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All NYT Spelling Bee ranks and the points they need
Ranks are based on a percentage of the maximum score, so the exact number of points changes from puzzle to puzzle. A puzzle worth 200 points needs 140 for Genius, while a puzzle worth 100 points needs only 70.
| Rank | Share of max points | Example (200-point puzzle) |
|---|---|---|
| Beginner | 0% | 0 |
| Good Start | 2% | 4 |
| Moving Up | 5% | 10 |
| Good | 8% | 16 |
| Solid | 15% | 30 |
| Nice | 25% | 50 |
| Great | 40% | 80 |
| Amazing | 50% | 100 |
| Genius | 70% | 140 |
| Queen Bee | 100% | 200 |
Ranks on Spell Bee Online
Our free game uses a similar ten-step ladder with slightly different names: Beginner, Novice, Okay, Good, Solid, Nice, Great, Amazing, Genius and Queen Bee. Genius still sits at about 70% of the available points, and Queen Bee still means finding every valid word.
How Spelling Bee scoring works
- ➥4-letter words score 1 point.
- ➥Longer words score 1 point per letter, so a 7-letter word is worth 7.
- ➥Pangrams (words using all seven letters) earn their letter count plus a 7-point bonus.
Because long words and pangrams are worth so much more, finding them is the fastest way to climb. One 8-letter pangram (15 points) is worth as much as fifteen 4-letter words.
How to reach Genius faster
- Hunt the pangram first. Look for common endings like -ING, -TION, -ED and -ER. Our pangram guide shows the patterns.
- Add suffixes to words you already found. PLANT gives PLANTS, PLANTED, PLANTER.
- Try double letters. Spelling Bee allows letters to repeat, so words like LOLL, TATTOO and BALLOON count.
- Shuffle the hive. A new letter order breaks the patterns your eyes keep repeating.
- Take a break. Many players find five more words after a short pause.
Is Queen Bee worth chasing?
Genius is the goal most players aim for. Queen Bee requires every word in the list, including obscure ones, so it often takes hints. If you want to practice without a daily limit, play as many puzzles as you like on Spelling Bee Unlimited and track your rank in each game.