Eligibility
The Grades Eight through Twelve competitions are open to all schools who wish to participate. However, in order for our competition to function, it is necessary to limit the number of teams any one school can enter in a year level.
Schools can enter up to four Grade Eight teams, three Grade Nine teams and Ten and two in both Grades Eleven and Twelve. (Any teams wishing to be entered above these limits is subject to approval by the QDU Executive in all cases.)
The Senior A competition is designed for elite senior debaters and as such has strict entry criteria. A maximum of sixteen teams are accepted and entry is by nomination only. Schools may only nominate one team which should be of a very high standard. Preference will be given to teams that have performed well in previous years and whose members have previously or are currently trialling for the Queensland State Debating team.
Please note that particularly in Toowoomba and on the Sunshine Coast the QDU requires schools entering teams to also provide QDU accredited adjudicators.
Teams must have a minimum of four members and a maximum of five members in all grades.
The age and education restrictions for each grade are as follows;
Grade 8 Under 15 years Year 8 or below
Grade 9 Under 16 years Year 9 or below
Grade 10 Under 17 years Year 10 or below
Grade 11 Under 20 years Year 11 or below
Grade 12 Under 20 years Year 12 or below
Senior A Under 20 years Year 12 or below
Speaker Times
Debating formats and speaking times for the six grades in our competition are as follows;
Grade 8
Speeches in Grade 8 are of 5 minutes duration. A warning bell is rung at 3 minutes. A double bell is rung at 5 minutes. A triple bell is rung at 5 minutes and 30 seconds.
Grade 9
Speeches in Grade 9 are of 6 minutes duration. A warning bell is rung at 4 minutes. A double bell is rung at 6 minutes. A triple bell is rung at 6 minutes and 30 seconds.
Grade 10
Speeches in Grade 10 are of 7 minutes duration. A warning bell is rung at 5 minutes. A double bell is rung at 7 minutes. A triple bell is rung at 7 minutes and 30 seconds.
Grades 11 and 12
Speeches in these grades are of 8 minutes duration. A warning bell is rung at 1 minutes and 7 minutes. A double bell is rung at 8 minutes. A triple bell is rung at 8 minutes and 30 seconds.
Points of Information will be used in Year 11 & 12 QDU sanctioned debates and will be scored in these year levels.
Please note also that instruction regarding points of information is available in the QDU Handbook.
The Grades Eight through Twelve competitions are open to all schools who wish to participate. However, in order for our competition to function, it is necessary to limit the number of teams any one school can enter in a year level.
Schools can enter up to four Grade Eight teams, three Grade Nine teams and Ten and two in both Grades Eleven and Twelve. (Any teams wishing to be entered above these limits is subject to approval by the QDU Executive in all cases.)
The Senior A competition is designed for elite senior debaters and as such has strict entry criteria. A maximum of sixteen teams are accepted and entry is by nomination only. Schools may only nominate one team which should be of a very high standard. Preference will be given to teams that have performed well in previous years and whose members have previously or are currently trialling for the Queensland State Debating team.
Please note that particularly in Toowoomba and on the Sunshine Coast the QDU requires schools entering teams to also provide QDU accredited adjudicators.
Teams must have a minimum of four members and a maximum of five members in all grades.
The age and education restrictions for each grade are as follows;
Grade 8 Under 15 years Year 8 or below
Grade 9 Under 16 years Year 9 or below
Grade 10 Under 17 years Year 10 or below
Grade 11 Under 20 years Year 11 or below
Grade 12 Under 20 years Year 12 or below
Senior A Under 20 years Year 12 or below
Speaker Times
Debating formats and speaking times for the six grades in our competition are as follows;
Grade 8
Speeches in Grade 8 are of 5 minutes duration. A warning bell is rung at 3 minutes. A double bell is rung at 5 minutes. A triple bell is rung at 5 minutes and 30 seconds.
Grade 9
Speeches in Grade 9 are of 6 minutes duration. A warning bell is rung at 4 minutes. A double bell is rung at 6 minutes. A triple bell is rung at 6 minutes and 30 seconds.
Grade 10
Speeches in Grade 10 are of 7 minutes duration. A warning bell is rung at 5 minutes. A double bell is rung at 7 minutes. A triple bell is rung at 7 minutes and 30 seconds.
Grades 11 and 12
Speeches in these grades are of 8 minutes duration. A warning bell is rung at 1 minutes and 7 minutes. A double bell is rung at 8 minutes. A triple bell is rung at 8 minutes and 30 seconds.
Points of Information will be used in Year 11 & 12 QDU sanctioned debates and will be scored in these year levels.
Please note also that instruction regarding points of information is available in the QDU Handbook.