How to Define Online Exam Timer for Each Question?

How to define a timer for each question in an online exam

Per-question timing forces candidates to spend a fixed time on each question, then auto-advances. It's useful for time-pressured assessments (e.g. communication skills speaking responses, rapid-fire aptitude rounds).

Important: sequential mode required

Per-question timers only work in sequential exam mode — candidates cannot go back to a previous question. If your exam allows free navigation between questions, you'll need to switch it to sequential before enabling per-question timing.

Steps to enable per-question timer

1. Log in as admin.
2. Open the exam you want to edit: Exam → All Exams → click the exam name.
3. Go to Exam Settings → Timing.
4. Switch Navigation Mode to Sequential. Confirm the warning that candidates won't be able to return to earlier questions.
5. Enable Per-question Timer.
6. Choose how to set durations:
   • Uniform — same time for every question (e.g. 60 seconds per question).
   • Per-question — different time for each question. The system shows a table of all questions; enter seconds per row.
7. Optional: tick Show countdown on screen so candidates see the seconds-remaining for the current question.
8. Optional: tick Auto-submit on timeout — when time runs out, the candidate's answer (or blank if unanswered) is saved and the next question loads.
9. Save.

Candidate experience

• A countdown appears at the top of each question (e.g. "00:45 left").
• When time runs out, the answer is auto-submitted and the next question loads.
• The candidate cannot return to a previous question.
• If the candidate finishes a question early, they can click Next — the remaining time is forfeited (not carried over).

To allow remaining time to carry over to the next question

Tick Pooled time in the timer settings. Each question still has a target time, but unused seconds add to the candidate's overall buffer.

Common questions

Can I combine a per-question timer with a total-exam timer?
Yes. The overall exam timer still runs. The per-question timer is in addition. Whichever expires first ends that question / the exam.

Why is the per-question timer toggle greyed out?
The exam is in free-navigation mode. Switch to Sequential first, then the toggle becomes available.