The following rules apply for all the categories.

• The pronouncer announces the word to be spelled. He speaks slowly and clearly, without distorting the normal pronunciation of the word.
• The speller listens carefully to the pronouncer and asks for the word to be repeated IF necessary. If the speller does not understand the word, he/she can ask for the definition of the word. If he/she still does not understand he/she can ask the pronouncer to use the word in a sentence.  If after these steps, the speller does not understand the word, he/she loses the round.
• Once the speller is sure he/she understands the word, he/she pronounces it, spells it and then says the word again. He/she must say it loudly enough for the judges to hear it.    SAY – SPELL – SAY
  The judges determine whether or not the word was spelled correctly.
• If the correct spelling was given, the speller remains in the game.
• If the spelling was incorrect, that speller is eliminated from the game. The judges give the correct spelling of that word. Then the pronouncer reads a new word to the next student.
• When there are only two spellers left, if one player misspells a word, the other player must spell that word correctly, plus one more word to be declared the winner of the spelling bee. If that player misspells the extra word, both players continue the round.