Exam Timer
A calm exam room clock: the time left in big digits, the time of day in the corner and the finishing time underneath. Add reading time and sections to the list, and finish with a single bell.
Exam in progress
1:00:00
Keys: Space start or pause, R reset, F fullscreen, + and - add or remove a minute, M mute, N next timer in the list.
What is an exam timer?
An exam timer shows candidates how much time is left in a test, on a screen the whole room can read. This one is set up the way exam rooms work: the remaining time in large digits, the current time of day in the corner, and the time the exam ends shown underneath once it starts. Yellow at 10 minutes and red at 5 give the usual warnings without anyone speaking. Add reading time, sections or a break to the timer list, and pick a single bell or no sound for the end. It runs offline in the browser once loaded, so a dropped connection will not stop it.
How to run an exam timer
- Set the exam length, for example 1 hour 30 minutes, or choose Until a time and enter the official finishing time.
- Type the paper name in the title, for example Chemistry Paper 2.
- For reading time or sections, add them to the Timer list (Reading time 10, Writing time 90) and turn on Start the next timer automatically.
- When candidates may begin, press Start and then Fullscreen. The screen shows the time left, the time of day and the finishing time.
- Yellow appears at 10 minutes left and red at 5. At zero the timer stops at 0:00 and rings once.
Why use this exam timer
- Everything candidates ask aboutTime left, time now and finishing time on one screen.
- Warnings without talkingYellow at 10 minutes and red at 5, so you do not have to announce them.
- Reading time and sectionsA timer list that moves from one part to the next on its own.
- Quiet and steadyNo flashing, one bell or no sound, and a light, plain screen.
- Keeps going offlineOnce loaded it needs no connection, and nothing is uploaded.
Where an exam timer helps
- School exams and mocks. A clock on the projector for the whole hall.
- Class tests and quizzes. Shorter papers with a visible end.
- Practice papers at home. Time yourself under exam conditions.
- Entrance and language tests. Sections with set lengths in a timer list.
- Interviews and assessments. Timed tasks and presentations.
- Extra time rooms. A second screen set to the longer time.
Exam lengths with 25% and 50% extra time
Extra time is usually given as a percentage of the exam length. Type the new length into the timer, or use Until a time with the adjusted finishing time.
| Exam length | With 25% extra | With 50% extra |
|---|---|---|
| 30 min | 37 min 30 s | 45 min |
| 45 min | 56 min 15 s | 1 h 7 min 30 s |
| 1 h | 1 h 15 min | 1 h 30 min |
| 1 h 15 min | 1 h 33 min 45 s | 1 h 52 min 30 s |
| 1 h 30 min | 1 h 52 min 30 s | 2 h 15 min |
| 2 h | 2 h 30 min | 3 h |
| 2 h 30 min | 3 h 7 min 30 s | 3 h 45 min |
| 3 h | 3 h 45 min | 4 h 30 min |
How to show the timer on a projector, TV or second screen
There are four ways to get the countdown in front of people. All of them run on your computer, with no account and no server.
| Option | Best for | How |
|---|---|---|
| Fullscreen | One screen, such as a laptop connected to a mirrored projector or TV | Select Fullscreen or press F. Press Esc to leave. |
| Display window | A laptop plus a projector, smartboard or stage monitor set up as a second display | Select Display window, drag it to the other screen and select Fullscreen in it. The controls stay on your laptop and both stay in step. |
| Float on top | Presenting your own slides, or keeping an eye on time in other apps | In Chrome or Edge on a computer, select Float on top. A small timer stays above other windows. |
| Share link | Another computer in a different room | Select Copy a link to this timer and open it on the other computer. It is a separate timer, so start both together. |
| Screen sharing | Zoom, Teams or Google Meet | Share the display window as a window, or share your whole screen with the timer floating on top. |
Keyboard shortcuts
The shortcuts work while the timer is on screen, in fullscreen, and in the display and floating windows. They are ignored while you type in a box.
| Key | What it does |
|---|---|
| Space or K | Start, pause and resume |
| R | Reset to the time you set |
| F | Fullscreen on and off (Esc also leaves) |
| + or = | Add a minute |
| - | Take off a minute |
| Up and Down arrows | Add or take off a minute in fullscreen and the display window |
| M | Mute and unmute |
| N | Next timer in the timer list |
Example: a 2-hour paper with 15 minutes reading time
Add Reading time 15 and Writing time 120 to the timer list, turn on Start the next timer automatically, and press Start at 9:00. The screen shows Reading time until 9:15, then switches to Writing time and counts down to 11:15, turning yellow at 11:05 and red at 11:10. Anyone arriving late can read the finishing time instead of asking.
What to expect from the result
The timer follows this computer's clock, so check that the time of day matches the official exam clock before you start. It does not lock the computer or block other apps: it is a display for the room, not exam software. Keep screen awake stops the screen from sleeping in most browsers, but plug the laptop in, because some devices refuse it in battery saver mode.
Exam timer questions
How do I show an exam timer on a projector?
Open this page on the computer connected to the projector, set the time and press F or select Fullscreen. If the projector extends your desktop, use Display window instead, so you can keep the controls on your own screen.
Can the timer show the time of day and the finishing time?
Yes. Time of day is switched on here and appears in the corner. Once the timer is running, the line under the countdown shows when it ends, for example Ends at 11:15 AM.
How do I add reading time before the exam?
Add Reading time and its length to the Timer list, then the writing time, and turn on Start the next timer automatically. One press of Start runs both, with the title changing from one to the other.
How do I give extra time?
For a separate room, set the longer time on another screen, for example 75 minutes for a 60-minute paper with 25% extra time. In the same room, press +1 min as often as needed while the timer runs. The table below lists common extra-time lengths.
Can I make the end silent?
Yes. Choose No sound under Warning colors, overtime and sound. Flashing is already off on this page so the end does not distract anyone still writing.
Does it work without internet?
Yes. Once the page has loaded, the timer runs entirely in your browser, so losing Wi-Fi in the middle of a lesson or talk does not stop it. Nothing about your timers is sent to a server.
More timers and countdowns
For focus sessions with breaks built in, use the Pomodoro timer or the study timer. To count the days to a birthday, trip or launch, use countdown to a date. For any length, with every option on one page, open the full screen countdown timer.