Since it was changed from half-points to tenth-points (a process that began in the 2010-2011 season before becoming standardized in 2011-2012), the speaker point scale in high school policy debate has dramatically evolved. It is helpful to systematically review point distributions to ensure that students, coaches, and especially judges are aware of the actually-existing scale. To figure out what speaker points mean in today’s scale, I analyzed points from several major national tournaments held during the 2015-2016 school year: Greenhill, St. Mark’s, Michigan, Glenbrooks, Blake, MBA, and Emory. I confirmed that the results of this survey accurately reflected the speaker point scale at the recently-concluded NDCA National Championships. Below the fold, I will provide a summary of the results as well as a descriptive speaker point scale that judges might consider using to align their points with the evolving norms.

Points Needed To Clear

To clear at a major national tournament, debaters needed to average 28.6765 speaker points per round. The lowest point average for a clearing team at a 2015-2016 major tournament was 28.6 (at Greenhill). Five years ago, debaters needed to average between 28.0 and 28.3 speaker points per round to clear.

Top Speaker Award

To earn the top speaker award at a major national tournament, a debater needed to average 29.2771 speaker points per round. The lowest point average for a top speaker at a 2015-2016 major tournament was 29.075 (at St. Mark’s). Five years ago, a debater needed to average between 29.0 and 29.125 speaker points per round to win the top speaker award.

Top Ten Speakers

To earn a top ten speaker award at a major national tournament, a debater needed to average 29.0521 speaker points per round. The lowest point average for a top ten speaker at a 2015-2016 major tournament was 28.975 (at MBA). Five years ago, a debater needed to average between 28.625 and 28.82 speaker points per round to win a top ten speaker award.

Top Twenty Speakers

To earn a top twenty speaker award at a major national tournament, a debater needed to average 28.9307 speaker points per round. The lowest point average for a top twenty speaker at a 2015-2016 major tournament was 28.825 (at St. Mark’s). Five years ago, a debater needed to average between 28.25 and 28.6 speaker points per round to win a top twenty speaker award.

A Descriptive Speaker Point Scale

Most judges assign speaker points based on “feel” or instinct while others use their own scale or rubric. While it is impossible to fully standardize the points scale because point assignment is inherently subjective, the following scale most accurately reflects the actual results from the 2015-2016 season:

29.3+ — the top speaker at the tournament.
29.1-29.2 — one of the five or ten best speakers at the tournament.
28.8-29.0 — one of the twenty best speakers at the tournament.
28.6-28.7 — a 75th percentile speaker at the tournament; with a winning record, would barely clear on points.
28.4-28.5 — a 50th percentile speaker at the tournament; with a winning record, would not clear on points.
28.0-28.3 — a 25th percentile speaker at the tournament.
27.7-27.9 — a 10th percentile speaker at the tournament.

There is not much room for differentiation in the middle of the scale. A debater that averages 28.0 speaker points per round typically finishes in the bottom quartile of the field while a debater that averages 28.5 speaker points per round typically finishes right in the middle of the field. Add another two-tenths of a point — averaging 28.7 points per round — and a student is in the 75th percentile of the field and likely to clear. Any points below 28.0 are reserved for the bottom ten percent of the field.

While points assigned to top speakers have increased modestly over the past five years, the points required to clear have increased dramatically. Five years ago, a team that averaged 28.1 to 28.3 speaker points per round was likely to clear to elimination rounds if they achieved a winning record. Today, teams must average 28.7 points to clear — an increase of approximately .5 points compared with the 2010-2011 season. This is also reflected by the points needed to earn a top twenty speaker award. Five years ago, a 28.6 average would typically earn a speaker award. This season, students needed to average between 28.9 and 29.0 to crack the top twenty speakers.