← Debate timing lesson New set →

Debate Worksheet: Timing Sums

Debate lesson 11: Debate timing · Set 137 · 40 questions
TalentJR

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

NameDateTime takenScore ___ / 40
  1. 1.🕒 A debate has 4 speakers who speak for 3 minutes each, plus 3 breaks of 3 minutes. How many minutes does the debate take in all?
  2. 2.✋ A speech is 8 minutes long. The first minute and the last minute are protected (no points of information). For how many minutes can points of information be offered?
  3. 3.🕒 A debate has 8 speakers who speak for 4 minutes each, plus 3 breaks of 3 minutes. How many minutes does the debate take in all?
  4. 4.✋ A speech is 3 minutes long. The first minute and the last minute are protected (no points of information). For how many minutes can points of information be offered?
  5. 5.🕒 In a junior debate, each of 2 speakers speaks for 120 seconds. How many minutes is that in all?
  6. 6.🕒 Each speaker in a debate has 3 minutes, and there are no breaks. How many minutes after the start does the third speaker begin?
  7. 7.🕒 A debate slot is 28 minutes. The judges need 4 minutes at the end, and 8 speakers share the rest equally. How many minutes does each speaker get?
  8. 8.🕒 What should you do when the final bell rings? (a) ignore it (b) start a new point (c) finish your sentence (d) speak faster
  9. 9.🕒 A debate slot is 22 minutes. The judges need 6 minutes at the end, and 4 speakers share the rest equally. How many minutes does each speaker get?
  10. 10.🕒 A debate slot is 12 minutes. The judges need 4 minutes at the end, and 4 speakers share the rest equally. How many minutes does each speaker get?
  11. 11.🕒 A debate has 4 speakers who speak for 4 minutes each, plus 1 break of 2 minutes. How many minutes does the debate take in all?
  12. 12.🕒 A debate has 8 speakers who speak for 4 minutes each, plus 2 breaks of 1 minute. How many minutes does the debate take in all?
  13. 13.🕒 A debate has 8 speakers who speak for 4 minutes each, plus 3 breaks of 1 minute. How many minutes does the debate take in all?
  14. 14.🕒 A debate has 8 speakers who speak for 5 minutes each, plus 3 breaks of 2 minutes. How many minutes does the debate take in all?
  15. 15.🕒 A debate slot is 31 minutes. The judges need 7 minutes at the end, and 8 speakers share the rest equally. How many minutes does each speaker get?
  16. 16.🕒 In a junior debate, each of 2 speakers speaks for 60 seconds. How many minutes is that in all?
  17. 17.🕒 A debate slot is 34 minutes. The judges need 10 minutes at the end, and 6 speakers share the rest equally. How many minutes does each speaker get?
  18. 18.✋ A speech is 7 minutes long. The first minute and the last minute are protected (no points of information). For how many minutes can points of information be offered?
  19. 19.🕒 In a junior debate, each of 2 speakers speaks for 30 seconds. How many minutes is that in all?
  20. 20.🕒 Why does a debate have a timekeeper? (a) to ask questions (b) to choose motions (c) to judge content (d) to keep speeches fair
  21. 21.🕒 A debate has 4 speakers who speak for 2 minutes each, plus 1 break of 1 minute. How many minutes does the debate take in all?
  22. 22.🕒 A debate slot is 29 minutes. The judges need 9 minutes at the end, and 4 speakers share the rest equally. How many minutes does each speaker get?
  23. 23.🕒 A debate slot is 44 minutes. The judges need 4 minutes at the end, and 8 speakers share the rest equally. How many minutes does each speaker get?
  24. 24.🕒 A debate has 4 speakers who speak for 2 minutes each, plus 1 break of 3 minutes. How many minutes does the debate take in all?
  25. 25.🕒 A debate has 8 speakers who speak for 5 minutes each, plus 3 breaks of 3 minutes. How many minutes does the debate take in all?
  26. 26.🕒 A debate has 4 speakers who speak for 4 minutes each, plus 3 breaks of 2 minutes. How many minutes does the debate take in all?
  27. 27.✋ A speech is 6 minutes long. The first minute and the last minute are protected (no points of information). For how many minutes can points of information be offered?
  28. 28.🕒 A debate slot is 39 minutes. The judges need 7 minutes at the end, and 8 speakers share the rest equally. How many minutes does each speaker get?
  29. 29.🕒 Each speaker in a debate has 3 minutes, and there are no breaks. How many minutes after the start does the fifth speaker begin?
  30. 30.🕒 A debate has 8 speakers who speak for 2 minutes each, plus 1 break of 1 minute. How many minutes does the debate take in all?
  31. 31.🕒 Each speaker in a debate has 2 minutes, and there are no breaks. How many minutes after the start does the second speaker begin?
  32. 32.🕒 Each speaker in a debate has 4 minutes, and there are no breaks. How many minutes after the start does the third speaker begin?
  33. 33.🕒 A debate has 4 speakers who speak for 3 minutes each, plus 1 break of 2 minutes. How many minutes does the debate take in all?
  34. 34.🕒 A debate has 8 speakers who speak for 3 minutes each, plus 3 breaks of 3 minutes. How many minutes does the debate take in all?
  35. 35.🕒 A debate slot is 23 minutes. The judges need 3 minutes at the end, and 4 speakers share the rest equally. How many minutes does each speaker get?
  36. 36.🕒 Each speaker in a debate has 5 minutes, and there are no breaks. How many minutes after the start does the second speaker begin?
  37. 37.🕒 Each speaker in a debate has 5 minutes, and there are no breaks. How many minutes after the start does the fourth speaker begin?
  38. 38.🕒 How should you prepare a timed speech? (a) guess on the day (b) skip the ending (c) time it in practice (d) write it at the venue
  39. 39.🕒 Each speaker in a debate has 2 minutes, and there are no breaks. How many minutes after the start does the third speaker begin?
  40. 40.🕒 A speaker goes far over time. What usually happens? (a) they get a bonus (b) they can lose marks (c) nothing at all (d) they win

Answer key

  1. 21
  2. 6
  3. 41
  4. 1
  5. 4
  6. 6
  7. 3
  8. finish your sentence
  9. 4
  10. 2
  11. 18
  12. 34
  13. 35
  14. 46
  15. 3
  16. 2
  17. 4
  18. 5
  19. 1
  20. to keep speeches fair
  21. 9
  22. 5
  23. 5
  24. 11
  25. 49
  26. 22
  27. 4
  28. 4
  29. 12
  30. 17
  31. 2
  32. 8
  33. 14
  34. 33
  35. 5
  36. 5
  37. 15
  38. time it in practice
  39. 4
  40. they can lose marks

Free debate lessons, practice and worksheets at talentjr.in/debate-for-students