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Graduation Speech Examples by Speaker

Six guides, each with a template and two full scripts, sorted by who is speaking at the ceremony.

Which graduation speech examples you need depends on who you are at the ceremony. Students chosen by class rank should go straight to the valedictorian or salutatorian guide. The two are not interchangeable: the valedictorian guide plans for five to seven minutes, about 650 to 900 words, and treats the salutatorian slot as the shorter of the two.

Class presidents and other chosen student speakers are better served by the high school graduation guide, which treats class officers, selected speakers and invited guests separately. If you were invited from outside the graduating class, read the commencement guide. A guest address runs longer, and the guide notes that college commencement addresses typically last ten to twenty minutes. The 8th grade guide is written for younger speakers.

If you are not sure which fits, start with the graduation ceremony speech sample, which covers several kinds of speaker in one place. Every guide has a template and two full scripts, so you can compare how the same structure sounds in two voices.

By ceremony

By academic honor

Rehearse your graduation speech before the ceremony

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Frequently asked questions

How long should a graduation speech be?
The guides here give these ranges: five to seven minutes for a valedictorian, about 650 to 900 words at roughly 130 words per minute; three to five minutes for a class president or student government speech; and ten to twenty minutes for an invited speaker at a college commencement. If your school gives you a time limit, that limit wins.
What is the difference between a valedictorian and a salutatorian speech?
The valedictorian is the top-ranked student and traditionally gives the farewell address on behalf of the class. The salutatorian is ranked second and traditionally gives the welcoming remarks. Schools vary in how they assign the two slots, so check the program before you write.
Is a commencement speech the same as a graduation speech?
Graduation speech is the general term for any speech at the ceremony. Commencement speech usually means the main address, often given by an invited guest. The commencement guide here is written for that invited speaker.
How do I practice a graduation speech?
Time it aloud first and cut until you are inside your slot. Then rehearse standing, at the pace you would use in a large room, pausing after the lines you want people to remember. Practice in front of one person, or in the public speaking practice in SayNow AI, before the ceremony.

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