DARE TO SPELL

COMPETITION
FOR PRIMARY AND SECONDARY
SCHOOLS 2021

RULES AND GUIDELINES

 DARE TO SPELL COMPETITION
FOR PRIMARY AND SECONDARY SCHOOLS 2021

1.0 INTRODUCTION

Dare to Spell Competition is a competition that encourages pupils to develop their

spelling skills and vocabulary, as well as developing their poise for public speaking. In
this competition, pupils are pitted against one another with the aim of becoming the
‘best speller’.

2.0 OBJECTIVES

2.1 To improve and advance the skills associated with good spelling habits.

2.2 To enhance the pupils’ spelling capabilities and enrich their vocabulary.

2.3 To encourage reading habits among the pupils in preparation for the spelling
competition.

2.4 To expand pupils’ vocabulary and encourage accurate word usage and
pronunciation.

3.0 ELIGIBILITY

3.1 This competition is open to all primary and secondary school pupils from
government-aided schools. The competition is divided into two categories;

i) Primary School : Year 4–Year 6 pupils

ii) Secondary School : Form 1 – Form 5 pupils

3.2 Each school sends in only one (1) participant.

Dare To Spell Competition: Rules and Guidelines 2

4.0 WORD LIST

4.1 The words used in the competition from the state to national level will come
from the CEFR English Vocabulary Profile;
https://www.englishprofile.org/wordlists (starting from A2 level for primary and
B2 level for secondary) and other reading materials e.g., books or dictionary.

4.2 The word list will comprise of words that have simple words, and then progress
into more difficult ones.

4.3 All the words spelled by spellers during the competition, either in the written
or oral spelling must follow the British Standard of English.

5.0 OFFICIALS

5.1 Master Speller

The master speller is the person who reads the words to the spellers from the
specified words list that is to be used in the competition. He/she will pronounce
all the words clearly and provide the definitions and sample sentences upon
request from the contestants.

5.2 Judges (3 Judges)

The judges will judge the competition and have complete control over the
competition and no objection will be entertained. As the students spell the
words, it is the judges’ responsibility to check the correctness of the spelling.
They can correct errors as soon as they see them if they believe the rules have
been breached, or that the Master Speller has made errors in his pronunciation
or definition of a word. The judges have the final say on whether the spelling is
correct and will deal with any dispute that may arise.

5.3 Timekeeper

There will be only one timekeeper. The time-keeper will monitor the time
between the pronunciation of the word by the Master Speller and the spelling
of the word by the speller.

Dare To Spell Competition: Rules and Guidelines 3

6.0 COMPETITION RULES

6.1 Participants must wear school uniform for the competition.

6.2 The competition will be held online via Google Meet. Participants must be
present throughout the Google Meet session.

6.3 Participants will need to use 2 cameras; one from the computer to capture the
front of the participants and the other is to capture the participant’s surrounding.

6.4 Participants must always turn on their camera and sit facing the camera during
the competition. However, participants will only turn on the microphone during
his/her turn to spell to avoid any noise disturbance.

6.5 Each participant will be given a number to represent their turn to spell during
the competition.

6.6 Each participant is given 30 seconds to spell out the word correctly.

6.7 A bell will be rung as soon as the Master Speller says out the word. The second
bell will be rung at the 30th second.

6.8 When a participant’s number is called out by the Master Speller, the participant
must turn on the microphone and confirm his/her number. The Master Speller
will say out the word and the participant must spell the word.

6.9 Each participant should say the word, spell it and then say the word again
to submit it. However, the judges will not disqualify any participant for failing
to pronounce the word either before or after spelling it.

6.10 If the participant does not catch the word the first time, he/she may ask the
Master Speller to repeat the word, “Can you please repeat the word?” or
“Please repeat.”

6.11 If the participant still does not know the word, he/she may ask the Master
Speller the meaning of the word, “Can I have the meaning of the word,
please?” or just “Meaning, please.”

6.12 If the participant still does not know the word, he/she may ask the Master
Speller the word in a sentence, “Can I have the word in a sentence, please?”
or “Sentence, please.”

Dare To Spell Competition: Rules and Guidelines 4

 6.13 All the above questions and answers must be within the stipulated time,
i.e.,30 seconds.

6.14 If the participant spells the word wrongly, he/she can respell the word correctly
within the 30 seconds as long as he/she does not submit the word.

6.15 If the spelling is correct, the Master Speller will announce “That is correct”. If
it is incorrect, the Master Speller will announce “I am sorry, that is incorrect.”

6.16 If the participant gets disconnected after the word is read to him/her, the
participant will be given a new word if he/she manages to reconnect. This
opportunity is only given once to each participant per round.

6.17 The first round will be the non-elimination round. The second and the
following rounds will be elimination rounds.

6.18 The elimination rounds will continue until there are three spellers.

6.19 When one of the three remaining spellers misspells a word and is out of the
competition, the following rules apply. When one speller misspells a word and
the second speller spells the word correctly, but misspells the next word on the
list, the misspelled word will be given to the first speller. If the first speller spells
the word correctly, and also spells the next word on the list correctly, then
he/she will become the champion.

7.0 INFRINGMENT

A speller will be disqualified if;

7.1 he/she continues to spell the word after the time has elapsed/ the bell is heard;

7.2 he/she begins to spell the word but pauses and retraces the letters differently
from the first time he/she begins to spell;

7.3 he/she speaks loudly or causes disturbances while the spelling competition is
in progress.

Dare To Spell Competition: Rules and Guidelines 5

8.0 PRIZES

8.1 Prizes are awarded as follows: -

• Champion

• Second Prize winner

• Third Prize winner

• Two Consolation Prize winners

8.2 Trophies and certificates of achievement will be awarded to the winners.

Certificates of participation will be awarded to all participants.

………………………………………………………………………………………………………….
*This concept paper is valid as of 2021 until further notification or revision from the Ministry of
Education and can be used at all levels for competitions organised by the Ministry. The competition
will abide to the above rules ONLY.
*All rights reserved by the Ministry of Education Malaysia. Usage or adaptation by any entities outside
of the ministry requires prior permission.

Division of Sports, Co-Curricular and Arts Division

Ministry of Education Malaysia

Dare To Spell Competition: Rules and Guidelines 6

 DARE TO SPELL
COMPETITION
FOR PRIMARY AND SECONDARY
SCHOOLS 2021

ADJUDICATION FORMS
 DARE TO SPELL COMPETITION FOR PRIMARY/SECONDARY SCHOOLS SCORE SHEET
_______________LEVEL / YEAR _________

Judge’s Name: _________________________________ Date : ________________________

Participant Rounds
No. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
13
14
15
16

Signature : _________________________________
 DARE TO SPELL
COMPETITION

FOR PRIMARY AND SECONDARY

SCHOOLS 2021

RESULTS
 RESULTS

DARE TO SPELL COMPETITION

FOR PRIMARY/SECONDARY SCHOOLS
_______________LEVEL / YEAR _________

PLACING PARTICIPANT STATE/SCHOOL

CHAMPION

SECOND

THIRD

FIRST
CONSOLATION

SECOND
CONSOLATION

Position Name Signature

Chief Judge
Judge1
Judge2
Date