High frequency words
The first 100 words
Reading
There are 100 common words that students will hear
and see in written material and that they should be able
to read and write by the end of Level 1. These words are
provided here as flash cards to use in the classroom and
also for students to take home (pages 2 to 14). The cards
are organised in lists, starting with the most frequently
used word in list 1, through to the 100 th-most-frequently
used word at the end of list 13. There are another 100
high frequency words that students should know by the
end of Level 2 and these are covered in Oxford English for
Cambridge Primary Level 2.
Copy each list, cut out the cards and laminate them if
possible. When a student can read a set of words, send the
set home as flash cards to learn. When they have learnt
the next set of words, they take that set home to learn
but continue to practise all the words they have learnt
previously.
Spelling
When the students are confident reading a set of words,
give them the whole set to take home to learn to spell.
Teach the students to use the technique ‘Look-say-cover-
write-check’ to learn their spellings. Demonstrate how to
look at the word, reminding yourself of anything that is
unusual about the word. For example, say: ‘said’: I need to
remember that the sound /e/ is spelt with the letter group
‘ai’. Then show how to say the word carefully, emphasising
each letter. Then cover up the word and model attempting
to spell it and then uncovering the word to check it.
© Oxford University Press 2016 1
836636_DVD1_High_Frequency_Words.indd 1
Practice activities
 Choose 20 words that you would like to practise.
Create Bingo boards by photocopying different
selections of six words from the list of 20 (ensure that
each selection is different). Give each student one of
the Bingo boards. Place the flash cards for the 20 words
in a hat and pull the words out and read them. Tell the
students to cross off the words from their card as they
hear each one. The first one to cross off all their words
shouts ‘Bingo’ and is the winner.
 Give the students, working in pairs, two sets of the
flash cards for words you would like them to practise
and tell them to use the cards to play pairs. Tell them
to place the cards face down between them and take
turns to turn over two cards. If the words match, the
student gets to keep the pair and have another go. If
not, the cards are turned back over in the same
position and it’s the end of their go. When all the pairs
have been found, the student with the most pairs is
the winner.
Copying permitted within purchasing school only
10/30/15 12:47 PM
 Word Lists

High frequency words: List 1



a am

cat to

I it

the dog

© Oxford University Press 2016 2 Copying permitted within purchasing school only

836636_DVD1_High_Frequency_Words.indd 2 10/30/15 12:47 PM

 Word Lists

High frequency words: List 2



big on

mum up

dad we

me and

© Oxford University Press 2016 3 Copying permitted within purchasing school only

836636_DVD1_High_Frequency_Words.indd 3 10/30/15 12:47 PM

 Word Lists

High frequency words: List 3



my at

for he

is no

can all

© Oxford University Press 2016 4 Copying permitted within purchasing school only

836636_DVD1_High_Frequency_Words.indd 4 10/30/15 12:47 PM

 Word Lists

High frequency words: List 4



get in

go was

of day

she see

© Oxford University Press 2016 5 Copying permitted within purchasing school only

836636_DVD1_High_Frequency_Words.indd 5 10/30/15 12:47 PM

 Word Lists

High frequency words: List 5



like yes

look come

went you

are said

© Oxford University Press 2016 6 Copying permitted within purchasing school only

836636_DVD1_High_Frequency_Words.indd 6 10/30/15 12:47 PM

 Word Lists

High frequency words: List 6



this going

they away

play so

but

© Oxford University Press 2016 7 Copying permitted within purchasing school only

836636_DVD1_High_Frequency_Words.indd 7 10/30/15 12:47 PM

 Word Lists

High frequency words: List 7



as an

do did

be bed

his him

© Oxford University Press 2016 8 Copying permitted within purchasing school only

836636_DVD1_High_Frequency_Words.indd 8 10/30/15 12:47 PM

 Word Lists

High frequency words: List 8



her ran

put not

from had

has got

© Oxford University Press 2016 9 Copying permitted within purchasing school only

836636_DVD1_High_Frequency_Words.indd 9 10/30/15 12:47 PM

 Word Lists

High frequency words: List 9



dig been

us seen

saw if

or by

© Oxford University Press 2016 10 Copying permitted within purchasing school only

836636_DVD1_High_Frequency_Words.indd 10 10/30/15 12:47 PM

 Word Lists

High frequency words: List 10



boy girl

good may

will man

help ball

© Oxford University Press 2016 11 Copying permitted within purchasing school only

836636_DVD1_High_Frequency_Words.indd 11 10/30/15 12:47 PM

 Word Lists

High frequency words: List 11



door push

pull over

much must

now off

© Oxford University Press 2016 12 Copying permitted within purchasing school only

836636_DVD1_High_Frequency_Words.indd 12 10/30/15 12:47 PM

 Word Lists

High frequency words: List 12



way have

how home

house came

time

© Oxford University Press 2016 13 Copying permitted within purchasing school only

836636_DVD1_High_Frequency_Words.indd 13 10/30/15 12:47 PM

 Word Lists

High frequency words: List 13



last jump

just after

out tree

© Oxford University Press 2016 14 Copying permitted within purchasing school only

836636_DVD1_High_Frequency_Words.indd 14 10/30/15 12:47 PM