Debate speech times by format: BP, World Schools, Lincoln-Douglas and Model UN

Every debate format has its own clock, and getting it wrong is one of the few things that can cost a speaker marks before they have said a word. Here are the standard times for the main formats, what protected time means, and how to run the clock from one screen.

British Parliamentary

Four teams of two, eight speeches in all.

Speech	Length	Points of information
Every speech	7 minutes	Allowed from 1:00 to 6:00

The first and last minute of every speech are protected: no points of information may be offered. Between them, members of the opposing side may stand and offer a point, which the speaker can accept or decline.

The timekeeper usually signals at 1:00 (points open), 6:00 (points close) and 7:00 (time), often with a knock or a bell.

World Schools

Two teams of three. Each side gives three substantive speeches and one reply.

Speech	Length	Points of information
Substantive (×3 per side)	8 minutes	Allowed from 1:00 to 7:00
Reply (×1 per side)	4 minutes	None

The reply is given by the first or second speaker, never the third, and it comes in reverse order: opposition first. Some tournaments run seven-minute substantives and three-minute replies, so check the rules.

Lincoln-Douglas

One against one, usually on a question of values.

Speech	Length
Affirmative constructive	6 minutes
Cross-examination by negative	3 minutes
Negative constructive	7 minutes
Cross-examination by affirmative	3 minutes
First affirmative rebuttal	4 minutes
Negative rebuttal	6 minutes
Second affirmative rebuttal	3 minutes

Each debater also gets four minutes of prep time for the whole round, used in whatever pieces they choose. It is not per speech, so it needs a running total. Cross-examination is timed separately and does not come out of prep.

These are the standard NSDA times. Some circuits and invitationals adjust the rebuttals.

Model UN

Model UN is run by a chair rather than a fixed format, so times vary by committee.

Part of the session	Usual time
Speakers’ list	60 or 90 seconds per speech
Moderated caucus	A total length, with 30 to 45 seconds per delegate
Unmoderated caucus	One block, often 5 to 15 minutes

A yield, to questions or to another delegate, comes out of the original speaker’s time. The clock keeps running.

How much overtime is allowed?

It depends on the format and the tournament. A grace period of about fifteen to twenty seconds is common, after which judges are told to disregard further material rather than stop the speaker. Check the round’s own instructions.

Running the clock

The debate timer has presets for the main formats, with three signals:

• Green marks the end of protected time, when points of information may be offered.
• Amber is the one-minute warning, which in BP and Worlds is also when protected time resumes.
• Red is the end of the speech.

The clock keeps counting past red, so you can record the overrun. Presets cover a 7-minute BP speech, an 8-minute Worlds substantive, a 4-minute reply with no green light, LD and policy constructives, and a 3-minute cross-examination. There are dedicated pages for World Schools, Lincoln-Douglas and Model UN.

Every preset can be adjusted, and the three signal points can be set to whatever your league uses. Press F for fullscreen and put the screen where the speaker can see it. Once loaded, the timer runs without an internet connection, which helps in school halls with poor wifi.

Timekeeping tips

• Put the clock in the speaker’s eye line. Signals only help if the speaker can act on them.
• Run one screen for the whole round. Switching presets between speeches is faster than resetting by hand.
• Track LD prep as a running total. Note what is left after each use.

For club speeches rather than debates, Toastmasters timing rules covers the green, amber and red lights, and how many words is a 5-minute speech helps you write to a time. For a prepared case, the speech time calculator turns a speech length into a word count at your pace.