← Debate timing lesson New set →

Debate Worksheet: Timing Sums

Debate lesson 11: Debate timing · Set 66 · 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.🕒 In a junior debate, each of 8 speakers speaks for 90 seconds. How many minutes is that in all?
  2. 2.🕒 A speaker goes far over time. What usually happens? (a) they get a bonus (b) nothing at all (c) they can lose marks (d) they win
  3. 3.🕒 Why does a debate have a timekeeper? (a) to judge content (b) to choose motions (c) to ask questions (d) to keep speeches fair
  4. 4.✋ 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?
  5. 5.🕒 A debate slot is 40 minutes. The judges need 8 minutes at the end, and 8 speakers share the rest equally. How many minutes does each speaker get?
  6. 6.🕒 A debate slot is 25 minutes. The judges need 7 minutes at the end, and 6 speakers share the rest equally. How many minutes does each speaker get?
  7. 7.🕒 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?
  8. 8.✋ 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?
  9. 9.✋ 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?
  10. 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. 11.🕒 Each speaker in a debate has 5 minutes, and there are no breaks. How many minutes after the start does the sixth speaker begin?
  12. 12.🕒 In a junior debate, each of 6 speakers speaks for 30 seconds. How many minutes is that in all?
  13. 13.🕒 A debate slot is 38 minutes. The judges need 6 minutes at the end, and 8 speakers share the rest equally. How many minutes does each speaker get?
  14. 14.🕒 In a junior debate, each of 4 speakers speaks for 30 seconds. How many minutes is that in all?
  15. 15.✋ 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?
  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.🕒 How should you prepare a timed speech? (a) skip the ending (b) time it in practice (c) write it at the venue (d) guess on the day
  18. 18.🕒 A debate has 8 speakers who speak for 4 minutes each, plus 1 break of 2 minutes. How many minutes does the debate take in all?
  19. 19.🕒 Each speaker in a debate has 2 minutes, and there are no breaks. How many minutes after the start does the second speaker begin?
  20. 20.🕒 Each speaker in a debate has 5 minutes, and there are no breaks. How many minutes after the start does the second speaker begin?
  21. 21.🕒 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?
  22. 22.🕒 What should you do when the final bell rings? (a) ignore it (b) finish your sentence (c) start a new point (d) speak faster
  23. 23.🕒 Each speaker in a debate has 5 minutes, and there are no breaks. How many minutes after the start does the third speaker begin?
  24. 24.🕒 In a junior debate, each of 8 speakers speaks for 120 seconds. How many minutes is that in all?
  25. 25.🕒 In a junior debate, each of 6 speakers speaks for 120 seconds. How many minutes is that in all?
  26. 26.✋ 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?
  27. 27.🕒 A debate slot is 26 minutes. The judges need 6 minutes at the end, and 4 speakers share the rest equally. How many minutes does each speaker get?
  28. 28.🕒 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?
  29. 29.🕒 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?
  30. 30.🕒 In a junior debate, each of 2 speakers speaks for 60 seconds. How many minutes is that in all?
  31. 31.🕒 A debate slot is 29 minutes. The judges need 9 minutes at the end, and 4 speakers share the rest equally. How many minutes does each speaker get?
  32. 32.🕒 Each speaker in a debate has 3 minutes, and there are no breaks. How many minutes after the start does the third speaker begin?
  33. 33.🕒 A debate slot is 23 minutes. The judges need 7 minutes at the end, and 8 speakers share the rest equally. How many minutes does each speaker get?
  34. 34.🕒 A debate slot is 19 minutes. The judges need 3 minutes at the end, and 4 speakers share the rest equally. How many minutes does each speaker get?
  35. 35.🕒 In a junior debate, each of 2 speakers speaks for 90 seconds. How many minutes is that in all?
  36. 36.🕒 In a junior debate, each of 8 speakers speaks for 30 seconds. How many minutes is that in all?
  37. 37.🕒 A debate slot is 38 minutes. The judges need 8 minutes at the end, and 6 speakers share the rest equally. How many minutes does each speaker get?
  38. 38.🕒 A debate has 4 speakers who speak for 5 minutes each, plus 1 break of 3 minutes. How many minutes does the debate take in all?
  39. 39.🕒 A debate slot is 22 minutes. The judges need 10 minutes at the end, and 4 speakers share the rest equally. How many minutes does each speaker get?
  40. 40.🕒 Each speaker in a debate has 2 minutes, and there are no breaks. How many minutes after the start does the fifth speaker begin?

Answer key

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

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