Students are teamed up with debaters from another country to propose or oppose a motion. Unlike most formats of debate, speakers are scored individually rather than asa team. Emphasis on judging will be on clash, spontaneity, logic, wit, content and teamwork.

Each speaker will draw three topics, which may be a word, a quotation or a phrase. The speaker will have two minutes to prepare, during which time they may make notes, but these notes may not be used during the speech.  Speeches must not be based on prepared material.

Each participant will read a passage of prose or poetry of literary merit, serious or humorous. This is interpretive reading rather than dramatic interpretation, and so dramatic techniques, gestures and acting should be kept to a minimum.

This speech is designed to persuade and must be on a serious topic of interest to a contemporary audience. However, of course, humour may well be used to advantage in the speech.