Suggestion for Spelling Bee format

THE EDITOR, Madam:

I am just now able to share my views about Spelling Bee 2020. It was of a very high standard, with excellent spelling performance by the spellers.

However, based on my knowledge, skill and experience in construction of questions and administering them in an all-island quiz competition, I think there was some level of injustice in the structure and administration of the words to the spellers. Some spellers were given a two-, three- or four-syllable words, while others got six- or seven-syllable words.

Wouldn’t it be fair to give rounds of three-syllable words, then move to four-syllable, and up the syllables until the winner is chosen?

In that case, no speller would have an advantage over the other.

ARTHUR COMRIE