Do you think spellings tests are a waste of time?

[Bomper]

Dd1 has always been in the top group for spellings, and after practicing them religiously for a week nearly always gets 10 out of ten, if not 8 or 9. However, her 'day to day' spelling can be atrocious ! So, all these tests seem to prove is that she is good at learning things parrot fashion but that none of it sinks in.

How many times will the words Samuel Pepys come in a 6 years old writing?

I agree with the OP. I'd like to see more repetition in spellings from week to week and focus on groupings of words that sound the same rather than groupings of words that are confusing. i.e. much and matchbox appearing in the same list of words to be tested on.

For my DD, spelling tests are an exercie in rote learning. Her day to day spelling is not at a very high level - she's Y2.

Yes. Fortunately the headteacher at ds's school shares my point of view.