which of these answers is another way of making the 'ur' sound?
[x] ir
[ ] oa
[ ] ou
[ ] aw
The sound 'ir' is in the word 'firm' and is pronounced the same way as 'ur'.
4. This is a picture of a wheel. Which of these answers is another way of making the 'ee' sound?
[x] ea
[ ] or
[ ] ai
[ ] ay
You could have the word 'meat', which also has an 'ee' sound in it.
5. Which of these words isn't in the 'ay' family?
[ ] clay
[ ] snail
[ ] stray
[x] stop
Clay can be used to make bowls and plates. This is a picture of somebody using a pottery wheel.
6. Which of these words isn't in the 'oa' family?
[ ] coat
[ ] grow
[ ] shown
[x] can't
These sounds make the long 'o' sound.
7. Which of these words isn't in the 'oo' family?
[ ] foot
[ ] wood
[x] tooth
[ ] cook
Although they all look the same, there are two different ways of saying the 'oo' sound. There is l + oo + k and t + oo. One makes an 'u' sound and the other makes a 'ew' (few/pew) sound.
8. Which of these words isn't in the 'ea' family?
[x] strain
[ ] tea
[ ] seen
[ ] clean
China produces the most tea but England and Ireland drink the most tea.
9. Which of these words isn't in the 'ou' family?
[ ] round
[ ] clouds
[ ] cow
[x] claw
A cloud is made up of tiny water droplets that we can see in the air.
10. The word 'mountain' has two vowel sounds in it - what are they?
[ ] ou and in
[ ] un and ai
[ ] ou and ain
[x] ou and ai
There are always exceptions to the rules. The 'ai' sound in this word isn't the same as it is in the word 'pain', so the word 'mountain' sounds more like m + ou + n + t + i + n.