Loading please wait

The smart way to improve grades

Comprehensive & curriculum aligned

Try an activity or get started for free

Apply letter positioning patterns

In this worksheet, students will find the missing word in a group of words. It will develop their ability to follow patterns and think systematically.

'Apply letter positioning patterns' worksheet

Key stage:  KS 2

Year:  Year 5 11+ worksheets

Curriculum topic:   Verbal Reasoning

Curriculum subtopic:   Word Merge

Difficulty level:  

Worksheet Overview

Hi word creator!


In this activity, we are going to be using letters from two words to make a new word.


Here are two groups of words. Letters from the two words on the outside of the brackets are used to create the word on the inside of the brackets.

yawn  (awash)  mash     pear ( ____ )  curly


We need to work out how yawn and mash can be joined to make the word awash, and then use this same rule to make a word with pear and curly.


In this case, we take the middle two letters of the first word and the last three letters of the third word.

yawn  (awash)  mash          pear  ( ____ )  curly

 

boy yawning
 

So the answer is early!


Let’s try another:

Can you work out the pattern here?

east  (self)  flow      lips ( ____ ) does


 

We need to work out how east and flow combine to make self.


 

The third letter from east goes with the first letter in self.

This means we need to use the third letter from lips in the first letter position of our mystery word, so it looks like this so far...p _ _ _

The first letter from east goes to the second letter in self. So we need to use the first letter from lips in the second letter position in our mystery word...pl _ _

The second letter from flow goes to the third letter in self. So we need to use the second letter from does in the third letter position in our mystery word...plo _

The first letter from flow goes to the fourth letter in self. We need to use the first letter from does in the fourth letter position in our mystery word...plod is the answer!


 

Pssstt!! Here’s a handy hint to help you reach superstar status:

Always check which letters from the first word have been used to make the second word.


 

In this activity, you will need to be a word wizard and find the missing word in a pair. Let’s get started!

What is EdPlace?

We're your National Curriculum aligned online education content provider helping each child succeed in English, maths and science from year 1 to GCSE. With an EdPlace account you’ll be able to track and measure progress, helping each child achieve their best. We build confidence and attainment by personalising each child’s learning at a level that suits them.

Get started
laptop

Try an activity or get started for free

  • National Tutoring Awards 2023 Shortlisted / Parents
    National Tutoring Awards 2023 Shortlisted
  • Private-Tutoring-WINNER-EducationInvestor-Awards / Parents
    Winner - Private Tutoring
  • Bett Awards Finalist / Parents
    Finalist
  • Winner - Best for Home Learning / Parents
    Winner - Best for Home Learning / Parents