How to Play: Ranks and Scoring
This page explains the Spelling Bee scores and ranking system, with insights about how some players use this information to add more layers of fun and challenge to their game.
Basic Scoring
Point values are assigned as follows:
Four-letter words are worth one point each. (Each valid word must have at least four letters.) When you enter a valid four-letter word, you’ll receive a validating message. (“Good!”)
Words of five or more letters are worth one point per letter (e.g., a 6-letter word is worth 6 points). (Praise will include “Nice!” and “Awesome!”)
In the Spelling Bee, a pangram is a word that uses each of the seven letters at least once. Each Bee puzzle has at least one pangram, and each pangram is at least seven letters long Each pangram is worth its “face value” of one point per letter, plus an additional 7 points for being the pangram. For example, a 7-letter pangram will be worth 14 points; a 10-letter pangram will be worth 17 points. When you enter a word that is a pangram, you’ll receive a validating message. (“Pangram!”) (Read more about pangrams HERE.)
Rankings
As you find and enter words, your score will accumulate and you will rise through the ranks: Beginner, Good Start, Moving Up, Good, Solid, Nice, Great, Amazing, and Genius. You can see the points accumulate in the horizontal yellow scale at the top of the puzzle page, and watch your ranking advance.
The ranks are the same for every puzzle, indicating the percentage of points earned:
Beginner – 0% of points earnedGood Start – 2%Moving Up – 5%Good – 8%Solid – 15%Nice – 25%Great – 40%Amazing – 50%Genius – 70%
The point increases between ranks are, respectively, 3, 3, 7, 10, 15, 10, 20, 30; These steps between ranks are almost always larger as you ascend.
Your progress through the ranks will depend on which words you find first. If you find the pangram and more long words early on, you'll advance quickly, then your progress will slow down as you work your way through the short words to complete the list. The opposite is true; if you start with the small words and find the longer words later, the progress can feel glacial, especially in a puzzle with a preponderance of short words.
This scoring system offers some essential information that can aid in completing the puzzle. For example, when you reach Amazing level, take a look at the number of words you’ve found, then double it; that is the total number of words in the puzzle, give or take one or two words. You can double the Amazing points score, too, to see what the total number of points will be (within a few). When you’ve reached Amazing, then, you’re halfway home. And when you reach Genius, you know you’re in the home stretch.
Point values are assigned as follows:
Four-letter words are worth one point each. (Each valid word must have at least four letters.) When you enter a valid four-letter word, you’ll receive a validating message. (“Good!”)
Words of five or more letters are worth one point per letter (e.g., a 6-letter word is worth 6 points). (Praise will include “Nice!” and “Awesome!”)
In the Spelling Bee, a pangram is a word that uses each of the seven letters at least once. Each Bee puzzle has at least one pangram, and each pangram is at least seven letters long Each pangram is worth its “face value” of one point per letter, plus an additional 7 points for being the pangram. For example, a 7-letter pangram will be worth 14 points; a 10-letter pangram will be worth 17 points. When you enter a word that is a pangram, you’ll receive a validating message. (“Pangram!”) (Read more about pangrams HERE.)
Rankings
As you find and enter words, your score will accumulate and you will rise through the ranks: Beginner, Good Start, Moving Up, Good, Solid, Nice, Great, Amazing, and Genius. You can see the points accumulate in the horizontal yellow scale at the top of the puzzle page, and watch your ranking advance.
The ranks are the same for every puzzle, indicating the percentage of points earned:
Beginner – 0% of points earnedGood Start – 2%Moving Up – 5%Good – 8%Solid – 15%Nice – 25%Great – 40%Amazing – 50%Genius – 70%
The point increases between ranks are, respectively, 3, 3, 7, 10, 15, 10, 20, 30; These steps between ranks are almost always larger as you ascend.
Your progress through the ranks will depend on which words you find first. If you find the pangram and more long words early on, you'll advance quickly, then your progress will slow down as you work your way through the short words to complete the list. The opposite is true; if you start with the small words and find the longer words later, the progress can feel glacial, especially in a puzzle with a preponderance of short words.
This scoring system offers some essential information that can aid in completing the puzzle. For example, when you reach Amazing level, take a look at the number of words you’ve found, then double it; that is the total number of words in the puzzle, give or take one or two words. You can double the Amazing points score, too, to see what the total number of points will be (within a few). When you’ve reached Amazing, then, you’re halfway home. And when you reach Genius, you know you’re in the home stretch.
When you have attained the Genius ranking, a splash screen will appear that shows the Bee logo with a little mortarboard, and you’ll be told that you have reached the puzzle’s “highest rank.”
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But wait, there's more! Genius is not the highest rank, even though the puzzle message says so. If you make it that far, find click the button that says "Keep Playing," because there are more words to find. (You may need to scroll up to see that prompt.)
If and when you find all the words, you achieve Queen Bee, and that is the highest level and the actual official end of the puzzle. You don't need to take any more steps; there's nothing to submit to get your crown; enjoy the splash screen.
Of course, you can stop playing at any point you choose. Some players have Genius as their goal, others enjoy being Amazing, and others go for Queen Bee every day. There is no rule about that, and no penalty for stopping; feel free to make the puzzle fun for you. The puzzle ends wherever you choose, anywhere between one word entered and Queen Bee.
More Fun with Scores and Rankings Because the goal of the puzzle is to find all the words, the points don’t matter to that final outcome. But some players enjoy using the scoring system to create additional layers of game play; for example, a player might aspire to reach Genius without entering the pangram(s), focusing instead on the shorter words, and popping the pangram(s) in at the end, like the cherry on an ice cream sundae. Others prefer the challenge of looking for the pangram(s) first, then moving on to shorter words. Still others strive to reach Genius without using any low-value four-letter words, or even without four- or five-letter words.
If you’re interested in playing any of these self-styled point-based versions of the puzzle in which progressive scoring is of interest, head over to the Spelling Bee forum and post a comment with your question. There are several regulars who would be glad to share their methods and tips.
More Fun with Scores and Rankings Because the goal of the puzzle is to find all the words, the points don’t matter to that final outcome. But some players enjoy using the scoring system to create additional layers of game play; for example, a player might aspire to reach Genius without entering the pangram(s), focusing instead on the shorter words, and popping the pangram(s) in at the end, like the cherry on an ice cream sundae. Others prefer the challenge of looking for the pangram(s) first, then moving on to shorter words. Still others strive to reach Genius without using any low-value four-letter words, or even without four- or five-letter words.
If you’re interested in playing any of these self-styled point-based versions of the puzzle in which progressive scoring is of interest, head over to the Spelling Bee forum and post a comment with your question. There are several regulars who would be glad to share their methods and tips.