Each debate comprises eight speeches delivered by two teams of three members, representing the Proposition and Opposition sides.
This involves: First speaker of the Opposition Their duty is to respond to the definition and arguments given by the Proposition while typically presenting a counter-case.
This is a short, four-minute speech given by either the first or second speaker from the team, and presented in the opposite speaking order to the rest of the debate (i.e. the Opposition deliver the first reply speech, followed by the Proposition).
The functions of the reply speech are to: The reply speech is sometimes referred to as being a "biased adjudication" of the debate, because its format is similar to that of an adjudicator's oral feedback on the debate, but with the purpose of convincing the audience that the speaker's team was victorious.
If both sides receive an equal number of votes, the chair judge's ballot breaks the tie to decide the winning team.
In the early years of the World Schools Debating Championships, there was a two-minute break between the main speeches and the reply speeches to allow the team members to confer, though this is no longer the case.
However, some national or regional World Schools Style tournaments still have this two-minute break, and in some cases members of the team's squad for the competition who do not speak in the debate are allowed to come out of the audience to confer with the speakers during these two minutes.