Quiz Timer Settings – Time Limits & Countdown | Uplup
Add time pressure to your quizzes with a configurable timer. Set an overall quiz time limit at the quiz level, and optionally a per-question time limit on individual questions, with an on-screen countdown and automatic submission when time runs out.
Table of Contents
- Timer Types
- Total Quiz Timer
- Per-Question Time Limit
- Timer Display & Auto-Submit
- Timer Best Practices
Timer Types
Uplup has two independent timer settings: an overall quiz time limit (set in Quiz Settings) and a per-question time limit (set on each question). The quiz timer is part of the Pro plan.
Total Quiz Time Limit
One countdown for the entire quiz, set in minutes. Respondents manage their own pace across the questions.
- Best for: Exams, assessments, certifications
- Default: 30 minutes when first enabled
- Example: 30 minutes for 50 questions
Per-Question Time Limit
An individual time budget for a single question, set in seconds. The per-question Time field appears on each question once the overall quiz timer is enabled, so you can give specific questions tighter or looser limits.
- Best for: Trivia, speed quizzes, rapid-fire rounds
- Set per question: Leave blank to use only the overall quiz timer
- Example: 30 seconds for an easy question, 90 seconds for a complex one
Total Quiz Timer
Enabling the Quiz Timer
- In the quiz builder, click the quiz type pill in the top toolbar (e.g. Scored Quiz) to open Quiz Settings
- Open the Options tab
- Scroll to the Time Limits section
- Toggle on Enable time limit
- Set Total quiz time in minutes (defaults to 30)
Total Quiz Time Field
- Unit: Minutes (a single numeric input)
- Default value: 30 minutes when timing is first enabled
- Minimum: 1 minute
For longer assessments, just enter a larger minute value (for example, 120 for two hours). There is no separate hours field.
Per-Question Time Limit
The per-question Time field becomes available on each question once the overall quiz timer is enabled. Use it to set a tighter or looser limit for a specific question; leave it blank to fall back to the overall quiz timer alone.
Setting a Per-Question Limit
- Make sure Enable time limit is on in Quiz Settings
- Select the question in the builder
- In the right panel for the question, find the Time Limit section with the Per question input (in
sec) - Enter the seconds for that question, or leave blank for no per-question cap
Use longer times for complex questions and shorter times for simple ones.
Timer Display & Auto-Submit
Once the quiz timer is enabled, two extra toggles appear directly under the time field:
- Show timer to users: Display the countdown to respondents while they take the quiz. Turn off to keep the timer silent in the background.
- Auto-submit when time runs out: Automatically submit the quiz when the overall time expires. With this off, time can still expire but the quiz waits for the respondent.
Both toggles are on by default once you enable the time limit.
Timer Best Practices
Calculating Time Limits
Rough guidelines for setting per-question time:
- Multiple choice: 30 to 60 seconds
- Yes/No: 15 to 30 seconds
- Short answer: 45 to 90 seconds
- Complex or long-answer questions: 2 to 3 minutes
When to Use a Timer
- Certifications: Standardized time limits across attempts
- Trivia and games: Adds excitement and pressure
- Limit lookups: Less time to search for answers elsewhere
- Competitive quizzes: When speed matters for ranking
When to Skip the Timer
- Learning checks: Focus on understanding rather than speed
- Accessibility: Some respondents need more time
- Thoughtful answers: Long-answer questions where reflection matters
- Surveys: No correct answer to rush toward