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JAM Topics — Just A Minute

JAM — Just A Minute — asks you to speak for sixty seconds without hesitation, repetition or deviation. The topics here are light, so you can concentrate on speaking without stopping.

There is no preparation time by default. The review counts your filler words and long pauses.

Default settings: no preparation time, 1 minute to speak,Story Arc structure.

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No preparation time · 1:00 to speak · Uses your microphone. Audio is sent only for transcription and is not stored.

100 JAM topics

  1. 1What is the best piece of advice you have ever received?Everyday · easy
  2. 2If you could have dinner with any person from history, who would it be?Would you rather · medium
  3. 3Convince us that pineapple belongs on pizza.Funny · easy
  4. 4Describe a small habit that has made your life better.Everyday · easy
  5. 5Would you rather know the future or change the past?Would you rather · medium
  6. 6Explain why cats are secretly running the world.Funny · easy
  7. 7What is a skill everyone should learn before turning eighteen?Everyday · easy
  8. 8If you ran your country for one day, what would you change first?Would you rather · medium
  9. 9Sell me the world's most useless invention.Funny · easy
  10. 10What does a perfect Sunday look like for you?Everyday · easy
  11. 11Would you rather never use social media again or never watch another film?Would you rather · medium
  12. 12Describe your life as if it were a nature documentary.Funny · easy
  13. 13Which app on your phone could you not live without, and why?Everyday · easy
  14. 14If you could instantly learn one skill, what would it be?Would you rather · medium
  15. 15Give a motivational speech to a sock that lost its pair.Funny · easy
  16. 16What is something you changed your mind about in the last year?Everyday · easy
  17. 17Would you rather live without music or without movies?Would you rather · medium
  18. 18Explain the internet to someone from the year 1800.Funny · easy
  19. 19Describe a place that makes you feel calm.Everyday · easy
  20. 20If you woke up with a million dollars tomorrow, what would you do first?Would you rather · medium
  21. 21Why should Monday be cancelled forever?Funny · easy
  22. 22What is the most useful thing you own?Everyday · easy
  23. 23Would you rather be able to talk to animals or speak every human language?Would you rather · medium
  24. 24Pitch a reality TV show about your family.Funny · easy
  25. 25What is one thing you would like to get better at this year?Everyday · easy
  26. 26If you could add one subject to every school, what would it be?Would you rather · medium
  27. 27Defend the honour of the humble potato.Funny · easy
  28. 28Talk about a meal that brings back a strong memory.Everyday · easy
  29. 29Would you rather have more time or more money?Would you rather · medium
  30. 30Explain why your houseplant deserves a promotion.Funny · easy
  31. 31What is a tradition you would like to keep forever?Everyday · easy
  32. 32If you could solve one world problem overnight, which would you pick?Would you rather · medium
  33. 33Give a eulogy for your old mobile phone.Funny · easy
  34. 34Who is someone who taught you something without trying to?Everyday · easy
  35. 35Would you rather live one hundred years in the past or one hundred years in the future?Would you rather · medium
  36. 36Describe the perfect sandwich like it is a work of art.Funny · easy
  37. 37What would you do with one extra hour every day?Everyday · easy
  38. 38If you could design your own holiday, what would people celebrate?Would you rather · medium
  39. 39Convince a penguin to move to the desert.Funny · easy
  40. 40Describe your ideal workspace.Everyday · easy
  41. 41Would you rather be famous or be powerful behind the scenes?Would you rather · medium
  42. 42Explain why snoring should be an Olympic sport.Funny · easy
  43. 43What makes a good neighbour?Everyday · easy
  44. 44If you had to give a TED talk tomorrow, what would it be about?Would you rather · medium
  45. 45Give a weather forecast for your mood this week.Funny · easy
  46. 46What is a hobby you think is underrated?Everyday · easy
  47. 47Would you rather work four ten-hour days or five eight-hour days?Would you rather · medium
  48. 48Announce a new national holiday for napping.Funny · easy
  49. 49If you could master any instrument overnight, which would you choose?Everyday · easy
  50. 50If you could open any kind of shop, what would you sell?Would you rather · medium
  51. 51Describe your morning as a sports commentator.Funny · easy
  52. 52What is the best way to spend a rainy afternoon?Everyday · easy
  53. 53Would you rather always be ten minutes early or always be ten minutes late?Would you rather · medium
  54. 54Sell a comb to a bald man.Funny · easy
  55. 55What is a book, film or show you recommend to everyone?Everyday · easy
  56. 56If you could swap lives with anyone for a week, who would it be?Would you rather · medium
  57. 57Explain why aliens have not visited us yet.Funny · easy
  58. 58What does being on time mean to you?Everyday · easy
  59. 59Would you rather explore space or the deep ocean?Would you rather · medium
  60. 60Give a TED talk on the art of procrastination.Funny · easy
  61. 61Describe a moment when you felt really proud of yourself.Everyday · easy
  62. 62If animals could vote, which party would they support?Would you rather · medium
  63. 63Describe what your pet thinks about you.Funny · easy
  64. 64What is one thing about your hometown that visitors should know?Everyday · easy
  65. 65Would you rather have a rewind button or a pause button for your life?Would you rather · medium
  66. 66Pitch a new flavour of ice cream nobody asked for.Funny · easy
  67. 67Is it better to plan a trip in detail or to improvise?Everyday · easy
  68. 68If you could make one law that everyone had to follow, what would it be?Would you rather · medium
  69. 69Explain why the remote control always disappears.Funny · easy
  70. 70What is your favourite season, and what does it say about you?Everyday · easy
  71. 71Would you rather be the funniest person in the room or the smartest?Would you rather · medium
  72. 72Give a wedding toast for two people who love the same pizza.Funny · easy
  73. 73What is a simple pleasure that never gets old?Everyday · easy
  74. 74If you had to live in a book or film world, which would you choose?Would you rather · medium
  75. 75Describe the worst superpower you can imagine.Funny · easy
  76. 76Talk about a teacher who made a difference.Everyday · easy
  77. 77Would you rather give up coffee or give up dessert forever?Would you rather · medium
  78. 78Convince your boss that you need a nap room.Funny · easy
  79. 79What would your friends say is your best quality?Everyday · easy
  80. 80If you could invent a new sport, how would it work?Would you rather · medium
  81. 81Explain the rules of a board game that does not exist.Funny · easy
  82. 82Describe the most memorable gift you have ever given.Everyday · easy
  83. 83Would you rather have a personal chef or a personal driver?Would you rather · medium
  84. 84Complain about your alarm clock to a customer service agent.Funny · easy
  85. 85What is something you learned from a mistake?Everyday · easy
  86. 86If you could send a message to yourself ten years ago, what would it say?Would you rather · medium
  87. 87Describe a day in the life of a traffic cone.Funny · easy
  88. 88What does a good morning routine look like?Everyday · easy
  89. 89Would you rather live without the internet or without air conditioning?Would you rather · medium
  90. 90Why do we always lose one sock in the laundry?Funny · easy
  91. 91What is the best purchase you made under fifty dollars?Everyday · easy
  92. 92If you were invisible for a day, what would you do?Would you rather · medium
  93. 93Pitch a dating app for houseplants.Funny · easy
  94. 94If you could live in any city for a year, where would you go?Everyday · easy
  95. 95Would you rather be an expert in one thing or good at many things?Would you rather · medium
  96. 96Give an acceptance speech for the award of Best Sleeper.Funny · easy
  97. 97What is one rule you always follow?Everyday · easy
  98. 98If you could remove one daily chore from your life, what would it be?Would you rather · medium
  99. 99Explain why your favourite snack should be a food group.Funny · easy
  100. 100Talk about a time you tried something completely new.Everyday · easy

How to practise

  1. 1

    Never stop, never repeat

    In JAM, hesitation and repetition are faults. If you lose your thread, move to a new angle instead of saying “um”.

  2. 2

    Have a backup angle

    Every topic can be approached as a story, an opinion or a list. When one runs out, switch.

  3. 3

    Watch your fillers

    The review counts “um”, “uh”, “like” and similar words. Aim for fewer than two per minute.

Recommended answer structure

Story Arc

Best for: storytelling and funny topics

  1. 1Setting
  2. 2Problem
  3. 3Turning point
  4. 4Lesson

Place us somewhere, give us a problem, show the moment it changed, and tell us what you learned.

Example answer to “Tell us about a time you got completely lost.”

  1. SettingTokyo, midnight, dead phone, no Japanese.
  2. ProblemI had missed the last train and had no idea where my hotel was.
  3. Turning pointA shop owner drew me a map on a receipt — and walked me halfway there.
  4. LessonSince then I always ask for help early. Pride is expensive.

FAQ

What is JAM in speaking?+

Just A Minute: speak for one minute on a given topic without hesitating, repeating yourself or going off topic.

What are good JAM topics?+

Light, open topics like “Why should Monday be cancelled?” or “Describe the secret life of your refrigerator” — easy to start, hard to run out of.

Can I add prep time?+

Yes. Traditional JAM has none, but you can set 15 or 30 seconds while you build confidence.

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