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Debate Timer
Choose the format and press Start at the first word. Each speech is timed in order; pause between speeches for prep time.
Step 1 / 7
Seven speeches, 32 minutes: 6, 3, 7, 3, 4, 6, 3. Prep time, commonly 4 minutes a side, is extra.
Eleven parts, 35 minutes: 4, 4, 3, 4, 4, 3, 3, 3, 3, 2, 2. Prep, commonly 3 minutes a team, is extra.
Eight speeches of 7 minutes, 56 minutes, alternating Government and Opposition.
Debate speech times: Lincoln-Douglas, with other formats
| Speech | Time | Speaker | Purpose |
|---|---|---|---|
| Affirmative Constructive | 6 min | Affirmative | Presents the affirmative case |
| Cross-Examination | 3 min | Negative asks | Questions on the affirmative case |
| Negative Constructive | 7 min | Negative | Presents the negative case and answers the affirmative |
| Cross-Examination | 3 min | Affirmative asks | Questions on the negative case |
| First Affirmative Rebuttal | 4 min | Affirmative | Answers the negative, rebuilds the case |
| Negative Rebuttal | 6 min | Negative | Final negative speech |
| Second Affirmative Rebuttal | 3 min | Affirmative | Final speech of the round |
| Lincoln-Douglas total | 32 min | Both | Plus prep time, commonly 4 min a side |
| Public Forum total | 35 min | Two teams of two | Plus prep time, commonly 3 min a team |
| British Parliamentary total | 56 min | Four teams of two | Eight 7-minute speeches |
Lincoln-Douglas and Public Forum times follow the common National Speech & Debate Association format. Leagues and tournaments set their own times, so check the rules of yours.
How to use it
- Tap the format: Lincoln-Douglas, Public Forum or British Parliamentary. The speeches are loaded in their order.
- Go full screen and turn the device toward the speaker. The face names the speech, shows the time left in it and what comes next.
- Press Start as the first speaker begins. Three beeps count down the last 3 seconds and the next speech starts immediately.
- Press Pause straight after a speech when a side calls prep time, and Start again when the next speaker stands. Skip ends a speech that finishes early.
Speech order in each format
Lincoln-Douglas is one against one, and the affirmative speaks first and last: 6-minute constructive, 3 minutes of cross-examination, 7-minute negative constructive, 3 more of cross-examination, then rebuttals of 4, 6 and 3 minutes. Each side speaks for 13 minutes in total.
Public Forum is two against two. Both teams give a 4-minute constructive, then comes a 3-minute crossfire, 4-minute rebuttals, a second crossfire, 3-minute summaries, a 3-minute grand crossfire with all four debaters, and 2-minute final focus speeches. A coin flip decides side and speaking order, so the timer calls the teams A and B. British Parliamentary has four teams of two and eight 7-minute speeches, alternating between Government and Opposition from the Prime Minister to the Opposition Whip. Points of information may be offered between the first and last minute of each speech; the first and last minutes are protected.
Prep time is not on the clock
Prep time belongs to each side and is spent in pieces whenever that side chooses, so it cannot be scheduled as a step. The timer moves from one speech straight to the next. Pause it the moment a speech ends, track the prep used on paper or on a second device, and resume when the speaker is ready. Left running, it will count the next speech against an empty podium.
For practice at home, run the round without pausing once in a while. Giving a 4-minute rebuttal seconds after hearing a 7-minute constructive is harder than the tournament version, and it trains you to flow and plan answers while the other side is still speaking.
Common mistakes
- Letting the timer roll into the next speech while a team is taking prep. Pause first, then let them confer.
- Assuming every tournament uses these times. Novice divisions, school leagues and other countries often differ.
- Stopping a speaker at the first beep. The beeps start 3 seconds before time; the long tone marks the end.
- In British Parliamentary, offering points of information in the first or last minute. Watch for 6:00 and 1:00 on the countdown.
- Practicing speeches without a clock. A rebuttal that runs 5 minutes at home loses its last minute in a round.
Questions people ask
What are the speech times in Lincoln-Douglas debate?
Six minutes for the affirmative constructive, 3 for cross-examination, 7 for the negative constructive, 3 for cross-examination, then rebuttals of 4, 6 and 3 minutes: 32 minutes of speaking, plus prep time, commonly 4 minutes per side.
How long is a Public Forum debate round?
Thirty-five minutes of speeches and crossfire: constructives 4 and 4, crossfire 3, rebuttals 4 and 4, crossfire 3, summaries 3 and 3, grand crossfire 3, final focus 2 and 2. Each team commonly has 3 minutes of prep on top.
How long are speeches in British Parliamentary debate?
Seven minutes each at most tournaments, eight speeches, 56 minutes in all. Points of information are allowed after the first minute and before the last.
How do I time prep with this debate timer?
Press Pause when a speech ends and time the prep separately; the stopwatch in another tab works well. Each side’s prep is a running total across the round, so write down what is left after each use.
Can I change the speech lengths?
Not on this page: the three formats are fixed. For a league with different times, time each speech on its own with the presentation timer, which takes any length.