Rehearsing in the Final Minutes
The last few minutes of prep should be spent rehearsing aloud, not reading silently, because Extemp is fundamentally an oral event. You will be able to use the final prep minutes to lock in structure and smooth transitions before walking to the speech room.
Why Silent Review Isn't Enough
Reading an outline silently confirms it makes sense on paper, but only speaking it aloud reveals whether transitions are clunky, whether a stat is hard to pronounce, or whether the timing feels right. Competitors who skip aloud rehearsal often discover these problems for the first time in front of the judge, which is far too late.
What to Rehearse in the Final Five Minutes
With limited time, prioritize rehearsing the introduction word-for-word since it sets the tone and is the most memorized part of the speech, then run through each point's transition sentence and impact statement rather than the full point content, saving full-point rehearsal for when time allows. Skipping straight to the conclusion once for practice ensures the callback lands cleanly rather than being invented on the spot in the room.
A competitor has five minutes left before needing to leave for her speech room.
She spends ninety seconds saying her AGD, link, thesis, and preview aloud twice; thirty seconds each on her three point transitions and impact lines; and a final minute on her conclusion callback, leaving thirty seconds to gather her outline card and walk calmly to the room rather than sprinting in at the last second.
1. Why is aloud rehearsal more valuable than silent review during the final minutes of prep?
Answer all 1 to check.
The final minutes of prep should be spent speaking the speech aloud, prioritizing the introduction, point transitions, and a conclusion run-through.