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 2 minutes, and there are no breaks. How many minutes after the start does the second speaker begin?
- 2.🕒 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?
- 3.🕒 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?
- 4.🕒 What should you do when the final bell rings? (a) finish your sentence (b) start a new point (c) speak faster (d) ignore it
- 5.🕒 Each speaker in a debate has 4 minutes, and there are no breaks. How many minutes after the start does the sixth speaker begin?
- 6.🕒 A debate has 4 speakers who speak for 5 minutes each, plus 2 breaks of 1 minute. How many minutes does the debate take in all?
- 7.🕒 In a junior debate, each of 8 speakers speaks for 30 seconds. How many minutes is that in all?
- 8.🕒 A debate has 8 speakers who speak for 3 minutes each, plus 1 break of 1 minute. How many minutes does the debate take in all?
- 9.🕒 A debate has 6 speakers who speak for 3 minutes each, plus 1 break of 2 minutes. How many minutes does the debate take in all?
- 10.🕒 Each speaker in a debate has 2 minutes, and there are no breaks. How many minutes after the start does the fourth speaker begin?
- 11.🕒 Each speaker in a debate has 4 minutes, and there are no breaks. How many minutes after the start does the second speaker begin?
- 12.✋ 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?
- 13.🕒 How should you prepare a timed speech? (a) skip the ending (b) write it at the venue (c) time it in practice (d) guess on the day
- 14.🕒 In a junior debate, each of 4 speakers speaks for 90 seconds. How many minutes is that in all?
- 15.✋ 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?
- 16.🕒 Each speaker in a debate has 5 minutes, and there are no breaks. How many minutes after the start does the sixth speaker begin?
- 17.🕒 A debate has 6 speakers who speak for 2 minutes each, plus 1 break of 3 minutes. How many minutes does the debate take in all?
- 18.🕒 In a junior debate, each of 2 speakers speaks for 90 seconds. How many minutes is that in all?
- 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.🕒 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?
- 21.🕒 Each speaker in a debate has 5 minutes, and there are no breaks. How many minutes after the start does the fifth speaker begin?
- 22.🕒 In a junior debate, each of 6 speakers speaks for 30 seconds. How many minutes is that in all?
- 23.🕒 In a junior debate, each of 6 speakers speaks for 90 seconds. How many minutes is that in all?
- 24.🕒 Each speaker in a debate has 4 minutes, and there are no breaks. How many minutes after the start does the third speaker begin?
- 25.🕒 Why does a debate have a timekeeper? (a) to ask questions (b) to keep speeches fair (c) to choose motions (d) to judge content
- 26.🕒 A debate slot is 24 minutes. The judges need 8 minutes at the end, and 8 speakers share the rest equally. How many minutes does each speaker get?
- 27.🕒 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?
- 28.🕒 Each speaker in a debate has 3 minutes, and there are no breaks. How many minutes after the start does the fourth speaker begin?
- 29.🕒 A debate slot is 26 minutes. The judges need 10 minutes at the end, and 8 speakers share the rest equally. How many minutes does each speaker get?
- 30.🕒 A debate has 4 speakers who speak for 4 minutes each, plus 2 breaks of 3 minutes. How many minutes does the debate take in all?
- 31.🕒 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?
- 32.🕒 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?
- 33.🕒 In a junior debate, each of 4 speakers speaks for 30 seconds. How many minutes is that in all?
- 34.🕒 A debate slot is 25 minutes. The judges need 5 minutes at the end, and 4 speakers share the rest equally. How many minutes does each speaker get?
- 35.🕒 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?
- 36.🕒 A debate has 4 speakers who speak for 2 minutes each, plus 2 breaks of 1 minute. How many minutes does the debate take in all?
- 37.🕒 A speaker goes far over time. What usually happens? (a) they win (b) they can lose marks (c) nothing at all (d) they get a bonus
- 38.✋ 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?
- 39.🕒 Each speaker in a debate has 4 minutes, and there are no breaks. How many minutes after the start does the fifth speaker begin?
- 40.🕒 A debate slot is 27 minutes. The judges need 3 minutes at the end, and 8 speakers share the rest equally. How many minutes does each speaker get?
Answer key
- 2
- 41
- 16
- finish your sentence
- 20
- 22
- 4
- 25
- 20
- 6
- 4
- 1
- time it in practice
- 6
- 5
- 25
- 15
- 3
- 33
- 19
- 20
- 3
- 9
- 8
- to keep speeches fair
- 2
- 2
- 9
- 2
- 22
- 11
- 34
- 2
- 5
- 43
- 10
- they can lose marks
- 3
- 16
- 3
Free debate lessons, practice and worksheets at talentjr.in/debate-for-students