Contest Resources
Links for copyrighted material point to description and ordering information at the Toastmasters International Online Store. These items, identified by their part number, are now available as a free download once members have logged into site.
Non-copyrighted material that is available here for download is identified by file type (Acrobat PDF or Word DOC). Note that the Speech Contest Rulebook PDF document is copyrighted.
Toastmasters International Site Resources
Speech Contest Rulebook (770k PDF)
Eligibility Assistant (Check membership status, club status, and if a member is serving as a district officer)
Speech Contests (Toastmasters International web page)
Tutorial Videos*
Speech Contest Tutorials (videos on Toastmasters International site)
Organize a Successful Speech Contest (District 4 Club Excellence Workshop recording)
Everyone’s a Winner: Running Effective Club Speech Contests (District 4 webinar recording)
How to Plan a Successful Speech Contest (District 4 webinar recording)\
How to Judge Speech Contests (District 4 webinar recording – updated 12/2024)
*District 4 videos recorded for Speech Evaluation and International Speech Contests. Table Topics Contest not covered.
District Contest Scripts
Humorous and International Speech Contest Script (available soon)
Joint Area Humorous and International Speech Contest Script (available soon)
Contest Kits
District 205 conducts either the Table Topics, Tall Tales, Speech Evaluation or Humorous Speech Contest with the International Speech Contest. See the Speech Contest page for which one will be conducted during the current term.
International Contest Kit
Evaluation Contest Kit
Table Topics Contest Kit
Tall Tales Contest Kit
Humorous Speech Contest Kit
Contest Tools and Forms
Note that most forms are available as part of the contest kits.
International Speech Contest Judge’s Guide and Ballot
International Speech Contest Tiebreaking Judge’s Guide and Ballot
Evaluation Contest Judge’s Guide and Ballot
Evaluation Contest Tiebreaking Judge’s Guide and Ballot
Tall Tales Contest Judge’s Guide and Ballot
Tall Tales Contest Tiebreaking Judge’s Guide and Ballot
Humorous Speech Contest Judge’s Guide and Ballot
Humorous Speech Contest Tiebreaking Judge’s Guide and Ballot
Table Topics Contest Judge’s Guide and Ballot
Table Topics Contest Tiebreaking Judge’s Guide and Ballot
Judge’s Certification of Eligibility and Code of Ethics
Speech Contest Time Record Sheet and Instructions for Timers
Counters’ Tally Sheets
Speaker’s Certification of Eligibility and Originality
Speech Contestant Profile
Notification of Contest Winner
Frequently Asked Questions
Do clubs need to hold a contest to send a contestant to the Area Contest?
No! If your club does not have enough interest to hold a club contest, ask for a volunteer to represent your club at the Area contest.
Who do I contact with the club winners for the Area Contest
Email your Area Director with the completed Notification of Contest Winner.
What can cause a contestant to be disqualified?
Contestants will be disqualified if:
- They do not maintain eligibility at all levels of any contest.
- Their speech is not substantially original:
- No more than 25% or less of the speech may be devoted to quoting, paraphrasing, or referencing another person’s content.
- Any quoted, paraphrased, or referenced content must be so identified during the speech presentation.
- They reference another contestant or contestant’s speech within their own speech.
- The contestant arrives after the contest Toastmaster is introduced.
- If they do not meet the timing requirements. Time disqualifications per contest are as follows:
- Evaluation < 1:30 or >3:30
- Table Topics < 1:00 or > 2:30
- Humorous: < 4:30 or > than 7:30
- International: < 4:30 or > than 7:30
How are the contestants judged in each contest?
Review the Judges Guide and Ballot for each contest for the criteria used to judge each contest, found at http://d205tm.org/contest-materials
How do I plan a speech contest?
- Watch the webinar recording: How to Plan a Successful Speech Contest.
- Download the Contest Kits from links above.
I have more questions!
- Review the Speech Contests FAQ from Toastmasters International.
- Contact quality@d205tm.org with additional questions.