However, only about 3,000 of those students passed the online tests necessary to participate in the regional rounds.

The regional round for the North took place last Saturday in Chiang Mai province, with Patcharapat Chaijaroen from Chiang Mai University Demonstration School emerging as Northern Regional Winner.

The 24 runners-up will all be allowed to participate in the national-level contest, which will be held on November 24.

Held for 20 consecutive years, the NJ Spelling Bee is now the most-renowned English spelling competition for high school students in Thailand.

There will be three more regional-level contests in the South, Northeast and Central region to select entrants for the final round.

The NJ Spelling Bee 2017 is organised by the Nation Group and NJ Digital and sponsored by Magnolia Plus Ginkgo, Pipo Shake, SnackJack, Enconcept and the US Embassy with the cooperation of many government and private-sector organisations.