Kids Learning HubPremier's Spelling Bee rules: how it works
The NSW Premier's Spelling Bee is a free spelling competition for public primary schools, run in two age divisions. Here is how it actually works — the divisions, where the words come from, how spellers move from the classroom to the State final, and how the elimination rounds run.
The two divisions
The Bee runs in two divisions, each with its own word list and its own competition:
| Division | Year levels |
|---|---|
| Junior | Years 3 and 4 |
| Senior | Years 5 and 6 |
It is open to students in NSW public, community and central schools, and there is no entry fee.
From the classroom to the State final
There are three stages, and a speller has to win their way up each one:
- In-school heats. Each school runs its own heats — ideally in the same format as the finals — and chooses one Junior and one Senior representative.
- Regional finals. Those school representatives compete at the regional level (held using video connections in recent years). The winning Junior and Senior speller from each region advances.
- State final. The regional winners meet in the State final, where a Junior and a Senior champion are crowned.
Where the words come from
Words are drawn from the Macquarie Dictionary, with separate study lists for the Junior and Senior divisions. Schools get these lists to practise from. Importantly, the regional and State finals also bring in unseen words in the later rounds — so the Bee rewards genuine spelling skill, not just memorising a list.
How the rounds and elimination work
The finals follow a clear pattern:
- A practice round first — no one is eliminated, so every speller settles in and hears how it runs.
- Then elimination rounds of increasing difficulty. A speller is given a word to spell aloud; spell it incorrectly and your run ends.
- Spellers keep going round by round until one remains — the champion of that division.
For the official rules, entry dates and word lists, see the NSW Premier's Spelling Bee (Arts Unit) — the details above are a plain-English summary, and the official page is the source of truth.
Practise spelling free, the fun way
Kids Learning Hub's free Spelling Bee course reads each word aloud like the real thing and builds up word difficulty — great preparation for the in-school heats and beyond.
Start the free Spelling Bee courseFrequently asked questions
What are the divisions in the Premier's Spelling Bee?
There are two divisions: Junior for Years 3 and 4, and Senior for Years 5 and 6. Each has its own word list and its own competition.
Where do the words come from?
Words are drawn from the Macquarie Dictionary, with separate study lists for the Junior and Senior divisions. Regional and State finals also include unseen words in the later rounds.
How does elimination work?
After a practice round where no one is eliminated, the competition moves through elimination rounds of increasing difficulty. Spelling a word incorrectly ends a speller's run; the last speller standing wins.
Is there an entry fee?
No. The Premier's Spelling Bee is free to enter for eligible NSW public, community and central schools.
How do you reach the State final?
Schools run in-school heats to pick a Junior and a Senior representative, who compete at regional finals. The winning spellers from each region then advance to the State final.