Spelling Bee

OFFICIAL RULES

ST. LOUIS POST-DISPATCH 2013 SPELLING BEE
SEMI-FINAL COMPETITIONS
AS APPROVED BY SCRIPPS NATIONAL SPELLING BEE

  1. Spellers in the St. Louis Post-Dispatch 2013 Spelling Bee must qualify under these basic requirements in accordance with the Scripps National Spelling Bee.
    1. The speller must attend a school that officially enrolles with the Scripps National Spelling Bee between August 16, 2012, and December 14, 2012.
    2. The speller must not have passed beyond the eighth grade on or before February 1, 2013.
    3. The speller must not have reached his/her 15th birthday on or before August 31, 2012.
    4. The speller must be designated by his or her school as the 2013 school's spelling bee champion.
    5. They - for the purpose of preparing for a spelling bee - must NOT have obtained a copy of the 2013 School Pronouncer Guide if it is to be used in any upcoming spelling bee in which they may qualify to participate.
    6. Any contestant who has won a Scripps National Spelling Bee is ineligible for further competition in the Scripps National Spelling Bee and its preliminary bees, including the St. Louis Post-Dispatch Spelling Bee.
  2. The St. Louis Post-Dispatch 2013 Spelling Bee semi-finals are a WRITTEN competition, consisting of 25 words. The pronouncer will be at the front of the room, and all spellers will be seated at tables or desks - no speller will be on stage during the semi-final written test.
  3. The pronouncer will provide the following: the word (and alternate pronunciation(s) if applicable), part of speech, origin, definition, the word used in a sentence, and any additional information needed to spell the word. If a word has one or more homonyms, the pronouncer will indicate which word is to be spelled. If the listed word is not properly identified, either by defining it or by distinguishing the homonyms, any correct spelling of any homonym of the word will be accepted. The pronouncer will then pause briefly, and then repeat this information. (Spellers will not have the opportunity to ask questions about the words given.) The pronouncer will then pause for 30 seconds, and then move on to the next word. When all 25 words have been announced, the pronouncer will then recite all 25 words in order from 1 to 25. No word information will be provided during this recitation, and there will be no time for contemplation between each word. There will be no interruptions unless the judges feel that further clarification of a word is needed. SPELLERS MUST PRINT THE WORDS LEGIBLY.
  4. Spellers are welcome to change spellings during the test; however, in changing spellings, they must cross out the spelling(s) that they wish for the judges to disregard. If two or more spellings are provided for a single word, the judges will count an error for the word, even if one of the provided spellings is correct.
  5. Words used and definitions given in the St. Louis Post-Dispatch 2013 Spelling Bee shall be selected from the 2013 Spell-It and Webster's Third New International Dictionary and its Addenda section, copyright 2002, Merriam-Webster. Words will be pronounced according to the diacritical markings.
  6. Parents, friends, or family members are not invited to watch the written semi-final testing, but are required to stay on the McKendree University campus during registration, testing and to pick-up their speller. The semi-final written test will last approximately forty-five minutes to one hour.
  7. The same words will be given during all six semi-final rounds. Spellers should not discuss these words until he/she is off of the McKendree University campus. Discussing the test words within earshot of other spellers will provide an unfair advantage to your competitors.
  8. Each speller will receive a number at registration which determines the order in which the speller will be seated in the testing area, and will match up with the written test. This number must be worn at all times.
  9. Upon entering the testing area, each speller will be given their test form, blank sheets of "scratch" paper and 2 ballpoint pens. Spellers may not use pencils. Spellers may not bring any personal items into the testing area including hats, purses and bags. There will be no breaks. A speller who needs to leave the testing area during the test may do so but may NOT return to complete the test.
  10. Spellers will be seated with space between each speller. Spellers must remain silent during testing. If a speller is disrupting other spellers during the semi-finals, a judge will ask the speller to remain quiet and/or take them to a special seating area within the testing area, away from the other spellers.
  11. The St. Louis Post-Dispatch provides accommodation for spellers with physical challenges involving sight, hearing, speech, handwriting legibility, and/or movement. Individuals who need special accommodation must contact the St. Louis Post-Dispatch Spelling Bee (314-340-8961) NO LATER THAN Friday, February 15, 2013.
  12. All tests will be scored by two independent graders. If a word is illegible or if the two graders disagree on the spelling of the word, the judges will rule on each discrepancy. Please refer to rules 16 and 17 on this page.
  13. Webster's Third New International Dictionary and its Addenda Section, copyright 2002, Merriam-Webster shall serve as the final authority for the spellings of words in the St. Louis Post-Dispatch 2013 Spelling Bee. If more than one spelling is listed for a word, any of these spellings will be accepted as correct if the word either matches the pronunciation and definition provided by the pronouncer or if it is clearly identified as being a standard variation of the word that the contestant has been asked to spell. Spellings at other locations having archaic, obsolete or regional labels (such as North, Midland, Irish) that are different from those at the main entry will not be accepted as correct.
  14. Once all of the tests are graded, all scores will be plotted on a graph. A minimum of 30 spellers from the semi-final round will advance to the final rounds. Winners from the written semi-final rounds will be announced once the scores are tabulated. This information will be listed on the NIE website (nie.post-dispatch.com/Bee) by 9pm. on Saturday, March 2, 2013.
  15. Spellers who do not qualify for the Finals may pick up copies of their graded official test forms at the Post-Dispatch (900 North Tucker Blvd., St. Louis, MO 63101) between the hours of 9 a.m. and 5 p.m. from Monday, March 25, 2013, through Friday, April 5, 2013. Any tests left in the possession of the Post-Dispatch after 5 p.m. Friday, April 5, 2013, will be destroyed. The Bee will not make available the scores and/or graded official test forms of spellers qualifying for the Finals. Parents/guardians wishing to pick up test forms must present a photo ID.
  16. Per Scripps National Spelling Bee: The national office will not render judgements relating to the conduct of local spelling bees. Individuals bearing complaints or questions about the conduct of local spelling bees should register their concerns with local spelling bee officials. The St. Louis Post-Dispatch reserves the right to revise or amend these rules at any time. DECISIONS OF LOCAL SPELLING BEE OFFICALS ARE FINAL.
  17. The judges are in complete control of the competition. The decision of the judges shall be final on all questions.
(top)