Debate Competitions for High School Students
5 minute read
Public speaking can feel incredibly nerve-racking — no matter your age. High school students participating in Debate Club is the perfect way to start developing confidence in yourself and what you have to say. In addition to building confidence, participating in a high school debate is a great way to develop critical thinking and research skills. Overall, there are lots of benefits to participating in high school Debate Club, regardless of your specific college and career goals.
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Why Join Debate in High School?
Joining the Debate Club as a high schooler is a great way to gain confidence and make new friends! It’s also a great way to cultivate valuable skills. Students who participate in Debate Club learn how to analyze complex topics from multiple perspectives, participate in respectful civil discourse, and incorporate credible evidence within the scope of their arguments. In addition to continuously strengthening their organizational and research capabilities, students learn how to collaborate meaningfully with their peers, developing valuable interpersonal communication skills within the process.
Should I Join a Debate in High School?
High school Debate Club isn’t just for future lawyers and politicians. Lots of high schoolers can benefit from joining the Debate Club. After all, the Debate Club teaches valuable skills, such as public speaking, critical thinking, and teamwork. These skills are incredibly valuable — no matter your profession or college major.
In addition to helping you prepare for your future career, participating in Debate Club will help make you a competitive college applicant. It’s no secret that college admission is an incredibly selective process. Especially if you’re interested in attending an Ivy League college or another top university. One of the ways you can increase your odds of admission is to participate in meaningful extracurricular activities, such as Debate Club, during all four years of high school.
Top 13 High School Debate Competitions
Joining high school debate teams is a great way to gain new skills. Participating in a high school debate competition, however, will give you the opportunity to challenge yourself even further. Not only are debate competitions highly respected by college admissions officers, but they can also lead to valuable networking and scholarship opportunities.
Some of the best high school debate competitions include the Harvard National High School Invitational Forensics Tournament and the World Schools Debating Championships. That being said, there are lots of other debate competitions to consider. In this article, we will explore the 13 best high school debate competitions.
1. Harvard National High School Invitational Forensics Tournament
The Harvard National High School Invitational Forensics Tournament, often referred to as the "Harvard Tournament," was founded in the 1950s and is one of the oldest and most popular high school debate competitions in the United States. Each year, this competition draws thousands of high school debaters from all 50 states and several other countries. The Harvard Tournament offers a wide range of events in the following categories: Debate, Speech, and Congress.
Eligibility: 9th-12th graders
Registration Deadline: February 9th
Cost: $100 entry fee
When and Where: Mid-February at Harvard University in Cambridge, MA
2. World Schools Debating Championships
With participants from over 50 countries, the World Schools Debating Championships fosters an environment where students engage with peers from various backgrounds, exchanging ideas and learning from one another in a multicultural context. Debate topics range from ethical dilemmas to pressing global issues, such as climate change, human rights, and international relations.
Eligibility: 9th-12th graders
Registration Deadline: Mid-January
Cost: $235 registration fee and $330 competition fee
When and Where: Mid-July, country varies
3. National Speech and Debate Tournament
Qualifying for the National Speech and Debate Tournament is a rigorous and highly-competitive process. Only a small percentage of students who participate in the qualifying rounds are selected, making it an elite and highly-respected achievement.
Eligibility: 9th-12th graders
Registration Deadline: Early June
Cost: $110 per student
When and Where: Mid-June, location varies
4. Yale Invitational
The Yale Invitational is a national debate tournament that draws top high school debaters from across the country. The tournament offers a wide variety of debate formats, including Public Forum (PF), Lincoln-Douglas (LD), Policy Debate (CX), and Congressional Debate. These debate formats cater to different learning and presentation styles, allowing students to engage in current events, philosophical discussions, or evidence-heavy research debates.
Eligibility: 9th-12th graders
Registration Deadline: September 20th
Cost: $163 registration fee
When and Where: Early Fall at Yale University in New Haven, CT
5. Tournament of Champions
Participation in the Tournament of Champions is regulated by a bid system, where high school debaters earn bids at designated tournaments throughout the year. These tournaments offer either automatic qualifying bids to finalists or partial bids, which require debaters to accumulate multiple to qualify. This system ensures that only the best performers from across the country compete at the Tournament of Champions, making it an elite event.
Eligibility: 9th-12th graders
Registration Deadline: Late March
Cost: $75 registration fee, additional fees for each entry
When and Where: University of Kentucky in Lexington, KY
6. American Debate League
The American Debate League was established in 2014 and hosts several tournaments throughout the academic year, including city-wide, district-wide, and national events. Their competitions cover different formats, such as Public Forum Debate, where two-person teams debate current events, and Lincoln-Douglas Debate, a one-on-one format focusing on ethical or philosophical topics. Students also participate in competitive speech events such as Original Oratory and Dramatic Interpretation.
Eligibility: 9th-12th graders
Registration Deadline: Late May
Cost: Free to participate
When and Where: Mid-June, Virtual
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7. Cosmos Championship
With participants from over 126 countries, the Cosmos Championship emphasizes accessibility and diversity. Its strong focus on inclusivity brings together diverse perspectives and encourages participants to rethink global issues. The platform also provides opportunities for students to win awards, fellowships, and even internships through their participation.
Eligibility: 9th-12th graders
Registration Deadline: Year-round
Cost: Free to participate
When and Where: Year-round, virtual
8. NYU Clash of Scholars Tournament
The NYU Clash of Scholars Tournament is a virtual debate competition hosted by New York University. that typically occurs in mid-August. The tournament uses British Parliamentary and public forum debate formats, with each event featuring multiple preliminary and elimination rounds. Schools from various regions are encouraged to participate, with up to 20 entries allowed per institution. The event is conducted entirely online via Zoom, allowing for broad accessibility and engagement across different locations.
Eligibility: 9th-12th graders
Registration Deadline: August 10th
Cost: $100 per team
When and Where: Mid-August, Virtual
9. World Individual Debating & Public Speaking Championships
The World Individual Debating and Public Speaking Championships is an international competition that emphasizes engagement with global issues. Participants compete in various formats, including debate, persuasive speaking, impromptu speaking, interpretive reading, and after-dinner speaking (a light-hearted, often humorous speech delivered in a formal setting).
Eligibility: Typically 11th and 12th graders
Registration Deadline: Varies per region
Cost: Varies per region
When and Where: Mid-April, country varies
10. Model United Nations
Model United Nations competitions are simulations of the United Nations (UN), where participants take on roles as diplomats representing countries in various UN committees. These competitions aim to foster an understanding of international relations, diplomacy, and global issues while developing skills in debate, research, and negotiation.
There are several notable Model UN competitions, including:
11. Mock Trial Invitational
Mock Trial Invitational is an extracurricular activity where teams of students simulate real trials, taking on the roles of attorneys, witnesses, and judges. Invitationals vary in size and format, with some being more casual practice rounds, while others are highly competitive.
Notable Mock Trial Invitational competitions for high school students include:
12. Harvard Model Congress
Harvard Model Congress is a government simulation conference organized by Harvard University students. It is primarily designed for high school students to experience how various government bodies function. Participants take on the roles of U.S. and international political figures, legislators, or members of special interest groups and debate current issues, draft legislation, and engage in decision-making processes.
Eligibility: 9th-12th graders
Registration Deadline: Mid-November
Cost: $99 early registration fee for schools ($149 fee for regular registration) and $140 fee per student
When and Where: Mid-February at Harvard University in Cambridge, MA
13. National High School Ethics Bowl
The National High School Ethics Bowl is an annual competition that encourages high school students to engage in ethical reasoning and discussion. This competition focuses on collaborative discussion rather than adversarial debate. The goal of this format is to promote thoughtful and respectful discourse on complex ethical issues. During this competition, teams of 3–7 students analyze and discuss wide-ranging ethical dilemmas. Debate topics include various social justice movements, environmental ethics, medical ethics, and more.
Eligibility: 9th-12 graders, teams of 3-7 students (schools may send multiple teams)
Registration Deadline: Mid-October
Cost: Varies per region but is typically $75–$150 per team
When and Where: National Championship takes place in April at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
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How to Succeed in High School Debates
The key to succeeding in high school debates is to prepare thoroughly. While you research your topic, be sure to gather enough evidence to support your argument. You’ll also want to use this time to anticipate potential counterarguments and plan your responses accordingly. Do your best to organize your arguments in a logical and persuasive manner. Remember, you are trying to convince others to prioritize your perspective over your opponent’s.
Do’s and Don’ts of Debate
Speak slowly and annunciate
Project your voice
Avoid filler words, such as “like” and “um”
Make proper eye contact
Practice good posture
Be aware of your body language
Be respectful
Avoid personal attacks
Respect time limits and other procedures
Research your topic thoroughly
In addition to the points listed above, you’ll want to practice active listening. This will help ensure that you respond to what your opponent is actually saying, rather than just provide generic rebuttals. You’ll also want to avoid bringing up brand new arguments in the final rebuttal, as it’s only fair to give your opponent a chance to respond.
Leveraging Polygence to Excel in Debate
Polygence’s Research Mentorship Program emphasizes research skills and effective communication, both of which translate directly to better public speaking skills. Through individualized research projects, mentors guide middle school and high school students through structuring arguments, analyzing counterpoints, and delivering persuasive presentations. Overall, engaging in independent research builds confidence and ensures that students are well-prepared to handle complex debates in formal and informal settings.
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Enhance Your Debate Skills with Polygence
College admissions officers want to admit passionate students capable of succeeding both inside and outside of the classroom. This is why focusing on your extracurricular activities is so important. Completing a Polygence passion project and participating in Debate Club are top-tier extracurricular activities, both of which are sure to impress college admissions officers.
After all, learning how to respectfully debate others, especially others with different worldviews and perspectives, requires passion, confidence, and maturity. If you’re looking for ways to stand out from your peers on your college applications by developing your research and public speaking abilities, check out our Frequently Asked Questions and Answers.