🔍 Detailed Explanation of Read Sight Words

Sight words are special words that Year 1 students in the UK need to learn to read quickly without having to sound them out. These words appear very often in books and sentences, so knowing them helps children read more smoothly and understand stories better. Sight words are important because many of them cannot be easily sounded out using simple phonics rules, so being able to recognise them by sight makes reading easier and faster.

For Year 1 students, reading sight words well gives them confidence and helps them enjoy reading more. When children recognise sight words instantly, they don’t get stuck, which keeps their reading flowing. This is important in Key Stage 1 because it builds a strong foundation for reading.

There are several common strategies to help students learn sight words:

  • Repetition: Seeing and saying the words many times helps children remember them.
  • Flashcards: Using cards with sight words and practising them regularly makes learning fun and effective.
  • Games: Playing word matching or bingo games with sight words makes learning exciting.
  • Writing Practice: Writing the words several times helps students remember how they look.
  • Using Sight Words in Sentences: Reading and writing sentences with sight words helps students understand how the words are used.

Some examples of sight words for Year 1 children include:

  • the
  • and
  • is
  • to
  • said
  • he
  • she
  • we
  • was
  • you

By practising these words regularly, young learners in Year 1 can become confident readers, making reading an enjoyable and rewarding part of their education in Key Stage 1.

📝 20 Examination-style Questions with Answers on Read Sight Words for Year 1

Here are 20 examination-style questions you can use to help Year 1 students in the UK practise reading sight words. These questions include different types like multiple choice, matching, fill-in-the-blanks, and simple sentences to read. They focus on recognising and understanding common sight words suitable for Key Stage 1 learners.

1. Multiple Choice: Which word is a sight word?

a) cat
b) the
c) run
Answer: b) the

2. Which word matches the picture of a dog?

Words: dog, and, big
Answer: dog

3. Fill in the blank:

I ___ see a red ball.
(Sight words: can, run, jump)
Answer: can

4. Read the sentence and say the sight word:

“I like to play.”
Answer: like

5. Circle the sight word in this list:

jump, said, fast
Answer: said

6. Match the sight word to its meaning:

Words: you, small, is
Meanings: a person, little size, to be
Answer: you = a person, small = little size, is = to be

7. Choose the correct sight word to finish the sentence:

___ am happy.
a) We
b) I
c) They
Answer: b) I

8. Tick the sight words in this sentence:

“The cat is big.”
(Sight words = the, is)
Answer: the, is

9. True or False: “And” is a sight word.

Answer: True

10. Write a sight word that means ‘not’ or ‘doesn’t’:

Answer: no

11. Which word is NOT a sight word?

a) said
b) jump
c) we
Answer: b) jump

12. Fill in the blank with a sight word:

You ___ my friend.
a) run
b) are
c) jump
Answer: b) are

13. Circle the sight word in this sentence:

“He can run fast.”
Answer: can

14. Pick the sight word that shows a place:

a) here
b) cat
c) see
Answer: a) here

15. Complete the sentence with the correct sight word:

We ___ to school.
a) go
b) big
c) see
Answer: a) go

16. Match the sight word to the picture:

Words: you, my, to
Choose the word for pointing at someone?
Answer: you

17. Write the sight word that means ‘also’:

Answer: and

18. Which word helps us ask a question?

a) the
b) what
c) me
Answer: b) what

19. Fill in the blank:

I ___ a pet dog.
a) have
b) see
c) red
Answer: a) have

20. Tick all the sight words:

a) said, can
b) jump, fast
c) run, cat
Answer: a) said, can

These questions are designed to build confidence in reading sight words, following the UK National Curriculum expectations for Year 1 English. Encourage children to sound out any tricky words and practise regularly to improve fluency and understanding.