ENGLISH CYBERSPACE CHALLENGE: DARE TO SPELL COMPETITION CONCEPT PAPER 2022

ENGLISH CYBERSPACE
CHALLENGE: DARE TO SPELL
COMPETITION CONCEPT
PAPER 2022

Organized by;
The Sports, Co-curricular and Arts Division
Ministry of Education Malaysia
 ENGLISH CYBERSPACE CHALLENGE: DARE TO SPELL COMPETITION CONCEPT PAPER 2022

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.

4.0 WORD LIST

4.1 The words used in the competition from the state to national level will start from
A2 level for primary and B2 level for secondary. The organiser will be
responsible for the word list.

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.

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 ENGLISH CYBERSPACE CHALLENGE: DARE TO SPELL COMPETITION CONCEPT PAPER 2022

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.

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.

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 ENGLISH CYBERSPACE CHALLENGE: DARE TO SPELL COMPETITION CONCEPT PAPER 2022

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.”

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 five spellers.

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 ENGLISH CYBERSPACE CHALLENGE: DARE TO SPELL COMPETITION CONCEPT PAPER 2022

6.19 Spellers will be eliminated during this stage when they misspell the word in two
consecutive rounds.

Table 1 – Example of elimination method for the remaining five spellers

Rounds Speller 1 Speller 2 Speller 3 Speller 4 Speller 5
1 √ √ X √ √
X √ X X √
2
(eliminated)
X √ √ X
3
(eliminated)
√ √ X
4
(eliminated)
*√ - indicates correct spelling
*X – indicates wrong spelling

6.20 This stage will continue until there are two spellers.

6.21 The following rules apply when there are two remaining spellers. 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 INFRINGEMENT

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.

8.0 PRIZES

8.1 Prizes are awarded as follows: -

● Champion
● Second Prize winner
● Third Prize winner
● Two Consolation Prize winners

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 ENGLISH CYBERSPACE CHALLENGE: DARE TO SPELL COMPETITION CONCEPT PAPER 2022

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

Certificates of participation will be awarded to all participants.

9.0 EXCEPTION

All matters not stated in the concept paper or any exclusion to the rules and all
other unexpected matters and issues on interpretation will be decided by the
organising committee of the competition.

………………………………………………………………………………………………………..
*This concept paper is valid as of 2022 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.

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 ENGLISH CYBERSPACE CHALLENGE: DARE TO SPELL COMPETITION CONCEPT PAPER 2022

ENGLISH CYBERSPACE
CHALLENGE: DARE TO SPELL
COMPETITION 2022

ADJUDICATION FORMS

Organized by;
The Sports, Co-curricular and Arts Division
Ministry of Education Malaysia
 ENGLISH CYBERSPACE CHALLENGE: DARE TO SPELL COMPETITION CONCEPT PAPER 2022

ENGLISH CYBERSPACE CHALLENGE: DARE TO SPELL COMPETITION

_______________ CATEGORY
_______________LEVEL / YEAR _________

SCORE SHEET

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

Judge’s Name : _________________________________ Date : ______________________

Signature :_________________________________
 ENGLISH CYBERSPACE CHALLENGE: DARE TO SPELL COMPETITION CONCEPT PAPER 2022

ENGLISH CYBERSPACE CHALLENGE: DARE TO SPELL COMPETITION

___________________ CATEGORY
_______________LEVEL / YEAR _________

RESULT SLIP

PLACING PARTICIPANT STATE/SCHOOL

CHAMPION

SECOND

THIRD

FIRST
CONSOLATION

SECOND
CONSOLATION

Position Name Signature

Chief Judge

Judge 2

Judge 3

Date