I Before E Cheat Sheet (PDF)

The famous rule and its real track record — it works about three times out of four — with the exceptions laid out plainly.

What’s inside

• I before E (believe, chief, field, piece, thief) and Except after C (ceiling, receive, deceive, conceit).
• When it says long A: ei (neighbor, weigh, eight, sleigh, vein).
• Common exceptions that follow no rule (weird, seize, either, height, science).

Every word in this PDF (19)

Handy for checking the list fits your child before printing, or for making your own games.

believe, chief, field, piece, thief, ceiling, receive, deceive, conceit, neighbor, weigh, eight, sleigh, vein, weird, seize, either, height, science

How to use it

1. Teach the first row as the default.
2. Add the after-C row, then the long-A row.
3. Treat the exceptions row as words to memorize, a few at a time.
4. When your child meets an ie/ei word, find its row on the sheet.

Watch out for

• The rule only applies when the letters say long e (believe, receive); eight and vein say long a.
• Science, weird and height break the rule — they're on the exceptions row for a reason.
• Don't teach this before age 7; younger children don't meet enough ie/ei words.

Who it’s for

Ages 7–10.

Where it fits: Stage 5 — Vowel Teams & Tricky Words

Goes well with

• 10 English Spelling Rules Every Phonics Student Needs