← Debate timing lesson New set →

Debate Worksheet: Timing Sums

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

Answer key

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

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