How debates are judged — Debate and group discussion

Debater's tip

What, how and the plan — “content is what you say, style is how you say it, strategy is how you plan and answer”

1. Content (what you say): evidence, reasoning, examples, facts.
2. Style (how you say it): voice, eye contact, posture, pace. Strategy (how you plan): team plan, answering opponents, time, teamwork.
3. Total = content + style + strategy; winning margin = bigger total − smaller total.

Use it for: Preparing for contests, giving feedback in a debate club and judging a class debate.

Worked example: 📝 Under which judging area is “good use of time” marked? → strategy

✏️ Practice

Work it out in your head or on paper, type the answer and press Check. Stuck? Press “Show me how”.

🏁 Lesson 13 test

20 questions. Check each answer, then go to the next one. Get 16 or more right to pass.

🏅 Sign in with Google to earn the 📝 Judging Insider badge when you pass — and a certificate when you finish all 8 lessons of Part 2 · Formal debate. You can still take the test without signing in.

🖨️ Debate Worksheet: Judging Criteria

• Worksheet set 1 (PDF)
• Worksheet set 2 (PDF)
• Worksheet set 3 (PDF)