Alphabetical Order – A Simple Skill That Unlocks Exam Success

Alphabetical order isn’t just for organising books – it’s a powerful tool in English exams, especially in 7+, 8+, and 11+ questions. Learn to master it and become a sorting superstar!

What Is Alphabetical Order?

Alphabetical order means sorting words the same way they appear in the alphabet – from A to Z. It’s how dictionaries, glossaries and indexes are arranged. It helps you find words, compare spellings and answer questions faster.

Why It’s Tested in Exams

Alphabetical skills are used in spelling, comprehension and reasoning papers to check attention to detail, order and vocabulary. If your child can sort words quickly, it gives them a serious speed advantage!

Where You See It In Real Life

Think beyond the classroom – alphabetical order is used in phone contacts, filing systems, online lists, and even game inventories!

Try These Examples

Level 1 (Beginner): Sort these: Dog, Cat, Apple
✅ Answer: Apple, Cat, Dog

Level 2 (Intermediate): Which comes first: Clock or Climb?
✅ Answer: Climb (check the 3rd letter: ‘i’ vs ‘o’)

Level 3 (Advanced): Put in order: Knight, Knee, Knit, Know
✅ Answer: Knee, Knight, Knit, Know (check second, third and fourth letters!)

Common Mistakes to Avoid

Gotcha: Only looking at the first letter.
Fix: If the first letters match, compare the second… then the third… and so on!

Also Known As

Word sorting, A–Z order, Dictionary order

Advanced Interpretation

More challenging versions might include similar spellings or tricky words starting with the same root. Some 11+ questions even include words that sound alike but sort differently!

Memory Tricks & Game Suggestion

Use the ABC song in your head to quickly place words. Or group the alphabet in sets of 5 to speed up comparisons.