The CREST International Spell Bee (Winter), often abbreviated as CSBW, is a global online competition focused on evaluating the spelling, vocabulary, and pronunciation skills of students from Kindergarten (Prep) to Grade 8. Unlike many other Olympiads, the Winter edition is specifically designed as a single-level, fast-paced assessment.

Competition Format
The exam is conducted entirely online and is proctored via webcam to ensure integrity. It consists of two distinct sections:

Section 1: Spell Bee (55 Minutes): This section uses an objective-type format (Multiple Choice Questions) to test word meanings, spellings, synonyms, antonyms, and word usage.

Section 2: Get, Set, Spell! (5 Minutes): A rapid-fire audio round. Students listen to words or sentences and must type the correct spelling within a short time frame. (Note: This round is generally excluded for Kindergarten students).

Key Features
Official Reference: All spellings and definitions are based on the Oxford Learner’s Dictionary.

Grade-Specific Syllabus: The exam covers themes like STEM concepts, animal sounds, household items, and grammar-based word building (prefixes, suffixes, and compound words).

Timing: For Grades 1–8, the total duration is 60 minutes. For Kindergarten (Prep), the duration is reduced to 45 minutes and is parent/teacher-assisted.