What Is a Dictation Sentence?

A dictation sentence is a teaching tool used to test a child's spelling level.

Used in grade school and throughout basic education, dictation sentences are used to test a child's knowledge of English and grammar. Oftentimes students are tested on common words to ensure they are at the right education level.

Function

A student's ability to properly write down a sentence the teacher has said aloud is referred to as sentence dictation. The teacher will stand before the class and read one or more sentences for the students to listen to and write down with proper spelling and grammar.

Significance

The use of sentence dictation is common in English and language arts classes to ensure that the students are able to spell common words and recognize proper punctuation and grammar on an average level.

Features

The sentences will range in difficulty depending on grade or class level. For example, a lower-grade class may simply have to listen to and write down the sentence, "What is your name?" A higher-level class may be tested to see if the students can accurately write the sentence: "If I say jump, you say how high?"

References

• Sitton Spelling: How Do You Give a Sentence Dictation Test?
• Avko: A Sentence Dictation Test
• Kiwiyert: Sentence Dictation