Deliberate practice, operationally defined as studying and memorizing words while alone, better predicted
performance in the National Spelling Bee than being quizzed by others or reading for pleasure. Rated as the most effortful
and least enjoyable type of preparation activity, deliberate practice was increasingly favored over being quizzed as spellers
accumulated competition experience. Deliberate practice mediated the prediction of final performance by the personality trait
of grit, suggesting that perseverance and passion for long-term goals enable spellers to persist with practice activities
that are less intrinsically rewarding—but more effective—than other types of preparation.