No slides, no props
Visual production is a budget and a parental-help contest. Removing it puts every competitor in the same position: a voice, a body, an argument and a room.
Format
One prepared speech. Four to five minutes. Delivered once.
The rules are short on purpose. Fewer production variables means the score reflects the student rather than the resources behind them.
| Item | Rule |
|---|---|
| Prepared speech | Each competitor delivers one 4–5 minute speech in English. |
| Support materials | Small cue cards are permitted. No slides, no video, no large props. |
| Originality | The speech must substantially reflect the student’s own views. Coaches and parents may suggest revisions, but may not write the speech. |
| Timing | A single published deduction scale applies to speeches under or over the time limit, at both venues. |
| On-site technical | Both venues use matched timing, audio capture and video recording. Recordings are used for national review. |
| One delivery only | Every speech is delivered once. National review uses the original competition-day recording. |
Why these constraints
What each restriction is protecting
One delivery only
Every speech happens once, and national review uses the original competition-day recording. Nobody gets a second, better-rehearsed run at the same speech.
Matched technical setup
Both venues use the same timing, audio capture and recording approach, so a Vancouver recording and a Toronto recording are comparable in national review.
Timing
How the clock is handled
Target window
4–5 min
Timing starts at your first word. A single published deduction scale applies to speeches under or over the window, and the same scale is used at both venues.
Now read how it is scored.
One hundred points across five criteria, with the same score sheet and the same judge brief at both venues.