Step-by-step: creating your spelling test in under 60 seconds.
With Spelling Test Buddy, you can create an online spelling test using your own word list in under a minute. The test will read each word aloud, use it in a sentence, and instantly show you the results. Here’s exactly how to do it.
The first step is to gather your list of spelling words. These could be words your students find challenging, frequently misspelled words, vocabulary related to a current topic of study. Once you have your list, the journey to an interactive spelling test begins.
This is really easy to do with Spelling Test Buddy!
- Sign in with your Google account with 1 click here: https://go.spellingtestbuddy.com/
- Input Your Words: Take a photo of your word list, upload a PDF or image, or create a blank list and enter them one at a time
- Customize the Test: Clean up the list by editing or removing words, naming the list, and deciding if you want to shuffle the words
- Share the Test link: Send it by email, text, social media, or embed it on your website
- See the results: See how your test takers did on your test, including what words they missed.
It’s so easy to use!
Try it out!
Want to try it out? Here is a sample spelling test. How well can you do?
I’m a teacher and I want to create an online spelling test for my students
Spelling Test Buddy lets teachers all over the world create online spelling tests for their students. Teachers can:
- Create unlimited word lists
- Manage students
- Organize students in groups
- Schedule practice, games, and tests to students, complete with due dates, shuffle options, and more. Schedule your whole quarter in only a few minutes!
- See results for each test, including which words were missed
- Generate practice worksheets from your word lists
Learn more about Spelling Test Buddy for Teachers.
Used by teachers around the world
What if I don’t have my own lists of words?
We provide spelling word lists and sight word lists for Kindergarten, First Grade, and Second Grade. These are science-backed lists that are aligned to the US Common Core and Next Generation Science Standards. They are based on the word lists provided by popular phonics and spelling curriculum, such as Words Their Way, Orton-Gillingham, and UFLI. Each grade level contains 30-36 word lists, each with 12-19 words. From each list, you can also generate common spelling and phonics activity worksheets, like sound sorts, draw and label, word hunts and more.
Why would I want to create an online spelling test with my own words?
The short answer: a generic word list isn’t your curriculum. If you’re drilling -tion endings this week, or working through a science unit on ecosystems, your spelling test should match what you’re actually teaching, not what some publisher decided grades 3–5 should know.
A few more concrete reasons:
Paper tests tell you almost nothing. You get a score. An online test shows you which words each student missed, so you know exactly what to reteach — without spending an evening grading.
Students who practice the actual test words before test day do better. With a shareable link, they can run through the words at home instead of staring at a crumpled paper list the night before.
Differentiation is hard enough without managing separate paper piles. Custom lists let you run different word sets for different reading groups without the logistical headache.
The Science of Reading supports teaching spelling as structured literacy — tied to the phonics patterns you’re currently teaching, not random memorization. Building your own test around this week’s pattern is the whole point.
Custom lists also make spaced repetition practical. With the right system, you can resurface words students missed last week alongside new ones, which is far more effective for retention than one-and-done weekly tests. And each student’s personalized word list can be different, and optimized for exactly where they are!
Are giving Spelling Tests created with your own words backed by research?
Spelling instruction and spelling tests in the classroom are intricately tied to the Science of Reading movement.
“Science of Reading” (or SoR for short) refers to a body of research from multiple disciplines, including education, neuroscience, and cognitive psychology, which explores how we learn to read. This research aims to understand the processes involved in reading and to apply this understanding to improve reading instruction and literacy outcomes.
The Science of Reading supports using spelling tests to strengthen orthographic mapping, helping students link sounds to letters. Tests should emphasize recognizing patterns and rules over memorization. While traditional weekly tests remain useful, they should prioritize evaluating understanding of spelling concepts rather than focusing solely on word list recall.
Learn more about how Science of Reading interacts with spelling and spelling tests here.
What teachers say about Spelling Test Buddy
I love that I can give differentiated spelling tests that read the words out loud. All of my students have their own lists of words.
Prior to subscribing, my students' spelling average on tests was 66%, and after implementing daily practice, it has jumped to 83%, which is impressive considering 5 of 10 students are receiving Tier 3 intervention for reading.
I love the program that you have created as it takes a lot of work out of marking spelling tests and gives students instant feedback on their work which is essential for learning.
I’m a parent or student. Is Spelling Test Buddy for me?
Yes! The Standard edition of Spelling Test Buddy offers similar, science-backed features for spelling instruction, practice, spelling games, adaptive learning, and tests. You can use the Standard edition for every student in your household or microschool, and you get the same high-quality features that teachers get with their purchase.
What languages and accents are supported?
Spelling Test Buddy currently supports audio words and sentences in US English, UK English, Australian English, and Indian English. More languages are coming soon!
I want to give my students spelling games with Spelling Test Buddy. Is this possible?
Yes! We have a library of included spelling games that use the words in your word lists. When you assign Practice, your students can play these games.
Does Spelling Test Buddy support Adaptive Learning?
Yes! Adaptive Learning Programs is a mode that turns your word lists into a continuous, personalized practice track for each student, using spaced repetition method of optimization. Instead of the whole class moving on to a new list every Friday, each student gets a practice session built around what they specifically need: words they missed recently, words that are about to slip out of memory, and a steady introduction of new words. You may have seen spaced repetition in other tools like XtraMath, Anki, and DuoLingo.
The system handles the scheduling automatically using spaced repetition. Teachers still pick the word lists, group students, and watch the data — but the day-to-day decisions about which words each student sees are made by the platform, not by hand.
It’s a strong fit for classrooms that want retention to carry across weeks and months, intervention settings where students are at very different starting points, and homeschool/microschool families running one program across multiple kids.
Can I create a custom spelling bee with Spelling Test Buddy?
Yes! We have several schools who have created virtual Spelling Bees with Spelling Test Buddy. We have also had many parents who have purchased Spelling Test Buddy to help practice for a student’s upcoming Spelling Bee or UIL Spelling Test as well.
Conclusion
In conclusion, transforming the traditional spelling test into an engaging, insightful, and manageable online experience is at your fingertips. With a tool designed to make learning fun and effective, the question is, are you ready to take your spelling tests to the next level?
Ready to get started?
Try Spelling Test Buddy today, for free!
Start Creating Tests, Practice, and Games