[3] In April 2013, shortly before the Bee, organizers announced that the preliminary test would now include multiple-choice vocabulary questions.

While met with criticism by past contestants for deviating from the concept of a spelling bee, organizers indicated that the change was made to help avert perceptions that the competition was based solely on memorization skills (as had been showcased by television broadcasts), and to help further the Bee's goal of expanding the vocabulary and language skills of children.

[4] The change met with mixed reviews from contestants, many of whom questioned why it was not announced at the start of the school year instead of seven weeks before the competition.

[5] Also, three-time qualifier, Caleb Miller of Calhoun, Louisiana, amused the audience after announcing "ready as I'll ever be" before his first word in the semifinals and shockingly stating "you've got to be kidding me" after missing "cyanope".

[10] Seventeen semifinalists from the 2013 competition were eligible for the 2014 edition with three (Margaret Peterson, Jonathan Caldwell, and Christopher O'Connor) being eliminated at the regional level.

The final eleven contestants included three from Florida, two from New York, two from Texas, and one from each of Illinois, Kansas, Massachusetts, and Utah.

[3] The tie for fifth place was decided by Vismaya Kharkar missing paryphodrome and the last girl, Amber Born, went out in fourth after misspelling hallali.

Sivakumar correctly spelled avellaneous; Hathwar missed his word, ptyalagogue, finishing third (but became co-winner the next year).

[12] After his win, Marya Hannun writing for Foreign Policy asked "Just what accounts for this astounding success [of Indian-Americans]?

"[15] She examined a number of contributing factors – India's emphasis on rote memorization in education, a tendency of immigrants to concentrate on one endeavor, and the Bee being viewed as an outlet for assimilation.

Additionally, she writes, quoting Slate, "Indian-Americans 'have their own minor-league spelling bee circuit' – the North South Foundation".