Debate timing — Debate and group discussion

Debater's tip

Speakers × minutes + breaks — “multiply for the speeches, add the breaks; divide to share time”

1. Total = speakers × minutes each + breaks × minutes each.
2. Start of speaker k (no breaks) = (k − 1) × minutes each. Time each = (slot − judges’ time) ÷ speakers.
3. POI time = speech minutes − 2 (first and last minute protected). Seconds ÷ 60 = minutes.

Use it for: Planning a class debate, a debate club session or an inter-house contest timetable.

Worked example: 🕒 A debate has 6 speakers who speak for 3 minutes each, plus 2 breaks of 2 minutes. How many minutes does the debate take in all? → 22

✏️ Practice

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

🏁 Lesson 11 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 ⏳ Debate Timekeeper 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: Timing Sums

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