Before Neha Konakalla (Speller 20) took the preliminary test, the San Francisco seventh grader was "really, really excited."
"I can't wait to see what words they're going to ask," she said.
It's Neha's first time at the Spelling Bee, though she's been trying to get here for three years. Already, she said, she feels good about herself for making it.
Carson Monks (Speller 151) is here for the second time, from Montague, N.J. Last year, he missed the semifinals cut. This year, he said the words were easier.
That might be because he studied more this year, his mom, Bonnie Monks, said.
"He came out with a big smile on his face," she said.
Carson, who said he was nervous before he went in, had a good reason.
"Now that I'm through, I'm feeling good," he said.
Want to see how you might fare on the preliminary test? You can't take the one the spellers are taking -- after all, they're still in the midst of it. But here's a sample test to see how you might stack up.