Registration for the biggest local spelling competition of the year begins today - and will be limited to the first 1,000 eligible participants.

The RHB-The Straits Times National Spelling Championship 2017 - also known as The Big Spell - will start with a preliminary round on March 11 at ITE College Central.

In its sixth year, the competition turns its focus on quality this time around. One change is that there is now no limitation on the mix of Primary 4, 5 or 6 pupils that schools can send - up to 10 participants per school.

Said Mr Mike Chan, chief executive and country head of RHB Singapore: "It is our hope to see the National Spelling Championship as an eminent spelling platform for primary school-goers in Singapore. In line with one of RHB's corporate missions to nurture the future generation, we want to cultivate a joy for reading and learning words from an early age, to better improve literacy and the way English is spoken."

RHB Banking Group and The Straits Times are co-organisers, in partnership with the Ministry of Education. The event is supported by the National Library Board.

Pupils who make it through the preliminary round - a written test of 50 words - will go on to the semi-final round, where they will spell orally on stage, on April 1, at two locations this year.

The semi-finalists will be nationally ranked according to their performance, and the top 15 will be invited to the grand final on April 22.

Primary schools or primary sections of a full school are eligible to enter.

Schools can send an e-mail to register@thebigspell.sg for inquiries or details.

For more information, visit: straitstimes.com/big-spell-2017