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Enable Timed Exams in Open edX Studio

Configure Time-Limited Assessments for Learners in Open edX Courses

 

Overview

Timed exams allow you to set a specific duration for a quiz or assessment. Once a learner starts the exam, a timer begins counting down, and the learner must submit their answers before the time expires.

Note: Ensure you are logged into Open edX Studio as a Staff or Admin user before proceeding.

Step 1: Enable Timed Exams in Advanced Settings

Before you can apply a timer to a specific subsection, you must enable the feature at the course level.

  1. Open your course in Studio.

  2. From the Settings menu in the top navigation bar, select Advanced Settings.

  3. In the search box at the top, type "Enable Timed Exams" to find the field quickly.

  4. Set the value for Enable Timed Exams to true.

  5. Click Save Changes at the bottom of the page.

Advanced Settings page showing Enable Timed Exams set to true

Step 2: Configure a Subsection as a Timed Exam

Timed settings are applied at the Subsection level. Any units and components within that subsection will be part of the timed exam.

  1. Navigate to the Course Outline.

  2. Locate the Subsection you wish to set as an exam, or create a new one.

  3. Click the three dots icon (⋮), and then Configure next to the subsection name.

  4. In the modal that appears, select the Advanced tab.

  5. Under Set as a Special Exam, select the Timed radio button.

  6. Time Limit: Enter the allowed time using the HH:MM format (e.g., 01:30 for one hour and thirty minutes).

  7. Click Save.

 
Subsection configuration modal showing the Advanced tab with Timed exam selected
Subsection configuration modal showing the time limit field with an example HH:MM value entered
 

Step 3: Learner Experience in the LMS

Once the subsection is configured and published, it will appear in the LMS with a Timed Exam label. Learners must explicitly start the exam before the timer begins.

  • Start Page: Before beginning, learners will see an introductory page explaining the time limit and rules.

  • The Timer: Once the learner clicks I am ready to start this timed exam, the countdown timer appears in the sidebar and remains visible as they navigate through the exam units. The remaining time is updated in real time.

  • Submission: If the timer reaches zero before the learner submits, the exam is automatically submitted and no further changes can be made.

 

Best Practices

  • Proctoring: If you require identity verification or browser locking, select Proctored instead of Timed in the Advanced tab. Note that proctored exams require additional platform-level configuration and a compatible proctoring service — such as Proctortrack or Respondus LockDown Browser — to be enabled by your site administrator.

  • Clear Instructions: Always include a Unit at the start of your exam subsection with clear instructions—such as allowed resources, time expectations, and submission rules—before the learner starts the timer.

  • Accommodations: If specific learners need extra time (for example, for disability accommodations), you can grant a Time Extension via the Instructor Dashboard in the LMS. Navigate to Student Admin > Special Exam Attempts to find and adjust individual learner allowances.