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