Guidelines for the Participants

1.      Teams must qualify under six basic requirements:
 

§         They must fall in the specified age groups as at December 31, 2009.
 

§         They may not eschew normal school activity in favour of preparation for the DAWN in Education Spelling Bee.
 

§         They must be designated by their school as participants.
 

§         They may not carry any objects such as stuffed animals, charms, etc. to their assigned seats at the competition.
 

§         They have to come in their proper school uniforms with Spelling Bee badges provided by DAWN on the day of the contest. Any participant in coloured clothes and without a proper Spelling Bee badge as issued by DAWN will be disqualified.

§         There can be no changes in the names of the participants on the day of the competition.

2.   Each team will receive 3 badges at the time of registration on the day of the contest. The badges have to be worn by the participants at all times. The team-leader (Speller) will be nominated by the school; he/she shall after consulting with the team members spell the word. However, all team members will be allowed to ask questions from the pronouncer.
 

3.   Removal of the badges at any time during the competition is sufficient ground for disqualification.
 

4.   The role of the speller is (1) to gather as much information as possible to help spell the word correctly and (2) to spell the word correctly. The judges will not disqualify a speller for asking a question.
 

5.   Having started to spell a word, a speller may stop and start again after taking the permission of the pronouncer to start over. However the speller must keep in mind the given time (will be the original time and not the re-start time) within which the team has to give the correct spelling.
 

6.   In retracing, the speller will be allowed to change the sequence of the letters. However the speller will not be allowed to retrace if the word asked has been completely spelt and pronounced once.
 

7.   In a situation when the speller has not completely spelt the word and wants to retrace the spelling, he/she will be allowed to do so if time remains. The speller will be awarded points if he/she starts spelling the word within the given time but crosses the 40-second mark. However, the speller must keep in mind that after the 40-second mark has been crossed he/she will not be allowed to retrace the word.
 

8.   A new word will be given if there is any objection on its pronunciation.
 

9.   In competition, after the pronouncer gives the speller a word, the speller will be encouraged to pronounce the word before spelling it and after spelling it. However the judges will not disqualify a speller for failing to pronounce the word either before or after spelling it.
 

10.  Score results may be challenged ONLY at the end of each respective round. Appeals may be filed only by the School Spelling Bee Coordinator who is seeking reinstatement in the contest.
 

11. The official appeal form will contain space for the following: the word in question, the name of the school, and the reason for the appeal.
 

12.  The judges will not entertain appeals from individuals seeking to dislodge another speller from the competition.
 

13.  The match will continue for two rounds. All appeals if any will be submitted to the jury.
 

14.  The judges are in complete control of the competition. Their decision shall be final on all questions.
 

15.  Contestants should consult any British dictionary (OXFORD DICTIONARY) for preparation of the DAWN in Education Spelling Bee.
 

16.  One scorekeeper shall keep the score. Judges are to keep track of correct and incorrect responses.
 

17.  The judging panel will have three judges, out of which one will be a DAWN designated moderator. The judges will act as the court of appeal.
 

18.  In the event that an action of a participant /supporter of a team is deemed inappropriate by the moderator (whispers etc.) the moderator may disqualify the team(s) involved.