Contests

 

Speech contests are an important part of the Toastmasters educational program. They provide an opportunity for Toastmasters to gain speaking experience, as well as an opportunity for other Toastmasters to learn by observing proficient speakers.

The International Speech Contest begins at the club level, and proceeds through the Area, Division, District, region quarter-final, semifinal, and final levels.

2023 Contest Dates

ILTM Club Level

  • TBA; Practice session
    • German Contest
    • Multilingual Competition
    • Evaluation Contest
    • Table Topics Contest
      Chair: TBA
  • TBA; Club Contest
    • International (English) Speech Contest
      Contest Chair: TBA
      Chief Judge: TBA

Area Contest

Dates TBA

Division E

Date TBA

District

Region Quarter final

Semifinal

Final

General Procedure

The reference for every role and procedure is the Speech Contest Rulebook 2021/2022.

At Club contests, a contest chair, chief judge, at least five voting judges, a tie breaking judge, two counters, and two timers are appointed, unless impractical.

International and German Speech Contest (English & German)

The International and German Speech Contests follow all rules outlined in the General Rules section of the rulebook.

The subject of the Speech contest must be selected by the contestant. Contestants must create their own speeches, and each must be substantially original.

International speeches must be from five to seven minutes. A contestant will be disqualified if the speech is less than four minutes 30 seconds or more than seven minutes 30 seconds.

Evaluation Contest (English)

At the beginning of this contest, a five- to seven-minute test speech will be presented. The test speech must be either a contest-type speech, a speech from one of the assignments in the Competent Communication manual, or a project speech from the Toastmasters Pathways learning experience. 

Evaluation Contest participants are required to leave the room after the test speech has been delivered, as outlined in the Evaluation Contest section of this rulebook.

Evaluation speeches must be from two to three minutes. A contestant will be disqualified if the speech is less than one minute 30 seconds or more than three minutes 30 seconds.

Table Topics Contest (English)

Table Topics Contest contestants must stay out of the room until the preceding speaker has completed his or her response to the topic.

Table Topics speeches must be from one minute to two minutes. A contestant will be disqualified if the speech is less than one minute or more than two minutes 30 seconds.

 

Tall Tales speeches must be from three to five minutes. A contestant will be disqualified if the speech is less than two minute 30 seconds or more than five minutes 30 seconds.

Eligibility

  • Contestants must be a paid member of ILTM
  • To be eligible to compete in the International Speech Contest (not for German Speech, Evaluation, Table Topics), a member must have completed six speech projects in the Competent Communication manual or earned certificates of completion in Levels 1 and 2 of any path in the Toastmasters Pathways learning experience
  • Ineligible: A member serving as a voting judge or tie breaking judge beyond the club level for a contest type in which the member is still competing or intends to compete
  • Chief Judge, Voting Judge & Tie breaking Judge at Club Level (ILTM Contest) you must be a paid member of Toastmasters
    A complete list of eligibility is listed in the rulebook.

Judges, Tie breaking Judge, Ballot Counters, Timers

Judges

The Judges are appointed and briefed by the Chief Judge. The judges will be asked you to sign Judge’s Certification of Eligibility & Ethics before the meeting starts.

After the speeches, the judges will fill out the International Speech Contest Judge’s Guide and Ballot and detach the ballot (lower part of the form), which will be collected by the ballot counters.  It’s recommended to bring some paper with yourself to take notes, and then add the points to the ballot.

For the judges, we would like to point out the following section on page 15 about Protests and Disqualifications:

“Protests are limited to eligibility and originality and must only be lodged by voting judges and contestants. Any protest must be lodged with the chief judge and/or contest chair prior to the announcement of the winner and alternate(s). The chief judge, contest chair, voting judges and contestants must not consider protests from audience members.“

Tie breaking Judge

The Tie breaking Judge is secret! Only the Chief Judge knows who is assigned for this role. The Tie breaking Judge will also not attend the briefing meeting with the contest judges.

The judges will be asked to you to sign Judge’s Certification of Eligibility & Ethics before the meeting starts.

The Tie breaking Judge takes seat next to the Chief Judge. The Tiebreaking Judge completes the International Speech Contest Tie breaking Judge’s Guide and Ballot, detaches the ballot and hands it over to the Chief Judge discreetly.

Ballot Counters

The Ballot Counters are appointed and briefed by the Chief Judge.

After the last contestant, the Ballot Counters are collecting the Voting Judge’s ballots in an envelope and leave the room to count the points of the contestant. They summarize the results in the Tally Sheet and hand them to the Chief Judge.

Contest Timers

The Contest Timers are appointed and briefed by the Chief Judge.

The Timers are sitting in their front, well visible to the contestants. The first Timer is completing measuring the time and completing the Speech Contest Time Record Sheet and the second Timer is displaying the colours to the contestants. Bring your own working and fully charged stop watch to the meeting.

Be aware to be discreet during the contest and simply indicate the correct colour. When the red colour displayed, keep the red colour and stay discreet until the end of the speech.

For International & German Speech Contests:

  • 0-5 minutes: Nothing displayed
  • 5-6 minutes: Green
  • 6-7 minutes: Yellow
  • 7 minutes – end: Red

For Evaluation Contest:

  • 0-2:00 minutes: Nothing displayed
  • 2:00-2:30 minutes: Green
  • 2:30-3:00 minutes: Yellow
  • 3:00 minutes – end: Red

For Table Topics Contest:

  • 0-1:00 minutes: Nothing displayed
  • 1:00-1:30 minutes: Green
  • 1:30-2:00 minutes: Yellow
  • 2:00 minutes – end: Red

The completed Time Record Sheet will be collected by the Chief Judge after the last contestant’s speech.

Supporting Material

Dates and other information are subject to change

References: 2022-2023 Speech Contest Rulebook