The five game modes — and when to use each
The same list plays five different ways. Each one drills something slightly different.
Type It
Hear the word and type it. The closest thing to a real spelling test, and the mode to use the day before one. Hardest of the five, because nothing is given away.
Multiple Choice
Hear the word, pick the right spelling. Gentle, fast, and good for a first pass at unfamiliar words or for a child who is losing confidence — the answer is on screen, so the job is recognising it.
Build It
Tap letter tiles to build the word. Great for younger spellers and for long words: the letters are provided, so the challenge is order, not recall.
Fill the Gap
Some letters are missing — fill them in. Targets the tricky middle of a word, where most spelling mistakes actually live (the silent letters and double consonants).
Picture Spell
See a picture, spell what it shows. No audio prompt — the picture is the question. Brilliant for younger kids and for vocabulary in a new language, where connecting the word to the thing matters as much as the letters.
Change mode from the Change button next to “Game:” in the list builder, or from the mode name at the top of a round.
Common questions
Are all five modes free?
Yes — every mode is included on the free plan. Rounds use sparks by word count, whichever mode you play.
Which mode should a 6-year-old start with?
Build It or Picture Spell. Both give a strong visual anchor, so a young speller is arranging letters rather than recalling a whole word from nothing.
Why does Picture Spell sometimes show no picture?
Some words simply have no clear, safe photo (abstract words like “through”). Spelly would rather show none than a misleading one, so the round falls back to the audio prompt.