Rules
On April 29, 2008 The Board of Directors for AARP The Magazine’s National Spelling Bee modified the rules for the 2008 Bee.
Rules and Regulations - General
- The 2008 AARP Magazine National Spelling Bee will be held in Cheyenne, Wyoming on June 13 and 14, 2008.
- Spellers must be at least fifty years of age at the time of the Bee. Previous National Senior Spelling Bee first place winners are not eligible to participate in this competition.
- For the 2008 Bee, First, Second and Third place finalists will be presented plaques or trophies and cash prizes of $500, $300 and $200 respectively. The First place winner will win a trip to New York the day after the Bee to take part in media interviews arranged by AARP, including ground and airline transportation, lodging and limited meal expenses. Additional prizes may be awarded. All Spellers will receive certificates of participation. Spellers with the three (3) highest scores and any ties in the written rounds will be awarded certificates.
- The Judges’ decisions are final and absolute on all questions.
- Only Spellers, Board members and official volunteers are allowed in the competition area during each segment. Others will be asked to leave. **
- The Spelling Bee will consist of two segments. The first will consist of one hundred written words, given in four rounds of 25 words each. Spellers’ scores in the written segment will be used to qualify those going on to the second segment, the oral rounds. The top 15 Spellers plus any ties will go on to the oral rounds.
- Before the oral rounds begin, a drawing will determine the order of the Spellers. The oral rounds will consist of each Speller, in the order in which her/his name was drawn, being given a word to spell orally. Each Speller will remain in the oral rounds until such time as she/he incorrectly spells a total of three words. When a Speller misspells a word, a bell will sound and correct spelling will be provided. Eliminated Spellers will leave the orals after the current round of words is completed.
- All words used in the Spelling Bee have been taken from Merriam-Webster’s Collegiate Dictionary, Eleventh Edition, 2003. No capitalized, hyphenated, double or triple words, or words of a variant spelling will be used.
- Words will be pronounced according to the diacritical markings in the Dictionary cited above.
- The Pronouncer will pronounce each word at least twice, designate its part of speech, provide its definition, give its usage in a complete sentence, and pronounce it a third time. The Pronouncer may give a fuller explanation of the meaning of the word or provide additional information to ensure the Speller understands the word to be spelled.
- A Speller wishing additional information must make such request while that word is under discussion. Such consideration will be given by the Pronouncer until such time as the Judges determine that the word has been properly and reasonably defined and illustrated. The Judges have the right to disqualify any speller who declines a request to start spelling.
- Each speller is asked to pay $25 toward food and beverage expenses. Any guests (non-participants) wishing to partake in the luncheon must reserve a seat and pay $20 per person before June 10, 2008. Payment may be made online or over-the-phone through the University of Wyoming’s secure events registration system and is fully refundable with written notice received on or before June 9, 2008. Refunds cannot be issued for cancellations made on or after June 10, 2008. All refunds will be credited back to the credit card used or a check will be sent by mail. Written cancellation may be made to aarpwy@aarp.org or to: UW Center for Conferences & Continuing Education, Dept. 3972, 1000 E. University Ave., Laramie, WY 82071.
- Employees of AARP and AARP The Magazine are not eligible to compete in or serve as judges in the Bee.
- Spellers are responsible for complying with Internal Revenue Service regulations regarding the declaration of any prizes or gifts they receive as part of their participation in the Bee.
- Spellers agree to allow AARP, AARP The Magazine and its affiliates to release to the media and to use their likeness in photographs, video footage, audio recordings, names, results and other information related to their participation in the Bee to promote this Bee and future Bees. Winners will be asked to complete a more detailed publicity release at the conclusion of the Bee.
**Please note, spectators are encouraged to watch but may not sit with or speak to the spellers during competition.
Rules and Regulations – Specific
Before each segment, the Pronouncer will advise the Spellers of specific rules to be followed as appropriate to either the written or oral part of the contest. Failure to follow the stated rules will result in individual words being judged incorrectly spelled.
Written Test:
The Pronouncer will inform the Spellers:
- The Scorers’ chairman is the final judge in case of questionable printing or writing.
- Spellers are to write, print, or erase cleanly, placing only one word on a line.
- Lowercase letters “i” and “j” must be dotted.
- Lowercase letters “t” and “x” must be crossed.
- Block letters (i.e., printing in capitals) are acceptable, but once begun, each letter of every word must be printed as a block letter. The block letter “I” must have cross bars at both the top and bottom of the upright.
- Failure to meet these requirements will result in words being judged as incorrectly spelled.
- Written test papers will be returned to the Spellers 30 minutes before the beginning of the oral rounds. Questions will be answered at this time.
Oral rounds:
The Pronouncer will inform the Spellers:
- Spellers must speak clearly and loudly.
- Pronunciation of the word by the Speller before beginning spelling is required to ensure that the Speller has correctly heard the word to be spelled.
- The Speller may begin spelling the word three times. Final pronunciation by the Speller of the spelled word is required and indicates completion of the spelling, after which no further attempts may be made.
- If more than one Speller ties for first, second or third place, a separate spell-off between the tied Spellers will be held. Once the spell-off is completed, the oral rounds will resume.
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