The Oxford Wordlist and the Oxford Wordlist Plus are the result of two extensive research studies conducted by Oxford University Press (OUP).

The Stage 1 Oxford Wordlist study, An investigation of high frequency words in young children’s writing and reading development was conducted by OUP in Australian schools in 2007. This study produced the Oxford Wordlist: a list of the 307 most frequently used words by students in their first three years of school.

Following requests from educators beyond the early years, the Stage 2 study, An investigation of high frequency words in Years 3 and 4 students’ writing development, was conducted in Australian schools in 2009. It resulted in the Oxford Wordlist Plus: a list of the 404 words most frequently used words by Years 3 and 4 students in their own writing.

Both studies were the first of their kind in over 30 years.

To download the Oxford Wordlist, The Words Children Write: Research Summary of the Oxford Wordlist, the Oxford Wordlist Plus, The Words Children Write—beyond the early years: Summary Report of the Oxford Wordlist, Stage 2 Research Study, and to access the Oxford Wordlist Interactive Tool online, visit www.oxfordwordlist.com