Debate Worksheet: Timing Sums
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.🕒 In a junior debate, each of 6 speakers speaks for 90 seconds. How many minutes is that in all?
- 2.✋ 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?
- 3.🕒 Each speaker in a debate has 4 minutes, and there are no breaks. How many minutes after the start does the fifth speaker begin?
- 4.🕒 Each speaker in a debate has 5 minutes, and there are no breaks. How many minutes after the start does the sixth speaker begin?
- 5.🕒 What should you do when the final bell rings? (a) start a new point (b) finish your sentence (c) speak faster (d) ignore it
- 6.🕒 A debate has 6 speakers who speak for 2 minutes each, plus 3 breaks of 2 minutes. How many minutes does the debate take in all?
- 7.🕒 In a junior debate, each of 8 speakers speaks for 60 seconds. How many minutes is that in all?
- 8.✋ 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?
- 9.🕒 A debate slot is 46 minutes. The judges need 6 minutes at the end, and 8 speakers share the rest equally. How many minutes does each speaker get?
- 10.✋ 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?
- 11.🕒 Why does a debate have a timekeeper? (a) to keep speeches fair (b) to judge content (c) to choose motions (d) to ask questions
- 12.🕒 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
- 13.🕒 A debate slot is 18 minutes. The judges need 6 minutes at the end, and 4 speakers share the rest equally. How many minutes does each speaker get?
- 14.🕒 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?
- 15.🕒 A debate has 4 speakers who speak for 5 minutes each, plus 3 breaks of 3 minutes. How many minutes does the debate take in all?
- 16.🕒 How should you prepare a timed speech? (a) write it at the venue (b) time it in practice (c) guess on the day (d) skip the ending
- 17.🕒 Each speaker in a debate has 5 minutes, and there are no breaks. How many minutes after the start does the fifth speaker begin?
- 18.🕒 Each speaker in a debate has 2 minutes, and there are no breaks. How many minutes after the start does the fourth speaker begin?
- 19.🕒 Each speaker in a debate has 5 minutes, and there are no breaks. How many minutes after the start does the third speaker begin?
- 20.🕒 A debate has 6 speakers who speak for 5 minutes each, plus 3 breaks of 3 minutes. How many minutes does the debate take in all?
- 21.🕒 In a junior debate, each of 6 speakers speaks for 120 seconds. How many minutes is that in all?
- 22.✋ 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?
- 23.🕒 In a junior debate, each of 2 speakers speaks for 120 seconds. How many minutes is that in all?
- 24.🕒 A debate slot is 50 minutes. The judges need 10 minutes at the end, and 8 speakers share the rest equally. How many minutes does each speaker get?
- 25.🕒 Each speaker in a debate has 2 minutes, and there are no breaks. How many minutes after the start does the third speaker begin?
- 26.✋ 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?
- 27.🕒 A debate slot is 15 minutes. The judges need 3 minutes at the end, and 4 speakers share the rest equally. How many minutes does each speaker get?
- 28.🕒 A debate has 6 speakers who speak for 5 minutes each, plus 3 breaks of 2 minutes. How many minutes does the debate take in all?
- 29.🕒 A debate slot is 15 minutes. The judges need 7 minutes at the end, and 4 speakers share the rest equally. How many minutes does each speaker get?
- 30.🕒 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?
- 31.🕒 A debate slot is 47 minutes. The judges need 7 minutes at the end, and 8 speakers share the rest equally. How many minutes does each speaker get?
- 32.🕒 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?
- 33.🕒 A debate slot is 21 minutes. The judges need 9 minutes at the end, and 6 speakers share the rest equally. How many minutes does each speaker get?
- 34.🕒 In a junior debate, each of 6 speakers speaks for 60 seconds. How many minutes is that in all?
- 35.🕒 Each speaker in a debate has 4 minutes, and there are no breaks. How many minutes after the start does the second speaker begin?
- 36.🕒 A debate has 6 speakers who speak for 4 minutes each, plus 3 breaks of 3 minutes. How many minutes does the debate take in all?
- 37.🕒 A debate slot is 43 minutes. The judges need 3 minutes at the end, and 8 speakers share the rest equally. How many minutes does each speaker get?
- 38.🕒 A debate slot is 13 minutes. The judges need 5 minutes at the end, and 4 speakers share the rest equally. How many minutes does each speaker get?
- 39.🕒 In a junior debate, each of 4 speakers speaks for 90 seconds. How many minutes is that in all?
- 40.🕒 In a junior debate, each of 6 speakers speaks for 30 seconds. How many minutes is that in all?
Answer key
- 9
- 2
- 16
- 25
- finish your sentence
- 18
- 8
- 3
- 5
- 6
- to keep speeches fair
- they can lose marks
- 3
- 4
- 29
- time it in practice
- 20
- 6
- 10
- 39
- 12
- 5
- 4
- 5
- 4
- 4
- 3
- 36
- 2
- 17
- 5
- 2
- 2
- 6
- 4
- 33
- 5
- 2
- 6
- 3
Free debate lessons, practice and worksheets at talentjr.in/debate-for-students