← Debate timing lesson New set →

Debate Worksheet: Timing Sums

Debate lesson 11: Debate timing · Set 46 · 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.🕒 Why does a debate have a timekeeper? (a) to judge content (b) to keep speeches fair (c) to choose motions (d) to ask questions
  2. 2.🕒 A debate has 6 speakers who speak for 3 minutes each, plus 2 breaks of 3 minutes. How many minutes does the debate take in all?
  3. 3.🕒 How should you prepare a timed speech? (a) write it at the venue (b) guess on the day (c) skip the ending (d) time it in practice
  4. 4.🕒 In a junior debate, each of 4 speakers speaks for 30 seconds. How many minutes is that in all?
  5. 5.🕒 In a junior debate, each of 2 speakers speaks for 90 seconds. How many minutes is that in all?
  6. 6.🕒 In a junior debate, each of 4 speakers speaks for 120 seconds. How many minutes is that in all?
  7. 7.🕒 What should you do when the final bell rings? (a) finish your sentence (b) speak faster (c) start a new point (d) ignore it
  8. 8.✋ 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?
  9. 9.🕒 In a junior debate, each of 8 speakers speaks for 30 seconds. How many minutes is that in all?
  10. 10.🕒 Each speaker in a debate has 3 minutes, and there are no breaks. How many minutes after the start does the second speaker begin?
  11. 11.🕒 A debate slot is 16 minutes. The judges need 4 minutes at the end, and 6 speakers share the rest equally. How many minutes does each speaker get?
  12. 12.🕒 A speaker goes far over time. What usually happens? (a) they can lose marks (b) they get a bonus (c) they win (d) nothing at all
  13. 13.🕒 Each speaker in a debate has 2 minutes, and there are no breaks. How many minutes after the start does the fourth speaker begin?
  14. 14.🕒 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?
  15. 15.🕒 A debate has 8 speakers who speak for 5 minutes each, plus 1 break of 1 minute. How many minutes does the debate take in all?
  16. 16.🕒 A debate has 4 speakers who speak for 4 minutes each, plus 1 break of 3 minutes. How many minutes does the debate take in all?
  17. 17.🕒 A debate slot is 28 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 debate has 8 speakers who speak for 3 minutes each, plus 1 break of 3 minutes. How many minutes does the debate take in all?
  19. 19.🕒 Each speaker in a debate has 4 minutes, and there are no breaks. How many minutes after the start does the fifth speaker begin?
  20. 20.🕒 Each speaker in a debate has 4 minutes, and there are no breaks. How many minutes after the start does the third speaker begin?
  21. 21.🕒 In a junior debate, each of 8 speakers speaks for 90 seconds. How many minutes is that in all?
  22. 22.🕒 Each speaker in a debate has 4 minutes, and there are no breaks. How many minutes after the start does the second speaker begin?
  23. 23.🕒 Each speaker in a debate has 3 minutes, and there are no breaks. How many minutes after the start does the third speaker begin?
  24. 24.🕒 A debate has 4 speakers who speak for 2 minutes each, plus 3 breaks of 3 minutes. How many minutes does the debate take in all?
  25. 25.🕒 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?
  26. 26.🕒 A debate has 4 speakers who speak for 4 minutes each, plus 2 breaks of 1 minute. How many minutes does the debate take in all?
  27. 27.🕒 Each speaker in a debate has 5 minutes, and there are no breaks. How many minutes after the start does the sixth speaker begin?
  28. 28.🕒 A debate slot is 33 minutes. The judges need 9 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 5 minutes, and there are no breaks. How many minutes after the start does the third speaker begin?
  30. 30.✋ 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?
  31. 31.🕒 Each speaker in a debate has 5 minutes, and there are no breaks. How many minutes after the start does the second speaker begin?
  32. 32.🕒 A debate has 8 speakers who speak for 4 minutes each, plus 3 breaks of 2 minutes. How many minutes does the debate take in all?
  33. 33.✋ 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?
  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 4 minutes each, plus 2 breaks of 3 minutes. How many minutes does the debate take in all?
  36. 36.🕒 In a junior debate, each of 6 speakers speaks for 120 seconds. How many minutes is that in all?
  37. 37.🕒 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?
  38. 38.🕒 Each speaker in a debate has 2 minutes, and there are no breaks. How many minutes after the start does the fifth speaker begin?
  39. 39.🕒 A debate has 6 speakers who speak for 4 minutes each, plus 1 break of 3 minutes. How many minutes does the debate take in all?
  40. 40.🕒 Each speaker in a debate has 3 minutes, and there are no breaks. How many minutes after the start does the fifth speaker begin?

Answer key

  1. to keep speeches fair
  2. 24
  3. time it in practice
  4. 2
  5. 3
  6. 8
  7. finish your sentence
  8. 4
  9. 4
  10. 3
  11. 2
  12. they can lose marks
  13. 6
  14. 44
  15. 41
  16. 19
  17. 3
  18. 27
  19. 16
  20. 8
  21. 12
  22. 4
  23. 6
  24. 17
  25. 5
  26. 18
  27. 25
  28. 3
  29. 10
  30. 6
  31. 5
  32. 38
  33. 3
  34. 1
  35. 22
  36. 12
  37. 19
  38. 8
  39. 27
  40. 12

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