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Speech Timer
Choose the speech type and press Start as the speaker begins. The screen goes green, yellow, then red.
Step 1 / 4
Green at 5:00, yellow at 6:00, red at 7:00. The usual length of a prepared club speech.
Green at 4:00, yellow at 5:00, red at 6:00. Used for first speeches such as an icebreaker.
Green at 1:00, yellow at 1:30, red at 2:00. Table Topics and other impromptu answers.
Green at 2:00, yellow at 2:30, red at 3:00. Speech evaluations.
Green at 8:00, yellow at 9:00, red at 10:00. Longer prepared talks.
Green, yellow and red times by speech type
| Speech | Green | Yellow | Red | Timer ends |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 5–7 minute speech | 5:00 | 6:00 | 7:00 | 7:30 |
| 4–6 minute speech | 4:00 | 5:00 | 6:00 | 6:30 |
| 1–2 minute impromptu (Table Topics) | 1:00 | 1:30 | 2:00 | 2:30 |
| 2–3 minute evaluation | 2:00 | 2:30 | 3:00 | 3:30 |
| 8–10 minute speech | 8:00 | 9:00 | 10:00 | 10:30 |
Times are minutes and seconds from the first word. Red stays on for a 30-second grace period before the timer ends. Clubs and contests may set their own limits; follow the event’s rules.
How to use it
- Tap the speech type. The signal times are fixed for each: a 5–7 minute speech turns green at 5:00, yellow at 6:00 and red at 7:00.
- Beeps start switched off on this page, so the room hears nothing. The colors are the signal.
- Go full screen and stand the device where the speaker can see it without turning, for example on a chair in the front row or at the back of the room.
- Press Start at the speaker’s first word or deliberate gesture. Press Reset after the speech and you are ready for the next one.
What the green, yellow and red signals mean
This is the convention used in Toastmasters clubs. Green shows when the speaker reaches the minimum time: the speech now qualifies, and the conclusion can begin whenever it suits. Yellow shows halfway between the minimum and the maximum and means start wrapping up. Red shows at the maximum and means finish the sentence and sit down.
On this speaker timer the screen stays blue until the minimum, then the whole face changes color, so the signal is readable from across a room. The digits count down the time left in the current color, not the time spoken. In Toastmasters contests, speakers are typically disqualified if they are more than 30 seconds under the minimum or over the maximum, which is why the red phase lasts 30 seconds before the timer ends.
How long is a 5 minute speech in words
A common speaking pace is about 125 to 150 words per minute. At that rate a 5-minute speech is roughly 625 to 750 words and a 7-minute speech about 875 to 1,050. Treat the figures as a rough guide. Pauses, laughter, slides and nerves all change the pace, and a script that fills the full time on paper leaves no room for any of them.
Write to the yellow light, not the red. For a 5–7 minute slot, aim to finish at about 6:00 when you rehearse alone; in front of an audience most speeches run longer than they did in the living room. Rehearse aloud with the timer at least twice and note where you are when the screen turns green. That sentence becomes your landmark on the day.
Common mistakes
- Switching Beeps on in a quiet room. The countdown beeps before every color change cut across the speaker; the lights are the signal.
- Placing the screen where the speaker has to look down or sideways to find it. Put it in their natural line of sight.
- Starting the clock during the introduction or the walk to the stage. Timing begins with the speaker’s first word.
- Writing a speech to the maximum time. One round of applause pushes it into the red.
- Rehearsing silently. Reading in your head is much faster than speaking to a room.
Questions people ask
How many words is a 5 minute speech?
Roughly 625 to 750 words at a pace of 125 to 150 words per minute. If you speak slowly or pause a lot, aim for the lower figure.
When do the green, yellow and red lights come on for a 5–7 minute speech?
Green at 5:00, yellow at 6:00 and red at 7:00. The timer then shows red for another 30 seconds, to 7:30.
What are the timing rules for Table Topics?
Table Topics answers are 1 to 2 minutes: green at 1:00, yellow at 1:30, red at 2:00. Under the usual contest rule, a speaker more than 30 seconds outside those limits is disqualified.
Can I use this as a Toastmasters timer at a club meeting?
Yes. It has the standard signals for 4–6 and 5–7 minute speeches, Table Topics and evaluations. The timer role still needs a person to press Start and to write down each speaker’s final time, so keep the stopwatch or a watch handy for the report.
What if my speech has a different time limit?
The five options here are fixed. For other limits, open the presentation timer and set your own length and warning times.