Glossary

The words you’ll hear in the tab room, in plain English.

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4n6: Shorthand for forensics: four-n-six.
9/10 division: A separate category for 9th and 10th graders: one public address event and one interpretation event, which change each season. In 2026-2027 they are Sales Speaking and Dramatic Interpretation.

Ballot: One judge’s ranks, percentages and written comments for one room.
Black book: The small, plain binder a Program Oral Interpretation performer holds their script in.
Blox: Wooden blocks, the only furniture allowed in Storytelling and Multiple Interpretation.
The break: The point where the field is cut and the best advance to semifinals or finals.

Code: A letter and number, like F3, that stands for a competitor on postings. The letter is the school; a duo shares one code.
Critique: A judge’s written comments to one competitor. At least 3 points each.
Critique packet: Every judge’s critique sheet for one student in one event at one meet, stapled in round order. Students read theirs once their coach releases it.
Critique sheet: One judge’s critique of one competitor, drawn as the paper sheet MIFA judges have always used.

Double-entry: One student entered in two events at the same meet. When both run at the same time, they speak early in one room and late in the other; their judges see a DE beside their code and let them leave once they have spoken.
Drop: Withdrawing an entry. After registration closes, the director has to approve it.
Dropped card: In Poetry Slam, the highest and lowest of the judges’ scores, which are left out of the total.
Duo: Duo Interpretation: two performers, one entry.
Duo Commentary: Two students work together on an assigned topic after a short prep time.

Entry: One performance in one event. A duo or a Multiple cast is one entry.
Extemp: Extemporaneous Speaking. A speech on a current-events question, prepared in 30 minutes.

Hired judge: A judge the meet provides. Schools short on judges pay a fee for one.

IA: See individual affiliate.
Impromptu: Speaking on a quote or prompt with no advance prep. Six minutes for prep and speech combined.
Individual affiliate: A student competing on their own because their school has no team this season. Their results count for their school.

Judge obligation: How many judges a school must bring. Each meet sets it, often 1 for every 5 entries.
Judges’ preference: A tiebreaker: which of the tied competitors more judges ranked higher.

Limited prep: Events where the topic comes at the meet: Extemp, Impromptu, Broadcasting and Duo Commentary.

MIFA Class: A, B, C or D, set by school enrollment. C and D compete together for team awards at States.
Multiple: Multiple Interpretation: a cast of 3 to 5 performing one piece.

Percentage: The score a judge gives each speaker, 75 to 100. First place always gets 100, and no two in a room match.
Postings: The room lists for a round, on the wall and on the meet’s page.
Pre-bids: Retired in 2025-26. Once, automatic State spots given before Regionals.
Prelims: Preliminary rounds. Everyone competes; usually three rounds.
Prep room: Where Extemp and other limited-prep speakers get their topic and prepare.
Public address: The speaking events, like Oratory and Informative, as opposed to interpretation.
The pyramid: The results sheet, which narrows as the field is cut round by round.

QR folder: A judge’s folder with a QR code and a short code. Scan it to open that room’s ballot, no account needed.
Quals: Qualifying for the State Finals. Since 2025-26 it means competing at qualifying invitationals; there are no Regionals. Your coach has the details for your event.

Rank: A judge’s placing of each speaker: 1, 2 or 3, and 4 for everyone else. Lower is better.
Reason for decision: In Public Forum, the judge’s explanation of which team won the round and why.
Reason for rank: One line from the judge explaining how they ranked the room.
Room: See section.

Schematic: The full plan of who competes and judges in which room, every round.
Section: One room of competitors in a round, usually about 6 entries.
Sectioning: Splitting an event’s entries into rooms for a round.
Semis: Semifinals. Usually the top 12 (5 in Multiple), with 2 judges per room.
Speaking order: The order speakers go in a room. Nobody goes last in more than one prelim.
State qualifier: A meet that counts toward qualifying for the State Finals.
Sweeps: Sweepstakes: a school’s team score, built from all its students’ results.
Sweepstakes Division: A group of schools a director sets up to compete for separate team awards. Not the same as MIFA Class.

Tab room: Where the meet is run: entries, postings, ballots and results.
Time signals: Cards or fingers a judge holds up to show the minutes left, usually ending with a 30-second signal and a “time” signal.
Trainee judge: A judge in training. Their comments go to students; their ranks don’t count.