No More Ties? Scripps National Spelling Bee to Get Harder Words

WASHINGTON (AP) — Organizers of the Scripps National Spelling Bee are adding new sting to the bee after the competition ended in a tie the past two years. Championship rounds will last longer, and the words will be harder.

Instead of a predetermined list of 25 words for the final two or three spellers, they'll now have to get through up to 75 words. And bee organizers won't compile the list weeks in advance. That way, they can use more difficult words, if necessary, to respond to the level of the competition.

The bee's executive director, Paige Kimble, says the bee had tougher words available that it couldn't use under the old rules. Given how good the spellers have become, she says there's no reason to do that anymore.