Aditya Paul, a Year 7 student at Sydney Grammar School, has been crowned the 2024 Prime Minister’s Spelling Bee champion in the Red Level (Years 7-8), adding yet another accolade to his remarkable year.
Competing against over 70,000 students nationwide, Aditya secured victory with a score of 29/30 in an astonishing 1:34.433—an impressive 39 seconds faster than the runner-up.
Aditya and fellow national Spelling Bee champions met Prime Minister Anthony Albanese in Canberra, where he praised their exceptional skills and congratulated them on their 2024 victories.
“Words like astrophysicist, ornithorhynchus, and filibuster were some of the tricky ones this year’s champions tested me on,” he remarked.
“It’s incredibly impressive, especially for children aged just 9, 10, and 13! Congratulations to Echo, Jillian, and Aditya on your outstanding spelling skills and well-deserved victories.”
This win is the culmination of years of dedication for Aditya, who has been a finalist in both state and national competitions since the Spelling Bee’s inception in 2021.
Reflecting on his journey, Aditya said,
“Every time I tried, I got closer, and now it’s finally gone all the way. It’s really nice to be champion, especially as it’s been a culmination of a lot of things over the last few years.”
The only word Aditya missed in the competition was “coccyx,” which he admitted to spelling with an “x” instead of a double “c.” Despite the stumble, his performance solidified his place among the nation’s brightest young spellers.
While celebrating his spelling success, Aditya also enjoyed a royal moment this October. As a two-time Gold Finalist in the Commonwealth Essay Competition, Aditya had the honour of meeting Queen Camilla during her visit to Australia with King Charles. At an event at Green Square Library in Sydney, the Queen personally awarded Aditya and other finalists framed certificates for their exceptional writing.
The young scholar’s essays have focused on using one’s voice for change, with his latest piece advocating for environmental action to combat the Great Pacific Garbage Patch.
“It was an unforgettable experience,” Aditya said about meeting Queen Camilla.
“To receive such recognition for my work and to meet someone who’s passionate about literature was truly inspiring.”
Full list of 2024 Prime Minister’s Spelling Bee winners
Green Level (Years 3-4):
- Winner: Echo F, Brindabella Christian College, ACT – 29/30, 3:12.955
- 1st Runner-up: Suwan L, Christ Church Grammar School, VIC – 27/30, 1:16.584
- 2nd Runner-up: Maisie K, Middle Harbour Public School, NSW – 27/30, 1:42.258
Orange Level (Years 5-6):
- Winner: Jillian S, Pullenvale State School, QLD – 29/30, 2:01.685
- 1st Runner-up: Chloe D, St Dominic’s Priory College, SA – 28/30, 2:44.985
- 2nd Runner-up: Bella-Rose M, St John’s Catholic School, TAS – 27/30, 1:23.295
Red Level (Years 7-8):
- Winner: Aditya P, Sydney Grammar School, NSW – 29/30, 1:34.433
- 1st Runner-up: Nischal Y, Melbourne Grammar School, VIC – 29/30, 2:13.489
- 2nd Runner-up: Ozichukwu E, Perth Modern School, WA – 27/30, 2:35.241
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