This article is from the Toastmasters International FAQ, by Joel Furr DTM jfurr@danger.com with numerous contributions by others.
Each contest has a set of rules which mandate originality and
lay down the procedures. If you go over your time limit by
thirty seconds, you're eliminated. If you go UNDER your time
limit by thirty seconds, you're eliminated -- except in Table
Topics, where you must speak at least one minute, no less.
Out in the audience, there'll be a set of judges, scattered
among the audience, each with a points form that they use to
rate you against what a winning effort should be and how you
stack up against the others. There's a different form for
each contest, since each contest involves different skills.
 
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