PSLE Commonly Misspelled Words

PSLE Commonly Misspelled Words

PSLE Commonly Misspelled Words (and How to Fix Them)

When it comes to PSLE English, spelling is often overlooked. Many parents focus on composition techniques, vocabulary, or grammar — but spelling mistakes can quietly cost marks in both Paper 1 (Composition) and Paper 2 (Language Use & Comprehension).

Even strong students lose marks because they trip up on a few words they think they know. The truth is: the most commonly misspelled words are not long, fancy ones — but simple, everyday words your child uses all the time.

📝 Why Do Students Misspell Common Words?

1. Confusing sounds – e.g. “seperate” instead of “separate.”

2. Silent letters – e.g. “definately” instead of “definitely.”

3. Double consonants – e.g. “occured” instead of “occurred.”

4. Similar-looking words – e.g. “accept” vs “except.”

5. Overconfidence – they’ve used the word so many times, they stop checking.

   
   

📚 List of Commonly Misspelled Words in Primary School

Here are some words your child should master before PSLE:

1. Everyday Usage

• separate (NOT seperate)

• definitely (NOT definately)

• necessary (NOT neccessary)

• until (NOT untill)

• calendar (NOT calender)

  
  

2. Tricky Doubles

• accommodate (two c’s, two m’s)

• committee (double m, double t, double e)

• occurrence (double c, double r)

• embarrassed (double r, double s)

• success (double c, double s)

  
  

3. Sound-Alike Confusions

• lose vs loose

• their vs there vs they’re

• affect vs effect

• advice vs advise

• accept vs except

  
  

4. Academic Words

• environment

• experiment

• library (NOT libary)

• February (NOT Febuary)

• mathematics

  
  

🎯 How to Help Your Child Master Spelling

• Spot patterns – Encourage your child to notice silent letters, double letters, and sound patterns.

• Use mnemonics – e.g. “Never Eat Crispy Croissants, Eat Salad Sandwiches And Remain Young” for necessary.

• Make it visual – Highlight tricky parts of the word in colour.

• Repetition – Regular practice builds long-term memory.

• Apply in context – Have your child use the word in sentences and compositions instead of just memorising lists.

  
  

🌟 Final Tip

Spelling may feel like a “small thing,” but in PSLE English, small mistakes add up to big mark losses. By catching these common errors early, your child can write with confidence — and focus on telling a great story instead of worrying about spelling.

At The Write Tribe, we don’t just teach compositions — we build strong fundamentals in spelling, grammar, and vocabulary, so your child’s writing is clear, polished, and PSLE-ready.

👉 Want more? Download our free cheatsheet of 136 Commonly Misspelled Words for Primary School Students here:

PSLE Commonly Misspelled Words

CLICK THIS LINK TO DOWNLOAD

Trial lesson

We cover a lot more in our classes. Try first trial lesson for only 36SGD

Trial class

Composition Marking Service for Primary School Students in Singapore (Primary 1 to Primary 6)

Composition marking service

Boost your child’s writing skills with our expert Composition Marking Service, tailored for Primary 1 to Primary 6 students in Singapore! Aligned with the latest MOE syllabus, our service offers:

✅ Detailed feedback based on official marking rubrics

✅ Clear guidance to improve structure, language, and creativity

✅ Support for all writing levels — from beginners to PSLE prep

Let your child write with confidence. Submit compositions anytime and receive professional feedback to help them shine! 🌟

Composition Marking Service

Download our Comprehension Cloze with Model Compositions

Comprehension Cloze with Model Compositions assessment book

Download