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Read next: How long is a 1,000-word speech? Times from 500 to 2,000 wordsAll 8 timers
Table Topics timer for Toastmasters
Table Topics is the shortest timed item in a Toastmasters meeting and the one most often mistimed, because a speaker who has not prepared does not have a feel for the clock. Green at one minute is the signal that matters.
The short answer
A Table Topics response runs one to two minutes, with green at 1:00, amber at 1:30 and red at 2:00. A speaker who finishes before green or runs more than 30 seconds past red is disqualified from a contest. The green light is the useful one: it tells a nervous speaker they have already done enough, which is when most of them stop.
Three steps to a timer on the wall
Step 1: Choose a time
Pick a preset or set your own. The timer remembers what you used last on this device.
Step 2: Press start
Start the timer, then press F or the fullscreen button to fill the screen.
Step 3: Run the room
Space pauses, the up arrow adds a minute, R resets. Fullscreen shows the timer alone, with no ads and no navigation.
Four things worth knowing
Green is the signal, not red
Most Table Topics speakers want to stop before green and have to be encouraged past it. Show green clearly and the speaker learns where the minimum actually is.
Position the screen where the speaker can see it
Table Topics speakers move around more than prepared speakers because they are thinking on their feet. A screen they have to hunt for gets ignored.
Run the same timer for the whole meeting
Switching presets between items is quicker than setting each one by hand, and it keeps every speaker judged against the same clock.
The 30-second grace is real
In a contest, anything more than 30 seconds outside the range disqualifies. Below that it does not, which is worth knowing before you signal a speaker to stop.
No ads on your big screen
Ads pay for this page, and they stay on this page. The moment the timer goes fullscreen there is nothing on screen but the time — no banners, no navigation, no surprises in front of a room.
- Fullscreen shows the timer alone
- Ad sounds can never clash with the alarm
- Saved times stay on your device — no account
- Works with an ad blocker, and offline once loaded
Questions people ask
Anything we've missed?
How long is a Table Topics response?
One to two minutes, with green at one minute, amber at ninety seconds and red at two. A contest response outside that range by more than 30 seconds is disqualified.
What happens if a speaker finishes before green?
In a normal meeting, nothing — it is noted in the timer's report. In a contest, finishing more than 30 seconds under the minimum disqualifies the speaker.
Do I need physical timing cards?
No. A screen showing the colour does the same job and is easier to see from the back of a room than a card held at a table.
Can I use this for the whole meeting?
Yes. The presets cover Table Topics, evaluations, Ice Breakers and standard speeches, so one screen handles every timed item in the agenda.
Time something specific
Guides worth reading
- Public speaking
How long is a 1,000-word speech? Times from 500 to 2,000 words
A 1,000-word speech takes about 6 minutes 40 seconds to 7 minutes 42 seconds at a normal pace. Times for 500 to 2,000 words, with pauses and slides.
5 min read - Public speaking
How many words is a 5-minute speech? Word counts from 1 to 20 minutes
A 5-minute speech is about 650 to 750 words at a normal pace. Word counts from 1 to 20 minutes, how to find your own pace, and how to time a practice run.
6 min read - Toastmasters
Toastmasters timing rules: green, amber and red for every speech type
What the timing lights mean, the exact times for every speech type, and the 30-second rule that disqualifies contestants. Plus how to run the timer role.
6 min read
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