Lucy
Ask the AI Tutor
Need help with Phonics - Split Digraphs? Ask our AI Tutor!
Lucy AI Tutor - Lucy
Connecting with Tutor...
Please wait while we establish connection
Lucy
Hi! I'm Lucy, your AI tutor. How can I help you with Phonics - Split Digraphs today?
now
Logo

English Quiz - Phonics - Split Digraphs (Questions)

Split digraphs are secret letter helpers that change vowel sounds. Spotting a-e, i-e, o-e and u-e turns tap into tape and hug into huge.

Explore the Topic →
(quiz starts below)

Fascinating Fact:

Split digraphs remind us to check for word families, like bake, cake, make, which all share the same strong pattern.

In KS1 English Phonics, children learn that a split digraph happens when a consonant comes between two partner letters, like a and e in cake. This pattern usually makes the vowel say its name and helps readers unlock many related words.

  • Split digraph: Two letters that make one sound but are split by another letter, like a-e in cake.
  • Vowel: A, E, I, O and U, the letters that make open mouth sounds in words.
  • Word family: A group of words that share the same pattern, such as bake, cake and make.
What is a split digraph in KS1 phonics?

A split digraph is when two letters work together to make a long vowel sound but are split by a consonant, for example a-e in cake or i-e in time.

How do I teach split digraphs to young children?

Start with simple pairs like tap and tape, use word cards and highlighters, and ask children to spot the hidden helper letter that changes the vowel sound.

Why do split digraphs matter for reading and spelling?

Split digraphs help children recognise patterns that turn short vowels into long vowels. This makes it easier to decode new words and choose accurate spellings in their writing.

1. How do we show the magic e sign?
[ ] e
[ ] 'e'
[ ] o_e
[ ] ee
2. These girls are playing a game. What family of sounds does the magic e belong to in the word 'game'?
[ ] ee
[ ] ai
[ ] ow
[ ] ue
3. This picture was taken on Christmas Eve. What family of sounds does the magic e belong to in the word 'eve'?
[ ] ie
[ ] or
[ ] ee
[ ] au
4. Look at the time. What family of sounds does the magic e belong to in the word 'time'?
[ ] ie
[ ] ou
[ ] ee
[ ] ea
5. This dog has a bone. What family of sounds does the magic e belong to in the word 'bone'?
[ ] or
[ ] oa
[ ] au
[ ] ai
6. She is playing a flute. What family of sounds does the magic e belong to in the word 'flute'?
[ ] ey
[ ] ay
[ ] oa
[ ] oo
7. Which of these words could you add a magic e to?
[ ] bear
[ ] grass
[ ] hut
[ ] cub
8. Which of these words could you add a magic e to?
[ ] bap
[ ] map
[ ] tap
[ ] lap
9. Which of these words could you add a magic e to?
[ ] pin
[ ] grin
[ ] skin
[ ] chin
10. Which of these words could you add a magic e to?
[ ] but
[ ] hit
[ ] not
[ ] put

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

Logo
English Quiz - Phonics - Split Digraphs (Answers)
1. How do we show the magic e sign?
[ ] e
[ ] 'e'
[x] o_e
[ ] ee
When talking about magic e we include the _ sign to show that a letter comes between the vowel and the magic e.
2. These girls are playing a game. What family of sounds does the magic e belong to in the word 'game'?
[ ] ee
[x] ai
[ ] ow
[ ] ue
The magic e turns the 'a' sound into the 'ai' sound.
3. This picture was taken on Christmas Eve. What family of sounds does the magic e belong to in the word 'eve'?
[ ] ie
[ ] or
[x] ee
[ ] au
Christmas Eve is the day before Christmas.
4. Look at the time. What family of sounds does the magic e belong to in the word 'time'?
[x] ie
[ ] ou
[ ] ee
[ ] ea
If there was no magic e, the word would say Tim, which is a popular name for boys.
5. This dog has a bone. What family of sounds does the magic e belong to in the word 'bone'?
[ ] or
[x] oa
[ ] au
[ ] ai
Bone and loan rhyme. If a word is in the same phonetic sound family then the words usually rhyme.
6. She is playing a flute. What family of sounds does the magic e belong to in the word 'flute'?
[ ] ey
[ ] ay
[ ] oa
[x] oo
This 'oo' sound is like 'boo' and 'too' not 'book' and 'took'.
7. Which of these words could you add a magic e to?
[ ] bear
[ ] grass
[ ] hut
[x] cub
If you add a magic e to cub, you change the word to 'cube' which is a 3D square shape.
8. Which of these words could you add a magic e to?
[ ] bap
[ ] map
[x] tap
[ ] lap
When you add a magic e to 'tap', you change the word to 'tape'.
9. Which of these words could you add a magic e to?
[x] pin
[ ] grin
[ ] skin
[ ] chin
The picture is of a pinecone, which grows on trees.
10. Which of these words could you add a magic e to?
[ ] but
[ ] hit
[x] not
[ ] put
The word 'not' turns to 'note', which could be a letter or a musical note.