WACS State Competition Manual
The new edition of the WACS State Competition Manual and judges forms are now available by following the link below.
A new AACS Competition Manual (2020 edition) will govern National Competition 2021–2025. There were many updates made. Be sure to purchase the national manual for your school and carefully review it. State competitions often operate under different rules. Competitors must follow current Nationals rules and use the current AACS judging forms at Nationals. The new AACS Competition Manual (2020 edition) includes the new Science Fair Manual. The Science Fair Manual was significantly changed with this edition. Previous editions no longer apply. For further information on all the changes for the AACS National Competition, click here.
AACS Competition Annual Update (March 2020)
AACS Manual Changes (March 2020) - Please note this is for the AACS manual. The WACS Junior and Senior High sections incorporated all of these changes as well as other updates.
A new AACS Competition Manual (2020 edition) will govern National Competition 2021–2025. There were many updates made. Be sure to purchase the national manual for your school and carefully review it. State competitions often operate under different rules. Competitors must follow current Nationals rules and use the current AACS judging forms at Nationals. The new AACS Competition Manual (2020 edition) includes the new Science Fair Manual. The Science Fair Manual was significantly changed with this edition. Previous editions no longer apply. For further information on all the changes for the AACS National Competition, click here.
AACS Competition Annual Update (March 2020)
AACS Manual Changes (March 2020) - Please note this is for the AACS manual. The WACS Junior and Senior High sections incorporated all of these changes as well as other updates.
Spelling Competition Resources
An explanation regarding Spelling Resources from AACS:
The "Spell It" information is available online and is free to all schools. The website is: www.myspellit.com. All the words listed are linked to the Merriam-Webster Online Dictionary with audio pronunciations. The emphasis of the Spell It! is to teach students to learn how to spell and to minimize the memorization of words.
1. Go to http://www.myspellit.com/.
2. On the left hand side of the page is a “Words From:” list.
3. Click on EACH of the different lists to pop up the lists in a box at the bottom of the page.
4. Print the words from each of the lists by clicking on the print tab.
5. These are the only words you will need to study from. There are a lot of words on these lists.
6. DO NOT go to the Downloadable PDF and sign up for Scripps Spelling Bee. That costs money, enrolls you in the Scripps Spelling Bee and does not give you any help for the WACS spelling competition.
The "Spell It" information is available online and is free to all schools. The website is: www.myspellit.com. All the words listed are linked to the Merriam-Webster Online Dictionary with audio pronunciations. The emphasis of the Spell It! is to teach students to learn how to spell and to minimize the memorization of words.
- AACS High School Competition
- Study lists may be accessed at www.myspellit.com. Words are organized into sections by language of origin. Words are further organized into "Study Words" and "Challenge Words." Spelling Bee Booklets are no longer available; however, each word list may be printed for study purposes by selecting the "Print" tab. Spelling bee words will not necessarily come from these lists but will come from the same categories.
- Instruct high school students to study all sections.
- Junior High and Elementary Competitions. Contact your state association for Junior High and Elementary guidelines!
- Junior high competitions are governed by the various state organizations. AACS suggests instructing junior high students to study the following sections (accessed at www.myspellit.com): Arabic, Old English, Greek, Words You Need to Know, French, German, Italian. Spelling bee words will not necessarily come from these lists but will come from the same categories.
- Elementary competitions are governed by the various state organizations. The elementary study list is available in the WACS competition manual.
1. Go to http://www.myspellit.com/.
2. On the left hand side of the page is a “Words From:” list.
3. Click on EACH of the different lists to pop up the lists in a box at the bottom of the page.
4. Print the words from each of the lists by clicking on the print tab.
5. These are the only words you will need to study from. There are a lot of words on these lists.
6. DO NOT go to the Downloadable PDF and sign up for Scripps Spelling Bee. That costs money, enrolls you in the Scripps Spelling Bee and does not give you any help for the WACS spelling competition.
