FAQs

What are the dates for the 2012-13 WordMasters Challenge™?

The full calendar can be accessed by clicking on the calendar icon over on the right margin of this page, or by clicking on Challenge Schedule under the Resources tab.

I need to submit an order form to request a Purchase Order? Is there a form I can download?

Yes, just click here to download our 2012-13 Order Form. You can complete this form and submit it to your purchasing department to generate a Purchase Order. However, we also encourage you to complete the online enrollment process (just use the "Bill Me Later" option when checking out) as this ensures we have complete and accurate contact information. We will wait to invoice you until we receive your Purchase Order, and will be sure to indicate the PO number on the invoice. If you do not complete your enrollment online, please be sure to send us the email address for your Team Leader as all word lists and test materials will be emailed to this individual.

Can I sign up more than one team per grade level?

Sure, you can sign up as many teams as you want at each grade/division (just enter the desired number of teams in the quantity box on the enrollment form). For example, you may want to enter your entire third grade as one team. Or you could enter each classroom as a separate team (e.g. Mrs. Smith’s Third Grade and Mr. White’s Third Grade). Or you could enroll a Blue Division team and a Gold Division team in the same grade. Just remember, only the top ten scores for each team are used to calculate the team score.

Didn’t there used to be a discounted price if you signed up for a Blue Division team and a Gold Division team in the same grade?

Yes, prior to 2012-13, we offered a discounted price if a school enrolled both Blue and Gold teams in the same grade. But starting in 2012, discounts are based on the total number of teams enrolled by your school. If you sign up 5-9 teams at the same school, you are entitled to a 10% discount on Challenge fees (savings of $9.50 per team); if you sign up 10 or more teams, you save 20% (savings of $18 per team).

What do I pay for shipping on certificates, medals and other merchandise?

Shipping is FREE for all orders! No extra charges—our shipping costs are included in your purchase price. (Expedited shipping costs apply if you need overnight or two-day delivery. Also, incremental shipping costs will be charged to customers located outside of the United States. Please call or email for more details.)

What happens if I cannot pay by credit card when I enroll online?

We understand that many teachers and administrators cannot pay by credit card at the time of ordering. We will send an invoice by email once your order has been processed. However, we cannot ship any merchandise until we have received payment. If you order any logo merchandise or extra awards at the time you enroll, we will wait to ship your items until we have received payment.

If I order WordMasters™ merchandise items now, when will I receive them?

We have inventory of all items except the new champion medals and certificates. (These items will be ordered late this year in time for distribution with Meet #3 materials.) Orders for all other items will generally be fulfilled within 1 week assuming inventory is available.

What happens if I don’t get my scores reported by the deadline?

We try to give you plenty of time to submit your scores, and have simplified the process by letting you enter your students’ scores through our website. If circumstances prevent you from submitting your scores prior to the deadline, please enter them anyway. While the scores will not count in the tabulation of that particular meet, they will be used to determine your team’s cumulative score for the year.

I homeschool my student(s). How can we participate in the WordMasters Challenge™?

You can enroll your homeschooled children the same way public and private schools sign up. Choose the grade and difficulty level most appropriate for your student(s). For each “team” that you enroll, you may submit test results for up to 10 students. If your “team” is simply an individual child or just a few children, your scores will be recorded and included in recognition of individual performance (when appropriate) rather than the team competition, since team scores are based on a compilation of 10 individual scores.

My school does not have a WordMasters Challenge™ program, but I would love for my child to participate. Is that possible?

Sure, just enroll your child online and list your home contact information. Under "School Type", choose "Individual". Your child's scores will be recorded and included in recognition of individual performance (when appropriate) rather than the team competition, since team scores are based on a compilation of 10 individual scores. We are investigating alternative competition formats for students participating as individuals rather than teams, and welcome your input.