MARRS, is organising a series of tests for pre school, elementary and higher level students on English. Classes 1 to 12 are split into a total of six different categories.At the elementary or primary level, the test has few rounds.
FIRST ROUND AT SCHOOL
The first round is conducted during June to December at the respective schools. All interested students can register by paying a fee of Rs.150.00. This covers expense for study materials also. The test has two parts - a written round that is basically dictation, followed by identification of the correct spelling and word from a set of jumbled words. All those who score the cut off mark can then attend an oral test on the spelling of some other words. Those who qualify are selected from the school. The topper is naturally the winner. But additional qualifiers are also selected to attend the next level.
SECOND ROUND- INTER-SCHOOL AT DISTRICT LEVEL
The inter-school competition is the second level for the test. The registration fees is Rs.400.00 per student. Study materials are the same as in earlier round. Here the kids take up similar dictation and jumbled words for written round and spell out orally for the oral round. Here also winners and qualifiers from each district are selected to participate in the next level.
THIRD ROUND - STATE ROUND
The third level is a state level test. In this case the registration fees is Rs.600.00 per student. for participation. Here the oral round has thrust on pronunciation of the word to be spelled out.Written round has dictation, usage of words, jumbled words and so on. from this round students have to start learning phonemics, ie the script of the language. An additional book on pronunciation would be provided to help kids learn this.
The District level orals and State written are conducted together.( 3rd round)
The State orals and National written are conducted together.(4th round)
National orals and International written are conducted together.(5th round)
International Orals is the last and final round of the programme.
For 2010-11, the last lap goes on January6th and 7th,2012 at Al Nahda Girls School, Abudhabi.
A 10 hour coaching on pronunciation is arranged for those who wish to enroll at a fee of Rs.1500.00per student between each of these rounds.Altogether 4 or 5 such sessions (each at Rs 1500 ) or a repetition of the same when available at extra fees equip kids on phonetics to a great extent. Participants are free to attend the test without this orientation also.
MARRS has also introduced a regular coaching programme at Kochi on all Sundays from 10am to 12 noon for a span of 6 months and the fees is Rs 1200 per month.
NATIONAL ROUND
Here, in the written test, children have to additionally focus on grammar and usage of the language;idioms, phrasal verbs etc. In the oral round students have spell it, phonetics and synonyms and antonyms.
The registration fees for the round is Rs 1000 per student.
INTERNATIONAL PRELIMINARY ROUND
This written round encompasses all aspects from round 1,dictation, jumbled words, usage, synonyms and antonyms, idioms, phrasal verbs. Registration is Rs 2000 per student.
INTERNATIONAL FINALS- ORALS ONLY
This is the last round and is a meeting point for all spell bees, both winners and qualifiers for the last round. Registration fees is Rs 5000 per student.
This year the venue is at Abu dhabi and warrants meeting formalities for international travel. Students being minors have to invariably be accompanied by their parents.
While the in between rounds involve lot of domestic travel, the final round necessitates an international trip. For all rounds of the competition and the orientation programme, travel, food and accommodaton are extra and has to be borne by the participants themselves...
The study materials provided by MaRRS at different stages are only a preliminary guide and not the content for the competition. The grade of participants is available online for the National Oral Round only. This in fact helps decide participation in the final round. However, if such results are readily updated after every round, it would help parents and teachers to guide students to tide over their lacuna and thus equip their kids in a better way from an earlier period itself.
Our kids have come up to the last round and from my personal experience, the test is a good chance to improve their vocabulary. Participation spirit is enhanced and sustained by the child friendly approach adopted by MaRRS.However most activities are an addition to their routine school affairs and extra curricular activities, if any.This makes the spell bees truly busy bees...
The rates noted are as per last year's programme and may get revised.
To sum up, a participant who reaches the last round needs Rs 9150 as registration fees alone.
Orientation would need another 9000 INR.(1500 * 4 + 3000)
All other expenses vary - food, transport, accommodation, etc - depending on location and extent of travel required to attend each level of the competition.
Please visit the website for more details and clarifications.
http://www.marrsspellingbee.com/index.php
