The placement check, explained
Last reviewed: 14 July 2026
What it is
A short, game-like check of sound knowledge: hearing sounds, matching them to letters, and blending simple words. It takes under ten minutes and children usually don't realise it's an assessment.
How placement works
We place learners at the level where they are consistently comfortable, not at the edge of their ability. Racing through familiar material builds the speed and confidence that harder material needs later.
Can I override it?
Yes — you can move a learner's level from their profile settings. We recommend trusting the check for at least the first two weeks.