We have all been there. The Topics Master calls your name.

Your heart rate spikes to 120 BPM. You stand up. You open your mouth.

And… nothing happens.

Or worse, everything happens. You ramble for two minutes without actually making a point, hoping the red light saves you from your misery.

Impromptu speaking feels like magic, but it’s actually an algorithm. The secret isn’t being smarter; it’s having a structure. Meet the PREP Framework.

The Cheat Code for Table Topics

Think of PREP as the skeleton of your speech. When you don’t have time to write a script, you just hang your thoughts on this skeleton, and it looks like a fully formed speech.

PREP stands for:

  • Point
  • Reason
  • Example
  • Point

1. Point (The Bottom Line)

Start with the answer. Don’t build up to it. Don’t say “That’s a tough question…” or “I was thinking about this yesterday…”

Rip the band-aid off. State your opinion immediately.

Example: “I believe remote work is the future of productivity.”

2. Reason (The Logic)

Why do you believe that? Give the audience the logic behind your claim. Keep this short—one or two sentences max.

Example: “Because it allows employees to work during their peak energy hours rather than an arbitrary 9-to-5.”

3. Example (The Evidence)

This is the meat of your speech. This is where you tell a story, share a statistic, or give a specific instance. If you are going to use up time to hit the Green Light, do it here.

Example: “Take my friend, Sarah. She writes code. Since moving to a flexible schedule, she ships 30% more updates because she codes at midnight when she feels most creative.”

💡 Pro Tip: Watch the Clock

The “Example” section is where most people get lost. Keep an eye on the timer!

If you see the Yellow Light while telling your story, wrap it up immediately and move to the final Point.

Need to practice your timing? Use our Free Speech Timer to simulate the pressure before your next meeting.

4. Point (The Landing)

Circle back to the start. Remind the audience what you just told them. This makes your speech feel “packaged” and intentional.

Example: “And that is why I believe remote work isn’t just a trend—it’s the future.”

Why This Works

The human brain loves patterns. When you use PREP, you aren’t just rambling; you are taking the audience on a predictable journey.

Next time you get called on, don’t panic. Just pick a Point, find a Reason, tell a Story, and land the plane.

Ready to test it out?

Don’t wait for the next meeting to practice. We curated a list of 50 questions you can try right now.

Download the 50 Ultimate Table Topics Questions List

Open the list, pick a random number, and try to PREP your answer in under 2 minutes.

Disclaimer: This guide is a personal resource created by Jel Salamanca. It is not an official publication of, nor is it affiliated with or endorsed by, Toastmasters International.