Each team that submits an essay must include a cover page. This page is not shared with the judges to ensure team anonymity. However, the information contained on it is used by contest organizers to ensure they have accurate contact information for each team. For guidelines on how to  format the cover page, click the link below. 

At the link below, you'll find a sample qualifying round essay submitted during the 2019-20 competition, when the topic was: “Resolved: When in conflict, a nation's self-interest should outweigh its international commitments to migrants.”

At the link below, you'll find an example of a Round of 64 debate exchanged during the 2024-25 competition, when the topic was: "Resolved: Equitable access to pharmaceuticals should be prioritized over protecting intellectual property rights." Of note, the affirmative and negative teams have been assigned numbers to ensure blind judging. 

Interested in learning more about how the IPPF judges evaluate qualifying round essays? At the link below is the evaluation grid provided to all judges, which outlines how they score a team. 

​

​

Find answers to common questions about team eligibility, submissions, and what to expect throughout the IPPF season.

Everything coaches need to know about guiding a team through the IPPF — from registration to Finals Weekend.