How to Present Research in Five Minutes
In a five-minute talk you cannot present everything; you present one question, how you answered it, the main result and what it means. Aim for about five to seven slides and a clear spoken story.
A slide-by-slide plan
| Slide | Content | Time |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Title and why it matters | 30 seconds |
| 2 | The question or objective | 30 seconds |
| 3 | Methods in one picture or a short list | 45 seconds |
| 4 | Main result (one figure or table) | 90 seconds |
| 5 | Secondary or supporting result (optional) | 30 seconds |
| 6 | Limitation and conclusion | 45 seconds |
| 7 | Acknowledgements and questions | 30 seconds |
Tips
- Cut anything that does not support the main message.
- Say the take-home message at the beginning and the end.
- Use large figures with a few words; avoid tables.
- Rehearse with a timer until you finish at about 4:30 to leave a small buffer.
- Write a script of about 600 to 700 words (about 130 words per minute is a typical speaking pace) and then practise from keywords.
Illustrative example
Invented for teaching. "Delirium after hip fracture is common and harmful. We asked whether surgery within 48 hours reduces it. We reviewed 1,000 patients. Delirium occurred in 22.5% of early and 35% of delayed patients, an adjusted odds ratio of 0.65. Limitations include confounding by frailty. Early surgery may help, and a randomised trial is needed." (Invented data.)
Cutting a longer talk to five minutes
Start from your full-length slides and delete everything that does not support the main result. Merge the background into one sentence, reduce methods to a diagram or single list, and keep one figure for the result. If you cannot decide what to cut, ask which slide you would keep if you could show only one. Read your script aloud to check that it runs under five minutes, including transitions.
Common pitfalls
- Trying to include all methods.
- Running out of time before the conclusion.
Key takeaways
- One message, one main figure, tight timing.
- Rehearse with a timer.
References and further reading
Related reading
This page is general educational information about research methods. It is not medical, legal or regulatory advice; follow your institution's ethics board and your target journal's instructions.