Exercise books are a daily essential in schools, providing pupils with a structured way to record their work and teachers with a practical format for setting tasks and giving feedback. While the idea of an exercise book is simple, the variety available shows how different subjects and age groups benefit from different designs. Choosing the right type helps pupils stay organised and ensures lessons run smoothly.
A4 Exercise Books
The most widely used format in classrooms is the A4 exercise book. Their larger size gives pupils space to present their work clearly and helps teachers when marking and adding comments. Because they are versatile, A4 exercise books are used across English, Science, Humanities and general classwork. Schools often order them in bulk, with different colours for each subject so pupils can keep their books organised.
A5 Exercise Books
Smaller than A4, A5 exercise books are often used for spelling practice, vocabulary notes or homework diaries. They are easier for younger pupils to handle and fit neatly into school bags. Their compact size makes them practical for quick activities or focused subjects where less space is required.
Sketch Books
For Art and Design, sketch books are essential. They are usually made with thicker paper that can hold pencil shading, ink, or light washes of paint. Pupils use them to experiment, plan projects and develop creative skills without worrying about ink bleeding through the page.
Maths Exercise Books
Mathematics benefits from squared paper. Squared exercise books help pupils line up numbers correctly, particularly when learning long division, multiplication, or drawing graphs. Teachers often use different square sizes depending on the year group, giving younger pupils more space and older pupils smaller squares for precision.
English Exercise Books
English lessons typically use lined exercise books, providing structure for handwriting, extended writing and comprehension tasks. Some versions include wide margins for teacher comments or spelling corrections. The layout supports pupils in developing neat, well-presented written work.
Spelling Books
Spelling books often come with a structured layout, allowing pupils to write the word, note its meaning and practise sentences. This format is especially useful in primary years, where pupils are introduced to new word lists each week and need a consistent way to record their learning.
Science Exercise Books
Science often requires a combination of writing space and room for diagrams. Some schools use half-lined, half-blank pages so pupils can record explanations alongside sketches of experiments. Others use a mix of lined and graph paper, which makes it easier to collect data and draw results accurately.
SEN Exercise Books
For pupils with Special Educational Needs, adapted exercise books make classroom work more accessible. Options include tinted paper, which can help reduce visual stress, or wider line spacing to support handwriting. These adaptations allow pupils to work more comfortably and with greater independence.
