A lectio praecursoria should not take longer than 20 minutes. A speech of 10,000–16,000 letters in writing is usually recommended, depending on the pace at which you speak. It is advisable to read the speech aloud several times to practice and edit the text to suit your style and pace.
It is customary to read the lectio praecursoria from paper in the public examination. Even though this is the custom, remember to pay attention to your audience by taking eye contact from time to time. Lift your eyes from the paper and look at the audience as you move from discussing one topic to another, for example. Practice connecting with your audience beforehand.