"Impressionism" and "occupation" were just two of the words Holly Adams spelt correctly in order to progress to Wednesday's decider in Sydney.

Holly had spent hours practising at home, she said, with her mother testing her on words from the prescribed list. Spelling was a useful skill that helped with reading and writing, Holly said.

When Holly encountered an unfamiliar word in her reading, she said, she tried to sound it out or look at the rest of the sentence to work out what that word was, and what it meant.

It was rare that the year 4 student did not have a book in her hand, and "library days" were the best, Holly said.

Competing in the spelling bee had not only been fun, Holly said, but she had been able to mix with like-minded students who also enjoyed spelling.

The year 4 student, who also loved animals, particularly lions and zebras, said she hoped to become a zoo keeper when she was older.

More than 134,000 students from some 935 schools took part in this year's competition, which will culminate in a state final on November 11 where 86 super spellers from across NSW battle it out in junior (years 3 and 4) and senior (years 5 and 6) divisions.

Video conferencing fees were used for a regional final to ensure students from Bourke, Menindee, Cobar, Gwabegar and other western NSW schools could take part.

Also competing in the state finals will be Bourke-Walgett School of Distance Education's John Robinson in the junior division and Millie Fisher in the senior division. Bourke-Walgett School of Distance Education is one of just six schools in NSW with representatives in junior and senior divisions.