World Schools WSDC
High school international format. Three speakers per team, prepared and impromptu motions, POIs throughout.
World Schools Debating Championship format is the high-school international standard. Three debaters per team across two teams, with prepared motions released in advance and impromptu motions assigned with one hour of prep on the day.
Each speaker delivers an 8-minute speech, with a fourth reply speech of 4 minutes from speakers 1 or 2. POIs (Points of Information) can be offered between minute 1 and minute 7. The format rewards generalists who can carry an argument across speeches and engage POIs without losing structure.
Judging is structured around four pillars: style, content, strategy, and POIs. Unlike BP, judges typically award the round on a coherent team narrative rather than ranking speakers individually.
Speech structure
| Speech | Time | Side |
|---|---|---|
| 1st Prop First Proposition | 8 min | Prop |
| 1st Opp First Opposition | 8 min | Opp |
| 2nd Prop Second Proposition | 8 min | Prop |
| 2nd Opp Second Opposition | 8 min | Opp |
| 3rd Prop Third Proposition | 8 min | Prop |
| 3rd Opp Third Opposition | 8 min | Opp |
| Reply Opp Opposition Reply | 4 min | Opp |
| Reply Prop Proposition Reply | 4 min | Prop |
How judges score it
- Four pillars: style (40%), content (40%), strategy (20%), POIs (cross-cutting).
- Team narrative trumps individual speech wins.
- POI offers and acceptances are tracked and judged.
- Reply speeches are weighing only — no new material.
- Manner matters more than in BP or APDA.
What wins this format
- Speaker 1 sets the framework, Speaker 2 carries the case, Speaker 3 weighs.
- POIs offered every 15 seconds, accepted 2-3 times per speech.
- Reply speeches that explicitly weigh on judge-stated criteria.
- A team line every speaker references — coherence wins close rounds.
What loses this format
- Speed reading. WSDC is a measured-pace format.
- New arguments in reply (heavily penalized).
- Ignoring POIs across a whole speech.
- Speaker 3 introducing entirely new contentions.
Sample motions
- This House would ban single-use plastics globally.
- This House would require ranked-choice voting in all U.S. federal elections.
- This House would lower the legal voting age in U.S. national elections to 16.
- This House would require all news organizations to disclose anonymous-source agreements.
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