Prasangam — the extempore speech item on a kalolsavam or school arts fest stage — is judged on a different sheet than a prepared elocution. A candidate draws a topic on the spot and has to build an argument standing up, so the criteria reward composure and language under pressure rather than a rehearsed script. This guide lays out the exact six-criterion, 100-mark scheme used for Prasangam, a printable judgement sheet, and how it differs from the generic extempore/elocution rubric and from Padyam Chollal (recitation), the item it’s most often confused with.
What is the Prasangam competition item?
Prasangam is an On Stage, Individual item open to Both genders, run across all four age categories (Category I through Category IV). Each entry is capped at 5 minutes with a 4-minute warning bell, and scored out of 100 marks by the judging panel. In the youngest age categories it’s set in Malayalam; at other categories a Padyam Chollal-style language variant (including an Arabic stream) sits alongside it on the same program — check which language stream your event has entered a candidate under before scoring.
Because it is an Individual entry, one candidate per unit per age category competes — the same participation model as elocution and extempore speech generally, but Prasangam carries its own named scheme rather than the generic rubric.
The 6-criterion, 100-mark scheme
| Criterion | Max marks |
|---|---|
| Speaking without stage fear | 20 |
| Clarity of diction (Aksharasphudatha) | 20 |
| Language accuracy (Bhashashuddhi) | 15 |
| Clarity of ideas (Aashayasphudatha) | 15 |
| Fluency | 15 |
| Voice control to suit the moment | 15 |
| Total | 100 |
The two biggest marks — speaking without stage fear and clarity of diction, both worth 20 — are the real gatekeepers of this item. A candidate who freezes or mumbles loses here before language accuracy or fluency even come into play. “Voice control to suit the moment” is the criterion judges most often under-use: it’s meant to reward a speaker who can shift tone between a serious point and a lighter one, not just project loudly throughout.
Printable judgement sheet
For a paper-based round, print one row per candidate with these six columns, chest number on the left and a totals column on the right. Judges should mark each of the six criteria separately rather than giving one lump score — that’s what makes a close placing defensible when a candidate’s unit questions the result.
Chest No. | Candidate | Stage fear (20) | Diction (20) | Language (15) | Ideas (15) | Fluency (15) | Voice control (15) | Total (100)
How it compares to extempore speech and Padyam Chollal
Three items can look alike on a program sheet but are judged very differently:
| Item | Format | Criteria |
|---|---|---|
| Prasangam | Extempore speech, topic given on the spot | Stage fear 20, Diction 20, Language accuracy 15, Clarity of ideas 15, Fluency 15, Voice control 15 |
| Generic extempore (elocution guide) | Topic given on the spot, open rubric | Topic grasp 25, Spontaneity 20, Delivery & voice 20, Structure 15, Language & fluency 10, Confidence & time 10 |
| Padyam Chollal (recitation) | Memorised poem recitation | Memorisation (Manapaadam) carries the single biggest share, plus diction and expression marks |
Prasangam sits apart from the generic extempore rubric because it names stage fear and voice control as their own marks rather than folding composure into a single “confidence & time management” line, and it drops a separate structure mark in favour of weighting diction as heavily as the fear criterion. Against Padyam Chollal, the difference is more fundamental: Padyam Chollal rewards faithful, word-perfect memorisation of someone else’s poem, while Prasangam rewards building and delivering an original argument live. If your fest runs both, keep them on separate scoresheets — merging them into one “speaking item” rubric scores two genuinely different skills against the same yardstick.
Setting up Prasangam on eTalenter
Running Prasangam alongside dozens of other on-stage items on the same fest day is where a kalolsavam management platform earns its place:
- Add Prasangam as an Individual item under Competition Items, then assign it to each age category with Gender = Both, time cap 5 minutes (4-minute warning) and max score 100 — matching the template above exactly, with a language variant where your event needs one.
- Load the six-criterion scoring rubric once under Scoring Setup so every judge sees the same Stage fear / Diction / Language / Ideas / Fluency / Voice control breakdown on their tablet or phone, with live tabulation as each candidate finishes.
- Print the same breakdown as a judgement sheet for a paper round, or scan completed paper sheets back in — both flow into the same results table, so a mixed paper-and-online round still produces one clean tabulation.
- Once every candidate in an age category has spoken, a coordinator reviews and assigns winners, and results — grades, ranks and points — publish online, to the projector and to social cards in one step.
Want to see it running before you commit to a setup? Open a live demo and log in as a demo coordinator or judge — no sign-up needed.
FAQ
Is Prasangam the same as elocution or extempore?
It’s a kalolsavam-specific extempore speech item — the candidate speaks on a topic drawn on the spot, like generic extempore, but is judged on its own six-criterion scheme rather than the broader elocution/extempore rubric.
How many marks is Prasangam judged out of?
100, split six ways: speaking without stage fear (20), clarity of diction (20), language accuracy (15), clarity of ideas (15), fluency (15) and voice control to suit the moment (15).
What’s the time limit?
5 minutes maximum, with a warning bell at 4 minutes — the same time cap across all four age categories in this template.
How is Prasangam different from Padyam Chollal?
Padyam Chollal is memorised poem recitation, scored mainly on faithful memorisation plus diction and expression. Prasangam is live, original speech on a topic the candidate didn’t choose, scored on composure, diction, language accuracy, clarity of ideas, fluency and voice control. They test different skills and should never share one scoresheet.
Can we reuse the generic extempore rubric for Prasangam instead?
You can, but it scores a different balance — the generic rubric gives the single biggest share to topic grasp and folds confidence into a time-management line, while Prasangam’s own scheme treats stage fear and diction as the two heaviest marks. Use the Prasangam-specific scheme above if your event follows the standard kalolsavam template.
Questions about setting up Prasangam or any other item on your event? Reach us on WhatsApp at +91 96056 56508 or email support@etalenter.com.
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