HOW ARE DEBATES JUDGED?
The criteria judges score, how winners are decided, and the rubric behind every SuperDebate round
A common myth is that debates are won by whoever the judge already agreed with. In real competitive debate, judges score each debater against defined criteria — so you can win a side the judge personally disagrees with, simply by arguing it better.
At SuperDebate, every debate is scored live on six weighted criteria, and each judge leaves written feedback so you know exactly why you earned each mark.
The six judging criteria
Argument quality
Strength of your claims, the evidence behind them, and the logical reasoning that connects the two.
Refutation
How directly and effectively you engage the other side's strongest points, rather than talking past them.
Delivery
Speaking clarity, confidence, eye contact, and pace — how watchable and convincing you are to listen to.
Organization
Signposted, structured speeches. A good judge should always know exactly where you are in your case.
Persuasiveness
Story, conviction, and impact. Beyond being correct, did you make the judge care about your side?
Evidence & research
Real sources, integrated naturally and used to support claims — not dropped in for show.
How the score decides the winner
Each judge scores both debaters across all six criteria, weighted equally. The scores are aggregated, the debater with the higher total wins the round, and the result feeds an Elo-style rating and city and national leaderboards.
Because the rubric is shared and every mark comes with written notes, judging stays consistent and you always leave knowing precisely what to sharpen next.
Common Questions About Judging
See the Rubric in Action
Get scored on all six criteria with written feedback from real judges.