Year 6 SPaG worksheet on formal and informal language: 20 SATs-style questions with answers. Free printable PDF.

3-page A4 PDF from the Tiger Shark Education question bank (Vocabulary and Standard English): two pages of questions (tick one) and an answer page. Example questions: Which word or phrase is the most formal? Tick one. (distributed, handed round, shared, gave out) / Which word or phrase is the most formal? Tick one. (risked, had a go, attempted, tried)

What is formal and informal language? Formal language is used in situations such as official letters, reports and speeches, while informal language is used with friends and family. Formal writing avoids contractions, slang and colloquial phrases, and may use the passive voice and the subjunctive. In the SATs, children identify the most formal version of a sentence or replace informal words.

Common mistakes and tips: Children often think formal simply means using longer words. Others don’t notice contractions or phrasal verbs (find out instead of discover) as features of informal language. Comparing the same message written for a friend and for a head teacher is a clear way to explore the differences.

This topic is part of the Year 6 English grammar, punctuation and spelling curriculum and appears in the SATs. Because the test uses precise terminology, practising with the correct terms here helps children recognise what a question is asking.

How teachers use it: as a ten-minute daily grammar slot, as a homework task, or as part of a mixed revision pack in the run-up to the SATs. Pairs can work through it and compare answers before checking the answer page. Revisiting the same topic a few weeks later is an effective way to check retention.

Building understanding, not just recognition: the SATs ask children to identify features, but the real aim is for them to use grammar confidently in their own writing. After completing the sheet, ask pupils to find examples of the topic in a class text and discuss why the author used them. Then set a short writing task where the feature must be used deliberately, such as a paragraph of a story or a piece of non-fiction. Shared editing, where the class improves a weak sentence together, is a powerful way to show the effect of a grammatical choice. Linking grammar to purpose and effect helps children remember the terminology, because it becomes a tool rather than a label.