What are the rules in a spelling bee?

Our Recommendations for Spelling Bee Rules:

• The pronouncer announces the word to be spelled.
• The speller listens carefully to the pronouncer and asks for the word to be repeated if necessary.
• When the speller is sure she understands the word, she pronounces it, spells it and then says the word again.

Are you allowed to write in a spelling bee?

The spelling bee may be conducted orally or in writing or in a manner that is a combination of the two. If, however, the spelling bee officials specify an oral format, the speller may request a written format only as specified in the term of Rule 4: Special needs.

How is a spelling bee structured?

Tips for Organising a Spelling Bee

1. Gather a list of words to be used for the competition.
2. All spellers competing in the competition are given a number to determine their spelling order.
3. Spellers are seated in numerical order facing the pronouncer and the audience (if there is one).

Do you have to say capital in a spelling bee?

You should judge the spelling based on the order of the letters only; they don’t need to indicate capitals, special characters or spaces. Celebrate your champion! Declare your champion when only one student moves on to the next round, and then spells correctly in that one-student, one-word round.

What is the age limit for spelling bee?

Contest participants cannot be older than fourteen as of August 31 of the year before the competition; nor can they be past the eighth grade as of February 1 of that year’s competition. Previous winners are also ineligible to compete.

Who won the last spelling bee?

Zaila Avant-garde
Zaila Avant-garde, 14, reacts to winning the Scripps National Spelling Bee in Orlando, Fla., on July 8, 2021. She became the first Black American to win and hold the title of national spelling bee champion.

How do you end a spelling bee?

End-of-bee procedure: If all spellers in a round misspell or answer vocabulary items incorrectly: If none of the spellers remaining in the spelling bee at the start of a round spells a word correctly or answers a vocabulary item correctly during that round, all remain in the competition and a new spelling round begins.