The Spelling Bee Championship at Meadowbank
In conjunction with the Meadowbank Mall, the Straight A's Tutoring centre will be holding a spelling competition over the September school holiday break in the centre court at the Meadowbank Mall.
Entry was free to all children. Entries are now closed and no further registrations can be accepted.
The details
| Entries | Now closed |
|---|---|
| Age limits | Open to Years 6 to 10. Proof of school registration will be required |
| Levels | Two groups, Years 6 to 8 and Years 9 to 10 |
| Timing | 28 September to 9 October. Competition days will be determined by the number of entries, and each round will run between 10:30am and 2:30pm |
| Prizes | Awarded to the winner and three runners up of each group, with spot prizes on the day |
| Where | Centre court, Meadowbank Shopping Centre |
How the Spelling Bee Championship works
Preliminaries
Typically consist of two rounds, both oral spelling rounds. These will be held in the first week, 28 September to 2 October.
Quarterfinals and semifinals
These segments continue with oral rounds until a specific number of spellers remain, running from 5 October to 9 October.
Finals
The final rounds continue until only one speller remains, on 8 or 9 October.
Spell-off
If a champion is not determined within the time limit of the final, a spell-off is triggered to decide the winner.
Spelling lists
The official spelling lists for both groups are now up. The judges may choose to use only these words, or may introduce additional words if they feel it is either necessary or appropriate in the case of a stalemate.
Competition rules and requirements
- The competition will be run under rules determined by the organisers
- The judge's decision is final, and there is no right of appeal
- Contestants must currently be enrolled in a school within the Auckland region
Spelling Bee Championship word lists
Choose your group below. Practise a few words each day, say each one out loud, then spell it letter by letter, just as you will on the day.
Years 6 to 8 word list
100 words.
- abominable
- attorney
- arrangement
- awkward
- bankruptcy
- benevolent
- bizarre
- boulevard
- calligraphy
- chaperone
- chrysanthemum
- contemporary
- convenience
- correspondence
- culminate
- deficient
- derogatory
- deplorable
- dexterity
- destination
- domesticate
- dormitory
- eligible
- emphasise
- engrossed
- enticement
- escalator
- essence
- fascinating
- fertilise
- fiasco
- flamboyant
- generate
- gossiping
- gratuity
- government
- harass
- hesitate
- hoarseness
- horizontal
- hygiene
- illustration
- implacable
- inconvenience
- independence
- inundate
- irrational
- irritable
- jeopardise
- jewellery
- jurisdiction
- kinetic
- kaleidoscope
- kernel
- laboratories
- legitimate
- liability
- liquidation
- longevity
- maladjusted
- malevolent
- melodious
- metamorphosis
- meticulous
- miscellaneous
- mosquitoes
- negligent
- negotiations
- neurotic
- nonessential
- obedient
- obviously
- officious
- optimistic
- offence
- omnipotent
- organisations
- parallel
- perpetuate
- personification
- phenomenon
- plaintiff
- potpourri
- precocious
- premonition
- psychology
- quarantine
- quorums
- remuneration
- repertoire
- sophomores
- subservient
- superintendent
- ubiquitous
- unenforceable
- undernourished
- vehemently
- vindicate
- vivacious
- voracious
Years 9 to 10 word list
100 words, grouped by subject and word origin.
English
- semantic
- satirical
- thespian
- haiku
- portmanteau
- scenario
- vernacular
- epitasis
- leitmotif
- bildungsroman
Science
- temperature
- evaporate
- molecular
- calculus
- dimension
- perigee
- hypothalamus
- stalagmite
- pathogen
- photosynthesis
Geography
- sirocco
- quagmire
- katabatic
- sediment
- pluvial
- sierra
- cartographer
- alluvium
- tombolo
- tributary
Te reo Māori
- kaitiaki
- pounamu
- atua
- haerenga
- kaiako
- whakamā
- whakaaro
- maramataka
- mātauranga
- tūrangawaewae
Greek
- polyphony
- euphemistic
- anachronism
- eponymous
- phlegmatic
- pedagogue
- draconian
- manticore
- labyrinth
- celadon
Latin
- propitiate
- vilify
- ludicrous
- articulate
- lucid
- delineate
- enunciate
- ameliorate
- uxorious
- apposite
Music
- piccolo
- finale
- balalaika
- cantata
- coloratura
- clarion
- glockenspiel
- harmonica
- harmony
- medley
Current affairs
- caliphate
- feminism
- pogrom
- dictatorship
- filibuster
- diaspora
- bellwether
- cadre
- constituency
- referendum
Interesting nouns
- cognition
- insignia
- mortgage
- progeny
- elixir
- ultimatum
- lassitude
- aurora
- ingenuity
- morsel
Interesting adjectives
- turbulent
- laconic
- nostalgic
- verdant
- reciprocal
- bountiful
- inherent
- reticent
- exquisite
- voracious
Spelling Bee Championship entries are now closed
Registrations have closed
Thank you to everyone who entered. Registrations for this year's competition are closed and no new entries can be accepted.
Questions about the competition? Phone the centre on 09 528 9207 or email info@straighta.co.nz.
Sharpen up before the heats
Spelling rules, proof reading and word attack strategies are all part of our weekly English programmes.