World Individual Debating and Public Speaking Championships

1. Events

Competitors participate in four events: Debating, Impromptu Speaking, Interpretive Reading, and a Prepared speech (either Persuasive Speaking or After-Dinner Speaking). Two regular rounds are held per category, with the top 3–12 advancing to finals.

Winners are named in each category, with an overall World Champion determined from combined results.

2. Debate

• Teams: Each competitor teams up with a student from another school, usually from a different country.
• Topic Announcement: The debate topic is given 30 minutes before the debate. The side supporting the topic (government/proposition) must explain what they mean by the topic 10 minutes after prep starts.
• First speaker: speaks for 6 minutes, then gives a 3-minute reply to the other team.

• Second speaker: speaks once for 9 minutes.

3. Impromptu Speaking

• Topic Selection: Each speaker picks 1 topic from 3 options, which could be a word, quote, or phrase (not current events).
• Preparation: They get up to 2 minutes to prepare. They can write notes, but cannot read from them during the speech

4. Interpretive Reading

• Material: Competitors read published prose or poetry (serious or humorous). Plays, speeches, or unpublished material are not allowed. The reading should be selected before the tournament.
• Time: Readings must be 5–11 minutes, including the introduction.

5. Persuasive Speaking

• Purpose: The speech must persuade about a real, serious problem, using a problem/solution approach. Humor can be used, but the focus is on the problem and solutions.
• Speeches are prepared in advance and may be used in all rounds. Speeches must be 7-13 minutes

6. After-Dinner Speaking

• Purpose: Speech is delivered to an imaginary audience with shared interests or identity, designed to inform and entertain. It is not stand-up comedy.
• Speech is 6 minutes, with a 1-minute grace period. The same speech may be used in all rounds.