← Debate timing lesson New set →

Debate Worksheet: Timing Sums

Debate lesson 11: Debate timing · Set 300 · 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.🕒 In a junior debate, each of 8 speakers speaks for 90 seconds. How many minutes is that in all?
  2. 2.🕒 How should you prepare a timed speech? (a) time it in practice (b) guess on the day (c) skip the ending (d) write it at the venue
  3. 3.✋ 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?
  4. 4.🕒 In a junior debate, each of 4 speakers speaks for 90 seconds. How many minutes is that in all?
  5. 5.🕒 A debate slot is 31 minutes. The judges need 7 minutes at the end, and 6 speakers share the rest equally. How many minutes does each speaker get?
  6. 6.✋ 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?
  7. 7.🕒 A debate has 8 speakers who speak for 4 minutes each, plus 1 break of 1 minute. How many minutes does the debate take in all?
  8. 8.🕒 Why does a debate have a timekeeper? (a) to ask questions (b) to judge content (c) to choose motions (d) to keep speeches fair
  9. 9.✋ 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?
  10. 10.✋ A speech is 4 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?
  11. 11.🕒 Each speaker in a debate has 2 minutes, and there are no breaks. How many minutes after the start does the fifth speaker begin?
  12. 12.🕒 Each speaker in a debate has 3 minutes, and there are no breaks. How many minutes after the start does the fourth speaker begin?
  13. 13.🕒 A debate has 4 speakers who speak for 3 minutes each, plus 3 breaks of 1 minute. How many minutes does the debate take in all?
  14. 14.🕒 A debate has 6 speakers who speak for 2 minutes each, plus 3 breaks of 3 minutes. How many minutes does the debate take in all?
  15. 15.🕒 A debate has 4 speakers who speak for 5 minutes each, plus 1 break of 1 minute. How many minutes does the debate take in all?
  16. 16.🕒 Each speaker in a debate has 5 minutes, and there are no breaks. How many minutes after the start does the third speaker begin?
  17. 17.🕒 In a junior debate, each of 6 speakers speaks for 30 seconds. How many minutes is that in all?
  18. 18.🕒 A debate slot is 34 minutes. The judges need 10 minutes at the end, and 8 speakers share the rest equally. How many minutes does each speaker get?
  19. 19.🕒 What should you do when the final bell rings? (a) start a new point (b) finish your sentence (c) speak faster (d) ignore it
  20. 20.🕒 A debate slot is 15 minutes. The judges need 3 minutes at the end, and 6 speakers share the rest equally. How many minutes does each speaker get?
  21. 21.🕒 A debate slot is 23 minutes. The judges need 7 minutes at the end, and 4 speakers share the rest equally. How many minutes does each speaker get?
  22. 22.🕒 A debate has 4 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 38 minutes. The judges need 6 minutes at the end, and 8 speakers share the rest equally. How many minutes does each speaker get?
  24. 24.🕒 In a junior debate, each of 6 speakers speaks for 60 seconds. How many minutes is that in all?
  25. 25.🕒 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?
  26. 26.🕒 A debate has 6 speakers who speak for 2 minutes each, plus 2 breaks of 2 minutes. How many minutes does the debate take in all?
  27. 27.✋ 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?
  28. 28.🕒 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?
  29. 29.🕒 Each speaker in a debate has 5 minutes, and there are no breaks. How many minutes after the start does the fifth speaker begin?
  30. 30.🕒 In a junior debate, each of 4 speakers speaks for 120 seconds. How many minutes is that in all?
  31. 31.🕒 A debate has 6 speakers who speak for 5 minutes each, plus 1 break of 1 minute. How many minutes does the debate take in all?
  32. 32.🕒 A debate slot is 21 minutes. The judges need 9 minutes at the end, and 4 speakers share the rest equally. How many minutes does each speaker get?
  33. 33.🕒 In a junior debate, each of 8 speakers speaks for 30 seconds. How many minutes is that in all?
  34. 34.🕒 In a junior debate, each of 8 speakers speaks for 60 seconds. How many minutes is that in all?
  35. 35.🕒 In a junior debate, each of 4 speakers speaks for 60 seconds. How many minutes is that in all?
  36. 36.🕒 Each speaker in a debate has 4 minutes, and there are no breaks. How many minutes after the start does the fifth speaker begin?
  37. 37.🕒 Each speaker in a debate has 2 minutes, and there are no breaks. How many minutes after the start does the second speaker begin?
  38. 38.🕒 A debate has 4 speakers who speak for 2 minutes each, plus 1 break of 2 minutes. How many minutes does the debate take in all?
  39. 39.🕒 A debate slot is 16 minutes. The judges need 4 minutes at the end, and 4 speakers share the rest equally. How many minutes does each speaker get?
  40. 40.🕒 A speaker goes far over time. What usually happens? (a) they win (b) nothing at all (c) they can lose marks (d) they get a bonus

Answer key

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

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