Where the points actually are

Awards in Model UN go to delegates who move the committee, not to those who speak most. That means research depth, a workable policy proposal, and the social skill to build a bloc around it. The most common beginner mistake is preparing speeches instead of preparing positions.

Topic breakdown

01Country research: Know your country's actual position: its alliances, its economy, what it has voted for at the real UN. Delegates who argue their personal opinion rather than their country's position are marked down.
02Topic research: The background guide the conference publishes is the floor, not the ceiling. Read past UN resolutions on the topic; they show what language is acceptable.
03Rules of procedure: Moderated and unmoderated caucus, points and motions. Delegates who know the rules control the flow of the committee, which is a large share of the award.
04Bloc building: Resolutions pass because a group backs them. The skill is finding the countries whose interests align with yours and getting your language into the working paper.
05The position paper: Often required and often scored. It is also the cheapest way to signal preparation to a chair before the committee starts.

A study plan that works backwards from the date

As soon as you receive your assignment Read the background guide, then read the actual UN resolutions and voting records on the topic. Write down three concrete proposals your country would plausibly support.
Two weeks out Write the position paper. Draft an opening speech of about a minute. Learn the rules of procedure for that conference, since they vary.
One week out Practise the opening speech aloud. Prepare a one-page sheet of your country's key facts and your three proposals to bring into committee.
At the conference Speak early to establish presence, then spend unmoderated caucus building a bloc rather than talking. Get your language into the working paper.

Tips that come from the format itself

Awards go to delegates who get their ideas into the final resolution, not to the loudest speaker.
Read your country's real UN voting record. It is public, and it stops you arguing a position your country would never take.
Start with a small local conference. Large international conferences are overwhelming as a first experience and cost far more.
The unmoderated caucus is where the competition actually happens. Formal speeches establish credibility; the negotiation decides outcomes.

Practice resources

UNA-USA Model UN resources Official · free
Guides to rules of procedure, position papers and how conferences work, published free.
United Nations Digital Library Research · free
Actual UN resolutions and voting records. The best possible source for what your country really supports.
Best Delegate Community · free
Conference listings, strategy guides and rankings from the Model UN community.

Past papers and official materials

Past conference background guides
Most conferences publish their background guides openly, and past guides from any conference are useful preparation.

Skills this builds

Read what other students said about preparing