Build confidence with tricky spelling patterns and more challenging words.
Levels 4 and 5 introduce 72 advanced phonics patterns and more than 200 illustrated words through engaging, replayable card games.
Purple - Level 4
Introduces a wide range of advanced vowel and consonant patterns, helping learners recognise that the same sound can often be represented in several different ways.
Black - Level 5
Extends learners into less common, irregular and more challenging English spelling patterns.
Extends phonics knowledge
Explore less common and less predictable English spelling patterns.
Strengthens decoding
Learners practice applying known sound patterns to unfamiliar words.
Made to be replayed
Shuffle, mix and revisit the cards for varied practice and natural review.
Together, the two decks cover:
72 phonics targets
200+ illustrated words
108 cards
MORE THAN FLASHCARDS
Advanced spelling patterns become easier to understand when learners meet them repeatedly through play.
Each learning card highlights one target sound or spelling pattern through several illustrated example words. During play, learners read aloud, listen to others and compare how the same pattern appears across different words.
Use Purple and Black progressively, revisit individual decks for focused practice, or mix them with earlier AGO Phonics levels for broader review.
Recognise the pattern. Decode the word. Build confidence through play.
WHO IT'S FOR
Ready for the next stage?
The AGO Phonics Advanced Set is designed for learners who already understand basic letter sounds, blends, digraphs and common vowel patterns.
It is especially useful for:
- developing readers in the middle-primary years;
- children who have completed AGO Phonics Levels 1–3;
- older learners who need extra support with reading or spelling;
- ESL and EFL learners expanding both phonics knowledge and vocabulary.
Inside the box:
Two 54-card, linen-finish decks with 72 learning cards, 36 action cards and instructions in six languages.
FAQ
It is designed for developing readers who already understand basic letter sounds, blends, digraphs and common vowel patterns.
Yes. The game format makes it suitable for older learners who need extra reading or spelling practice without using materials that feel overly childish. As a game, this material offers another fun angle to build reading skills that can resonate with readers that have become frustrated.
Not necessarily, but learners should be comfortable with the main phonics patterns covered in the AGO Phonics Box Set before moving into Levels 4 and 5.
No. It works best as a supplementary resource alongside phonics instruction, reading practice, spelling work and suitable readers.
Yes. Learners can work through Purple and Black progressively or mix them together for broader review. Advanced cards can also be combined with earlier AGO Phonics levels.
Use AGO Phonics cards to quickly pre-teach or review phonics concepts and vocabulary.
The game is most effectively used as a supplementary material alongside workbooks and readers.
The goal is to set up a basic understanding of how the target phoneme patterns work, and (with ESL / EFL students) to introduce some new high frequency picture vocabulary.
In general, aim to use phonics study as a stepping stone / bridge / shortcut towards working on higher level skills (such as reading texts or writing sentences and paragraphs). You don’t want students to be bogged down at the phonics stage forever (in fact the sooner they move beyond this stage, the better).
- Some reading assistance may be needed the first few times you play.
- Encourage students to sound out words on their own as much as possible.
- Many patterns practiced on the advanced levels are counter-intuitive. If a player knows one or more words on a card, encourage them to apply the target phoneme’s pronunciation rule to help decode the other words.
- The app offers another way to sound out phonemes and hear unknown words. It is particularly helpful for young beginners and English learners.
- When using the app in group environment (particularly with boisterous kids), consider connecting headphones – it allows students to hear the target sounds clearly, but perhaps more importantly takes away the potential for the app to be a distraction where kids suddenly find themselves wanting to compete in the ‘who can smack the most buttons’ game! With headphones attached, the app’s function is purely a tool for when kids get stuck.
- Either move through the levels step by step (best option for lower level students), or mix decks together (best option for broader review).
- There are many ways to use the cards. Different games have different strengths and points of focus. Use simpler game play methods with younger kids. With older kids, mix it up and keep it fresh!