How to Win a Spelling Bee

Author: Emily Listmann / Source: wikiHow

In this Article:Studying Words Improving Your Vocabulary Competing in the Spelling Bee Community Q&A 14 References

If you’re preparing for a spelling bee, you don’t have to read a dictionary cover to cover, but you do need to study! Whether you’re competing at your school or at a higher level, improving your vocabulary and learning word patterns can get you closer to victory.

With a lot of hard work and perseverance, you can master the spelling bee and take home a trophy!

1 Review the word list if you have one. Familiarize yourself with the words that will appear in the spelling bee. Circle any words that seem difficult or any you don’t recognize so you know where to focus most of your attention. Make sure you practice spelling each of the words from the list until you master them.^[1]
- Work on word lists made for your grade level before moving on to lists made for higher levels.
2 Look for common spelling bee words online if a list isn’t provided. Many regional and national spelling bees don’t have set word lists, but you can find frequently used words through Merriam-Webster and online study sources. Find words that you find challenging and focus your time on learning them. Start with words in your grade level before studying higher-level words.^[2]
- Spell It! From Merriam-Webster lists over 1,000 words that are commonly used in bees along with tips and tricks on how to remember their spelling. You can find the words here: http://myspellit.com/.
- Look on online flashcard websites like Quizlet for study options that other people preparing for spelling bees have made.
3 Listen to the pronunciation of each word online so you hear how it sounds. Most online dictionaries offer an audio option where you can hear each word. Type the word into the search bar on the website and click on the small speaker icon to hear the word. This is how the announcer at the spelling bee will say the word.^[3]
- Hearing the word while looking at the spelling will help you recognize how the letters are vocalized.
- If you’re familiar with phonetic writing, you can find the correct pronunciation in the dictionary.
4 Practice spelling 15-20 words every day. Break your workload into manageable chunks of words to focus on. Pair…