95 extempore topics, a model speech and a timer to practise

Extempore is a short speech on a topic you get only a minute or two before speaking, usually 1 to 3 minutes long. The trick is not knowing the topic, it is having a structure ready. Below are 95 extempore topics in six groups (school, social issues, college, MBA and placement, abstract one-word topics, and fun ones), a 60-second planning method, a model 2-minute extempore, useful phrases, and a free timer that gives you a topic, a minute to plan and two minutes to speak, and records you.

By The YoFluent teamUpdated 10 min read

The YoFluent cat thinking next to the title: Extempore topics
On this page
  1. Practise now: a free extempore timer
  2. 95 extempore topics
  3. Extempore vs elocution vs JAM vs pick and speak
  4. How to plan an extempore in 60 seconds
  5. A model 2-minute extempore: “Social media: boon or bane”
  6. How to handle abstract topics
  7. Phrases that buy you time and keep you organised
  8. Common mistakes
  9. FAQ
  10. Sources

Practise now: a free extempore timer

You get a random topic, 60 seconds to plan, then 2 minutes to speak. Allow the microphone and it records you so you can listen back. Press “New topic” for another one.

Your extempore topic

My favourite teacher

Runs in your browser. Your recording stays on your device and is never uploaded.

95 extempore topics

Easy topics for school students

  1. My favourite teacher
  2. If I were the principal for a day
  3. The best gift I ever received
  4. A day without my phone
  5. My favourite festival
  6. Why I love reading
  7. My dream holiday
  8. The importance of trees
  9. If I could fly
  10. My role model
  11. A rainy day
  12. Why we should help others
  13. The best day of my school life
  14. My favourite game
  15. If animals could talk

Social and current issues

  1. Social media: boon or bane
  2. Online education vs classroom learning
  3. Women empowerment
  4. Cyberbullying
  5. Mental health among students
  6. Plastic pollution
  7. Climate change and youth
  8. Digital India
  9. Road safety
  10. Child labour
  11. Water scarcity
  12. Fake news
  13. Electric vehicles in India
  14. The importance of voting
  15. Population and resources

For college students

  1. Is a degree still necessary?
  2. Startups vs government jobs
  3. Artificial intelligence in education
  4. Work-life balance
  5. Brain drain
  6. The gig economy
  7. Should college attendance be compulsory?
  8. Influencer culture
  9. Reservation and merit
  10. Is cricket overshadowing other sports?
  11. The future of cash
  12. Hostel life teaches more than classrooms
  13. Internships vs part-time jobs
  14. The impact of OTT platforms
  15. Learning from failure

MBA, placement and GD-PI style topics

  1. Make in India
  2. Globalisation: good or bad for India
  3. Leadership is born, not made
  4. Ethics in business
  5. Remote work is here to stay
  6. Cryptocurrency
  7. Customer is king
  8. Automation and jobs
  9. The role of MSMEs in the economy
  10. Corporate social responsibility
  11. Are women better managers?
  12. Time management
  13. Privatisation of public sector banks
  14. The startup ecosystem in India
  15. Sustainability in business

Abstract and one-word topics

  1. Silence
  2. Red
  3. Mirror
  4. Zero
  5. Bridges
  6. Shadows
  7. Change
  8. Doors
  9. Time
  10. Ink
  11. Roots
  12. Waves
  13. Balance
  14. Keys
  15. Clouds
  16. The colour blue
  17. Footprints
  18. Masks
  19. Windows
  20. Ladders

Fun and creative topics

  1. If I were invisible for a day
  2. A world without mobile phones
  3. My life as a cat
  4. If homework were banned
  5. The day the internet stopped
  6. If I met my future self
  7. A letter from the Moon
  8. If I could change one rule at school
  9. Life in 2100
  10. If money grew on trees
  11. The most useless superpower
  12. A day as a cricket ball
  13. If I were a teacher
  14. An alien visits my city
  15. The best excuse ever

Extempore vs elocution vs JAM vs pick and speak

FormatPreparationSpeaking timeWhat it tests
Extempore1–2 minutes (sometimes a few more)1–3 minutesThinking fast, structure
ElocutionDays: topic given in advance2–5 minutesDelivery, voice, expression
JAM (just a minute)A few seconds1 minute, no hesitation or repetitionFluency under pressure
Pick and speakPick a chit, a few seconds to a minute1–2 minutesSame as extempore, for school students

For no-preparation practice, see 100 JAM topics. For prepared elocution, pick from speech topics for students. Rules vary by school and competition, so check yours.

How to plan an extempore in 60 seconds

SecondsDo this
0–10Decide your angle: for, against, or “both sides, then my view”.
10–35Write 3 keywords: one per point. Add one example to each (a fact, a story, a news item).
35–50Choose your opening: a question, a quote you’re sure of, or a short story.
50–60Choose your last sentence. Knowing how you’ll finish stops you rambling.

A model 2-minute extempore: “Social media: boon or bane”

Good morning, everyone. Before coming on stage, how many of you checked your phone? I think most of us did. That tells us how big a part of our lives social media has become. So, is it a boon or a bane? I believe it is both, and the difference is how we use it.

First, social media is a boon for learning and connection. A student in a small town can watch a lecture from a top university, and families living in different countries can see each other every day.

Second, it gives ordinary people a voice. Small businesses sell their products online, and many important issues reach the news only because people shared them.

However, it can also be a bane. Endless scrolling steals our time and our sleep, and false news spreads faster than the truth. Many young people also compare their real lives with other people’s perfect photos, and feel worse.

So what should we do? Not run away from social media, but use it with control: set screen-time limits, follow accounts that teach us something, and check before we share.

To conclude, social media is like fire. It can cook our food or burn our house. The choice is in our hands. Thank you.

About 250 words. Notice the hook (a question to the audience), the clear stand in the first 20 seconds, signposts (first, second, however), a solution, and a memorable last line.

How to handle abstract topics

One-word topics look scary but give you the most freedom. Turn the word into a metaphor, then talk about life:

TopicAngle you could take
MirrorA mirror shows the truth; friends who tell us the truth are mirrors.
SilenceSilence can be peace, respect, or a way to avoid problems.
BridgesReal bridges connect places; good communication connects people.
ZeroIndia gave the world zero; every big achievement starts from zero.
RootsTrees stand because of roots; our values and family are our roots.

Phrases that buy you time and keep you organised

To…Say
Open“Let me begin with a question…” / “When I first heard this topic, I thought of…”
Take a stand“In my view…” / “I believe that…, and here’s why.”
Move on“Another important point is…” / “On the other hand…”
Give an example“Take, for example,…” / “I saw this myself when…”
Think without silence“Let’s look at it from another angle.” / “What does this mean for us?”
Conclude“To conclude…” / “So the question is not…, but…” / “Thank you.”

Common mistakes

  • Starting with a dictionary definition. “Social media is defined as…” loses the audience. Start with a hook.
  • No stand. Saying “it has advantages and disadvantages” and stopping there. Give your view.
  • Too many points. Three points with examples beat seven without.
  • Fake facts. Judges notice invented numbers. Use a personal example instead.
  • No ending. Running out of time mid-sentence. Plan your last line first.
  • For confidence and fluency, see how to speak English fluently.

Frequently asked questions

What is extempore?

Extempore is a speech given with very little preparation: you receive a topic, usually get one or two minutes to think, and then speak for about one to three minutes. It tests quick thinking, structure, fluency and confidence.

What are some easy extempore topics?

Easy extempore topics include My favourite teacher, If I were the principal for a day, A day without my phone, The importance of trees, Social media: boon or bane, and Online education vs classroom learning.

How do you start an extempore speech?

Start with a hook: a question to the audience, a short story, or a quote you are sure of. Then state your stand clearly within the first 20 seconds, for example: “I believe it is both, and the difference is how we use it.”

What is the difference between extempore and elocution?

In extempore you get the topic only a minute or two before speaking. In elocution the topic is given in advance, so you prepare and rehearse, and judges focus more on delivery, voice and expression.

How long is an extempore speech?

Most extempore speeches are 1 to 3 minutes, with 1 to 2 minutes of preparation. At 120 to 150 words per minute, 2 minutes is about 250 to 300 words.

How is extempore judged?

Judges usually look at content and relevance to the topic, structure, fluency, confidence and body language, language accuracy and time management. Check the rules of your competition, as criteria vary.

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Sources

  1. Extemporaneous speaking, Wikipedia
  2. Impromptu speaking, Wikipedia
  3. Extempore topics for students, Physics Wallah