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.🕒 A speaker goes far over time. What usually happens? (a) nothing at all (b) they win (c) they can lose marks (d) they get a bonus
- 2.🕒 Why does a debate have a timekeeper? (a) to ask questions (b) to choose motions (c) to judge content (d) to keep speeches fair
- 3.🕒 What should you do when the final bell rings? (a) speak faster (b) ignore it (c) finish your sentence (d) start a new point
- 4.🕒 A debate has 4 speakers who speak for 3 minutes each, plus 1 break of 1 minute. How many minutes does the debate take in all?
- 5.✋ 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?
- 6.🕒 Each speaker in a debate has 4 minutes, and there are no breaks. How many minutes after the start does the second speaker begin?
- 7.🕒 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?
- 8.🕒 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
- 9.🕒 A debate slot is 22 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.🕒 A debate slot is 21 minutes. The judges need 3 minutes at the end, and 6 speakers share the rest equally. How many minutes does each speaker get?
- 12.🕒 A debate has 4 speakers who speak for 5 minutes each, plus 3 breaks of 2 minutes. How many minutes does the debate take in all?
- 13.🕒 Each speaker in a debate has 2 minutes, and there are no breaks. How many minutes after the start does the second speaker begin?
- 14.🕒 A debate slot is 20 minutes. The judges need 8 minutes at the end, and 4 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 1 break of 2 minutes. How many minutes does the debate take in all?
- 16.🕒 Each speaker in a debate has 3 minutes, and there are no breaks. How many minutes after the start does the second speaker begin?
- 17.🕒 Each speaker in a debate has 2 minutes, and there are no breaks. How many minutes after the start does the fourth speaker begin?
- 18.🕒 In a junior debate, each of 2 speakers speaks for 120 seconds. How many minutes is that in all?
- 19.🕒 Each speaker in a debate has 2 minutes, and there are no breaks. How many minutes after the start does the sixth speaker begin?
- 20.🕒 Each speaker in a debate has 4 minutes, and there are no breaks. How many minutes after the start does the fourth speaker begin?
- 21.🕒 Each speaker in a debate has 4 minutes, and there are no breaks. How many minutes after the start does the fifth speaker begin?
- 22.🕒 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?
- 23.🕒 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?
- 24.🕒 A debate has 4 speakers who speak for 2 minutes each, plus 2 breaks of 2 minutes. How many minutes does the debate take in all?
- 25.🕒 A debate has 6 speakers who speak for 2 minutes each, plus 1 break of 1 minute. How many minutes does the debate take in all?
- 26.🕒 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?
- 27.🕒 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?
- 28.🕒 A debate slot is 21 minutes. The judges need 5 minutes at the end, and 4 speakers share the rest equally. How many minutes does each speaker get?
- 29.✋ 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?
- 30.🕒 In a junior debate, each of 4 speakers speaks for 120 seconds. How many minutes is that in all?
- 31.🕒 A debate has 8 speakers who speak for 2 minutes each, plus 3 breaks of 3 minutes. How many minutes does the debate take in all?
- 32.🕒 A debate has 8 speakers who speak for 2 minutes each, plus 2 breaks of 2 minutes. How many minutes does the debate take in all?
- 33.✋ 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?
- 34.🕒 A debate has 8 speakers who speak for 4 minutes each, plus 1 break of 3 minutes. How many minutes does the debate take in all?
- 35.🕒 Each speaker in a debate has 2 minutes, and there are no breaks. How many minutes after the start does the fifth speaker begin?
- 36.🕒 In a junior debate, each of 4 speakers speaks for 30 seconds. How many minutes is that in all?
- 37.🕒 A debate slot is 30 minutes. The judges need 10 minutes at the end, and 4 speakers share the rest equally. How many minutes does each speaker get?
- 38.🕒 A debate has 8 speakers who speak for 5 minutes each, plus 1 break of 3 minutes. How many minutes does the debate take in all?
- 39.🕒 In a junior debate, each of 8 speakers speaks for 90 seconds. How many minutes is that in all?
- 40.🕒 A debate has 8 speakers who speak for 5 minutes each, plus 1 break of 2 minutes. How many minutes does the debate take in all?
Answer key
- they can lose marks
- to keep speeches fair
- finish your sentence
- 13
- 2
- 4
- 10
- time it in practice
- 2
- 6
- 3
- 26
- 2
- 3
- 22
- 3
- 6
- 4
- 10
- 12
- 16
- 11
- 44
- 12
- 13
- 31
- 41
- 4
- 4
- 8
- 25
- 20
- 5
- 35
- 8
- 2
- 5
- 43
- 12
- 42
Free debate lessons, practice and worksheets at talentjr.in/debate-for-students