SPEECH CONTESTS

Speech contests are a Toastmasters tradition. Each year thousands of Toastmasters compete in the Humorous, Evaluation, Table Topics, Tall Tales, and International speech contests.

Competition begins with club contests, and winners continue competing through the area, division, and district levels. The International competition has two additional levels — semifinal and the World Championship of Public Speaking^®.

Each year, more than 30,000 Toastmasters compete in one or more of the following contests:

International Contest – Conducted by District 13 Toastmasters

Contestants present a five-to-seven-minute speech on any subject they choose. All districts must conduct this contest.

Evaluation

Contestants observe a five-to-seven-minute test speech and then present a two-to-three-minute evaluation of the test speech.

Humorous

Contestants present a humorous speech that must be thematic in nature (opening, body, and close), not a monologue (series of one-liners).

Table Topics

Contestants give an impromptu speech, based on an identical topic question, told to them when they are introduced by the contest chair.

Tall Tales – Conducted by District 13 Toastmasters in Spring 2019

Contestants present a speech on a topic that is highly-exaggerated and improbable in theme or plot.

Video Speech

A contest for un-districted clubs and provisional districts that follows the International Speech Contest rules. This contest does not advance beyond the club.