There is no substitute for practice. You can rehearse solo in front of a mirror, in front of your roommate, or in front of classmates. Especially for team presentations, you should find time to rehearse with the full team, practicing transitions from one speaker to another. Some campuses have peer tutors who will provide feedback, and some have special rooms where you can video yourself or your team and see how you look and sound.

If you can, practice in the space where you will deliver your talk. If you cannot rehearse in the space, at least check it out in advance. Preload your slides if you are using them, and make sure you know how to operate the computer, software, and room systems, including lighting. If you have video or sound as part of your speech, test the connections, the Internet links, and the volume ahead of time. Normally, you will have limited time to present, and you don’t want to waste it by fiddling with the display computer. You might ask a classmate to be in charge of turning down the lights or adjusting the volume on the speakers. Then you can concentrate on delivery.