Scripps National Spelling Bee adds evaluation of vocabulary to competition . ESPN will broadcast the competition . Bee 's director : Spelling and vocabulary are `` two sides of the same coin '' a word is only as good as its meaning, so we have to evaluate both words in order for them to be considered equal. " Vocabulary evaluation will count for 50 % of a speller 's overall score .
Scripps National Spelling Bee adds evaluation of vocabulary to competition . Bee 's director : Spelling and vocabulary are `` two sides of the same coin '' a word is only as good as its meaning, so we have to evaluate both words in order for them to be considered equal. " Vocabulary evaluation will count for 50 % of a speller 's overall score .