An exam timer for schools: one clear countdown for every exam venue

Exam Timer puts a calm, readable countdown on the projector so invigilators can watch the room, not the clock. It was built by a South African CAT teacher for South African exam venues.

What it does

• Up to three papers on one screen. Each subject gets its own countdown and finish time, readable from the last desk.
• Extra time worked out for you. Tick the concession groups in the room (+10, +15 or +20 minutes per hour) and every group gets its own row with its own finish time. See the extra time table.
• Matric mode. Extra time after the paper, and a clear bathroom status: locked for the first hour and the last 30 minutes, available in between.
• Reading time built in. Five or ten minutes of reading before writing starts, shown separately.
• Warnings you can hear. A gentle chime at each change, and a clear five-minute warning on screen before time is up.
• Disruptions handled. Fire drill or power dip? Add or remove five minutes and every finish time moves with it.
• Keeps running offline. A dropped connection never stops a paper that is already running.
• Your school's name on every screen, with light and dark themes for bright halls and darkened rooms.

How it works

1. Sign in with your school account. It takes you straight to the timer.
2. Enter the papers: name, finish time and duration, then pick the venue type and the concession groups.
3. Launch on the projector. One click goes full screen and the timer takes it from there.

Before the first session, run through the exam venue checklist, and keep the user guide to hand: it prints as a handout.

Questions

Do we need to install anything?

No. Sign in, open the timer and put it on the projector. It works in Chrome, Edge and other modern browsers, with no installs and no admin rights.

What happens if the internet goes down during an exam?

A paper that is already running keeps counting down. A PC that has opened the timer before also keeps a copy of it, so open it from the same browser (a bookmark works well) and it starts even with no connection.

How is extra time worked out?

Per hour of the paper: +10, +15 or +20 minutes for every hour. A three-hour paper with +10 minutes per hour gets 30 extra minutes. Each concession group gets its own row with its own finish time.

What does matric mode do differently?

Everyone starts together and extra time is added after the standard finish. The bathroom status shows locked for the first hour of the paper and the last 30 minutes before the standard end, and available in between.

Can we run more than one venue?

Yes. Open the timer on as many PCs as you have venues. Each one runs its own papers.

What does it cost?

R150 per month per school, VAT included, on a 12-month subscription (R1,800 a year). That covers every PC and every exam venue at the school, all three exam modes and every update.

Does it store learner data?

No. The timer only checks your school's subscription. Papers, times and settings stay on the PC that uses them.