Year 4 introduces fronted adverbials, Standard English verb forms and expanded noun phrases, no formal SPaG test yet, but a big step up in what your child is expected to use correctly in writing.
- Year 4 covers 33 of the 43 SPaG topics, across all 7 strands, with 5 new this year.
- New this year: fronted adverbials, phrases, hyphens, Standard English and double negatives.
- There is no formal SPaG test in Year 4. The only compulsory one is in Year 6.
- Revise one topic at a time: a few minutes on one topic beats a long session skimming everything.
Every SPaG topic Year 4 covers
Grouped by strand. Tap any topic to open it on the interactive map, with a definition, examples and a practice question.
Vocabulary & Spelling
Punctuation
Sentences
Standard English
Verb Forms & Tenses
Practise every topic above, free
The interactive SPaG map has all of Year 4's topics in one place, one practice question each, marked instantly.
Year 4 SPaG FAQ
What SPaG topics does Year 4 cover?+
33 of the 43 total SPaG topics, spread across 7 of the seven strands. 5 of them are typically introduced for the first time in Year 4, building on what earlier years covered.
Is SPaG tested in Year 4?+
Not with a formal government test. Only Year 6 sits the compulsory, nationally reported SPaG SATs (Year 2 has a non-statutory version).
Teachers do assess SPaG throughout Year 4 as part of normal class work, and if your child is preparing for the 11+, some of these topics can come up in papers from Year 5 onwards.
How should we revise for SPaG at home?+
One topic at a time, not a general read-through. Pick a topic from the map below, read the plain-English definition together, look at the examples, then try the practice question.
A few minutes on one topic beats a long session skimming everything.
Sources
- National curriculum in England: English programmes of study — Department for Education, GOV.UK, see English appendix 2: vocabulary, grammar and punctuation. Year 4's topics on this page are staged against this statutory, year-by-year programme of study.
- Key stage 2: assessment and reporting arrangements (ARA) — Standards and Testing Agency, GOV.UK, confirms the compulsory, nationally reported GPS test is only at the end of Year 6.
The Pip team builds Pip, the 11+ and KS2 practice app for children in years three to six. We write these guides from real exam formats and past papers.
