← Debate timing lesson New set →

Debate Worksheet: Timing Sums

Debate lesson 11: Debate timing · Set 72 · 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.🕒 Why does a debate have a timekeeper? (a) to keep speeches fair (b) to choose motions (c) to ask questions (d) to judge content
  2. 2.✋ 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?
  3. 3.✋ 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?
  4. 4.✋ 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?
  5. 5.🕒 Each speaker in a debate has 5 minutes, and there are no breaks. How many minutes after the start does the fourth speaker begin?
  6. 6.🕒 A debate has 6 speakers who speak for 2 minutes each, plus 2 breaks of 1 minute. How many minutes does the debate take in all?
  7. 7.🕒 A debate has 4 speakers who speak for 2 minutes each, plus 2 breaks of 3 minutes. How many minutes does the debate take in all?
  8. 8.🕒 In a junior debate, each of 2 speakers speaks for 120 seconds. How many minutes is that in all?
  9. 9.✋ 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?
  10. 10.🕒 Each speaker in a debate has 2 minutes, and there are no breaks. How many minutes after the start does the sixth speaker begin?
  11. 11.🕒 A debate slot is 23 minutes. The judges need 5 minutes at the end, and 6 speakers share the rest equally. How many minutes does each speaker get?
  12. 12.🕒 A debate has 6 speakers who speak for 4 minutes each, plus 2 breaks of 3 minutes. How many minutes does the debate take in all?
  13. 13.🕒 What should you do when the final bell rings? (a) speak faster (b) ignore it (c) start a new point (d) finish your sentence
  14. 14.🕒 Each speaker in a debate has 2 minutes, and there are no breaks. How many minutes after the start does the fifth speaker begin?
  15. 15.🕒 Each speaker in a debate has 3 minutes, and there are no breaks. How many minutes after the start does the third speaker begin?
  16. 16.🕒 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
  17. 17.🕒 Each speaker in a debate has 3 minutes, and there are no breaks. How many minutes after the start does the second speaker begin?
  18. 18.🕒 Each speaker in a debate has 3 minutes, and there are no breaks. How many minutes after the start does the fourth speaker begin?
  19. 19.🕒 A debate has 6 speakers who speak for 3 minutes each, plus 2 breaks of 3 minutes. How many minutes does the debate take in all?
  20. 20.🕒 A speaker goes far over time. What usually happens? (a) they win (b) they get a bonus (c) nothing at all (d) they can lose marks
  21. 21.🕒 A debate slot is 21 minutes. The judges need 5 minutes at the end, and 8 speakers share the rest equally. How many minutes does each speaker get?
  22. 22.🕒 In a junior debate, each of 2 speakers speaks for 90 seconds. How many minutes is that in all?
  23. 23.🕒 Each speaker in a debate has 5 minutes, and there are no breaks. How many minutes after the start does the sixth speaker begin?
  24. 24.🕒 A debate slot is 20 minutes. The judges need 8 minutes at the end, and 6 speakers share the rest equally. How many minutes does each speaker get?
  25. 25.🕒 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?
  26. 26.🕒 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?
  27. 27.🕒 In a junior debate, each of 4 speakers speaks for 30 seconds. How many minutes is that in all?
  28. 28.✋ 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?
  29. 29.🕒 In a junior debate, each of 8 speakers speaks for 90 seconds. How many minutes is that in all?
  30. 30.🕒 Each speaker in a debate has 3 minutes, and there are no breaks. How many minutes after the start does the sixth speaker begin?
  31. 31.🕒 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?
  32. 32.🕒 In a junior debate, each of 2 speakers speaks for 60 seconds. How many minutes is that in all?
  33. 33.🕒 A debate slot is 33 minutes. The judges need 9 minutes at the end, and 6 speakers share the rest equally. How many minutes does each speaker get?
  34. 34.🕒 A debate has 6 speakers who speak for 2 minutes each, plus 3 breaks of 3 minutes. How many minutes does the debate take in all?
  35. 35.🕒 In a junior debate, each of 6 speakers speaks for 120 seconds. How many minutes is that in all?
  36. 36.🕒 A debate slot is 25 minutes. The judges need 9 minutes at the end, and 8 speakers share the rest equally. How many minutes does each speaker get?
  37. 37.🕒 Each speaker in a debate has 3 minutes, and there are no breaks. How many minutes after the start does the fifth speaker begin?
  38. 38.🕒 In a junior debate, each of 8 speakers speaks for 30 seconds. How many minutes is that in all?
  39. 39.🕒 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?
  40. 40.🕒 Each speaker in a debate has 2 minutes, and there are no breaks. How many minutes after the start does the third speaker begin?

Answer key

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

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