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KS2 SATs Spelling: -cious, -tious, -cial and -tial

If the root word ends in -ce, the ending is usually -cious (grace → gracious, space → spacious); otherwise it is usually -tious (ambition → ambitious). -cial usually follows a vowel (official, special) and -tial a consonant (partial, essential). Learn the exceptions examiners like, such as initial and financial, then spell essential in a SATs-style question.