Debate Worksheet: Timing Sums

Debate lesson 11: Debate timing · Set 16 · 40 questions

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.

1. 1.🕒 In a junior debate, each of 4 speakers speaks for 30 seconds. How many minutes is that in all?
2. 2.🕒 Each speaker in a debate has 2 minutes, and there are no breaks. How many minutes after the start does the fifth speaker begin?
3. 3.🕒 Why does a debate have a timekeeper? (a) to judge content (b) to ask questions (c) to choose motions (d) to keep speeches fair
4. 4.✋ A speech is 5 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.🕒 How should you prepare a timed speech? (a) time it in practice (b) skip the ending (c) write it at the venue (d) guess on the day
6. 6.🕒 A speaker goes far over time. What usually happens? (a) they win (b) nothing at all (c) they get a bonus (d) they can lose marks
7. 7.✋ 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?
8. 8.🕒 What should you do when the final bell rings? (a) start a new point (b) speak faster (c) ignore it (d) finish your sentence
9. 9.🕒 A debate has 8 speakers who speak for 2 minutes each, plus 1 break of 3 minutes. How many minutes does the debate take in all?
10. 10.🕒 Each speaker in a debate has 2 minutes, and there are no breaks. How many minutes after the start does the third speaker begin?
11. 11.🕒 A debate has 8 speakers who speak for 5 minutes each, plus 2 breaks of 1 minute. How many minutes does the debate take in all?
12. 12.✋ 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?
13. 13.🕒 Each speaker in a debate has 3 minutes, and there are no breaks. How many minutes after the start does the second speaker begin?
14. 14.🕒 A debate slot is 25 minutes. The judges need 7 minutes at the end, and 6 speakers share the rest equally. How many minutes does each speaker get?
15. 15.🕒 In a junior debate, each of 4 speakers speaks for 90 seconds. How many minutes is that in all?
16. 16.🕒 A debate has 8 speakers who speak for 2 minutes each, plus 1 break of 2 minutes. How many minutes does the debate take in all?
17. 17.🕒 In a junior debate, each of 2 speakers speaks for 120 seconds. How many minutes is that in all?
18. 18.🕒 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?
19. 19.🕒 A debate has 6 speakers who speak for 4 minutes each, plus 2 breaks of 2 minutes. How many minutes does the debate take in all?
20. 20.🕒 A debate has 4 speakers who speak for 2 minutes each, plus 3 breaks of 1 minute. How many minutes does the debate take in all?
21. 21.🕒 Each speaker in a debate has 5 minutes, and there are no breaks. How many minutes after the start does the second speaker begin?
22. 22.🕒 A debate has 8 speakers who speak for 5 minutes each, plus 2 breaks of 2 minutes. How many minutes does the debate take in all?
23. 23.🕒 A debate slot is 49 minutes. The judges need 9 minutes at the end, and 8 speakers share the rest equally. How many minutes does each speaker get?
24. 24.🕒 A debate slot is 14 minutes. The judges need 6 minutes at the end, and 4 speakers share the rest equally. How many minutes does each speaker get?
25. 25.🕒 A debate has 8 speakers who speak for 3 minutes each, plus 1 break of 1 minute. How many minutes does the debate take in all?
26. 26.🕒 Each speaker in a debate has 2 minutes, and there are no breaks. How many minutes after the start does the fourth speaker begin?
27. 27.🕒 Each speaker in a debate has 4 minutes, and there are no breaks. How many minutes after the start does the sixth speaker begin?
28. 28.🕒 A debate has 4 speakers who speak for 5 minutes each, plus 1 break of 2 minutes. How many minutes does the debate take in all?
29. 29.🕒 A debate has 6 speakers who speak for 3 minutes each, plus 1 break of 1 minute. How many minutes does the debate take in all?
30. 30.🕒 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?
31. 31.🕒 A debate slot is 26 minutes. The judges need 8 minutes at the end, and 6 speakers share the rest equally. How many minutes does each speaker get?
32. 32.🕒 Each speaker in a debate has 4 minutes, and there are no breaks. How many minutes after the start does the second speaker begin?
33. 33.🕒 In a junior debate, each of 8 speakers speaks for 60 seconds. How many minutes is that in all?
34. 34.✋ 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?
35. 35.🕒 A debate has 4 speakers who speak for 5 minutes each, plus 2 breaks of 1 minute. How many minutes does the debate take in all?
36. 36.🕒 A debate has 6 speakers who speak for 2 minutes each, plus 1 break of 3 minutes. How many minutes does the debate take in all?
37. 37.🕒 A debate has 8 speakers who speak for 3 minutes each, plus 2 breaks of 1 minute. How many minutes does the debate take in all?
38. 38.🕒 A debate slot is 40 minutes. The judges need 10 minutes at the end, and 6 speakers share the rest equally. How many minutes does each speaker get?
39. 39.✋ 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?
40. 40.🕒 In a junior debate, each of 2 speakers speaks for 30 seconds. How many minutes is that in all?

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