Competitions take place in rounds. Each round consists of every child spelling one word. If a child spells their word incorrectly they do NOT advance to the next round.

When a word is spelt incorrectly that same word is given to the next child in line. This continues to happen until the word is spelt correctly. If the end of a round is reached with a word still not spelt correctly the pronouncer spells the word and then begins the next round with a new word.

For the preliminary rounds of the competition the children have previously seen all of the words that they are given. At the regional level this is in the form of a book called the "Official Spelling Manual". At the championship level they are provided with a list of new words. This list is distributed after all the regional finals are complete (this year it will happen after May 8th).

At the end of each round those children who have spelled their word incorrectly are congratulated for the accomplishment of making it as far as they did and then are welcomed back to the audience.

At the discretion of the pronouncer (generally after the completion of 4 or 5 rounds), she may switch to a new list of words that have never before been seen by the competitors. Rounds from this point forward are referred to as "Tie-breaker rounds".

As before, at the end of each round, only those who have spelt their word correctly advance to the next round. To win the competition a competitor has to spell TWO words correctly in a row.

Once a word is misspelled it must be spelt correctly before moving on. If an entire round of children misspell the same word then they all move on to the next round. If, near the end of the competition, all children misspell the same word until only two are left, then all of those children who spelled it wrong are invited back to compete against each other for the third place winner.

Then the final two compete for first and second place. The key important point is that a child must spell TWO words correctly in a row to win.