What is SPAG and Why Does it Matter?

Emma Harper
Sep 21
4 min read

If your child is at school, you’ve probably heard the term SPAG. Teachers mention it, it pops up in homework, and it even has its own place in exams. But what actually is SPAG, and why should we care about it?

SPAG stands for Spelling, Punctuation, and Grammar. These three areas are the foundation of clear communication. Without them, ideas can get lost, misunderstood, or even marked down in exams.

Spelling

Spelling isn’t just about getting words right for the sake of it. Research shows that accurate spelling is strongly linked to confident writing, because children can focus on their ideas instead of worrying about mistakes. In fact, the Education Endowment Foundation highlights that poor spelling can limit the quality of writing as children avoid words they can’t spell.

That said, examiners don’t expect perfection. Children are actually encouraged to try adventurous vocabulary, even if they don’t get every letter right. Using a rich word choice can still gain marks for expression and ambition. Markers understand that not every child can spell every word correctly, and this is taken into account.

Across subjects, spelling can completely change meaning. Think about the difference between “cell” in Science and “sell” in everyday language, or “angle” in Maths compared to “angel.” A single letter can shift the answer from correct to incorrect.

A building with a clear angle — Angle, not angel

Punctuation

Punctuation acts like road signs in writing. It tells the reader when to pause, when something is important, and when the writer is asking a question. Without it, even the best ideas can be confusing.

At Core Plus, we aim for students of any age to be confident using at least six different types of punctuation correctly; from the basics like full stops and commas, to question marks, exclamation marks, apostrophes, colons, and speech marks. The more punctuation tools a child can use, the more clearly and confidently they can communicate.

In subjects like History or Geography, punctuation helps a child’s answers flow in a way that examiners can follow. Even in Science, writing “Newton” without a capital letter can give the impression of carelessness.

Grammar

Grammar is the structure that holds everything together. It’s about how sentences are built, the tense being used, and making sure ideas are expressed clearly. Strong grammar helps children explain their reasoning, whether they’re writing a creative story in English or setting out a method in a Science experiment.

One simple classroom strategy for stronger grammar is ISPACE, which encourages children to vary their sentence starters (for example: using an -ing word, a simile, a preposition, or a connective to open a sentence). This not only improves grammar but also makes writing more engaging and varied: a skill examiners look for.

Exams and SPAG

SPAG isn’t just about classroom work. It’s directly tested:

In Year 6 SATs, there is a dedicated SPAG paper, with marks awarded only for spelling, punctuation, and grammar.
At GCSE, a large proportion of marks in English Language depend on accurate SPAG. Even if your child’s ideas are strong, weak spelling or grammar can bring the grade down.
In other subjects, examiners expect clear, accurate answers. While SPAG isn’t always tested directly, poor spelling, grammar, or punctuation can still cost marks.

Why Not Just Rely on Spellcheck?

Technology is useful, but it has limits. Spellcheck won’t always notice the difference between “their,” “there,” and “they’re.” It won’t add the missing commas or fix clumsy grammar. And in exams, children can’t rely on it at all. More importantly, leaning on spellcheck doesn’t teach the understanding children need for lifelong confidence in their writing.

Games to Try at Home

SPAG doesn’t have to be all worksheets and tests. Families can build these skills through play:

In-person games

SPAG Snap: Create cards with words, punctuation marks, or grammar rules. Children shout “snap” when two cards match.
Sentence Builder: Write different words on slips of paper and challenge children to arrange them into sentences with correct grammar.
Punctuation Hunt: While reading a book together, ask your child to spot and explain different punctuation marks.

Online games

BBC Bitesize SPAG games: Free, fun, and tailored by age group.
Spelling Shed: A great platform for building spelling confidence.
Kahoot quizzes: You can find ready-made SPAG quizzes to play as a family.

These activities help children practise without it feeling like homework and often the whole family ends up getting involved.

A Reassurance for Parents

Not every child will be perfect at SPAG and they don’t need to be. What matters most is steady progress, a willingness to try, and the confidence to express ideas clearly. Examiners reward effort, ambition, and improvement. As parents, the best support you can give is encouragement and access to the right guidance, rather than expecting flawlessness.

How Core Plus Tuition Can Help

At Core Plus Tuition, we give children the tools to feel secure in their SPAG. We:

Build strong foundations in spelling, punctuation, and grammar.
Show children how to apply these skills across all subjects.
Prepare them for the SPAG paper in Year 6 and the marks awarded for SPAG at GCSE.
Support them to write with confidence, so they can focus on their ideas rather than their mistakes.