Exam Timer
The short answer: this is a free, fullscreen exam countdown with an alarm — set the minutes, press Start, then press Fullscreen for the projector so every student can read the time remaining. It rings when time is up and the digits turn red in the final seconds. For a timer that floats on top of your slides or screen while you present, download SlideTimerApp, the free Windows overlay.
How to display an exam timer to the whole class
A good exam timer needs to be readable from the back row and impossible to miss when time runs out. Here is the fastest way to put one on the projector:
- Open this page on the computer that is connected to your projector or large display.
- Set the exam length using the minute field, or tap a preset such as 30, 45 or 60 minutes.
- Press Start to begin the countdown. (The first press also enables the alarm sound, because browsers require a user action before playing audio.)
- Press Fullscreen so the big digits fill the screen and can be read from anywhere in the room.
- When the countdown reaches zero, the alarm rings and the display flashes red — a clear, shared signal that the exam is over.
Why a visible exam timer helps
Putting one shared countdown on the wall does more than save you from checking the clock. It changes how the room feels during a test:
- Fairness: every student works against exactly the same clock, so nobody loses time waiting for a verbal "five minutes left" — and nobody gains it.
- Less anxiety: a steady, visible countdown removes the uncertainty of not knowing how long is left, which helps students pace themselves and stay calm.
- Fewer interruptions: with the time on screen, you stop fielding "how long do we have?" and the room stays quiet and focused.
- A clear finish line: the alarm and red flash give one unmistakable "pens down" moment, so the end of the exam is obvious to everyone at once.
For more day-to-day uses beyond tests, see the classroom timer guide.
Why an overlay app beats a browser tab for exams
A web timer is perfect when the countdown can have its own screen. But during an exam you often want to show instructions, a reading passage or a slideshow at the same time — and a browser tab can't sit on top of a full-screen Slide Show. That is where the desktop overlay helps:
| What you need | This web timer | SlideTimerApp overlay |
|---|---|---|
| Alarm sound at zero | Yes | Yes |
| Big fullscreen display | Yes | Yes |
| Floats on top of your slideshow | No (browser tab) | Yes |
| Stays visible while presenting instructions | No | Yes |
Want the exam timer on top of your slides?
SlideTimerApp floats a transparent countdown with a red warning and alarm over PowerPoint, Google Slides or Canva — free for Windows, so the time stays visible while you present a reading passage or instructions.
Download SlideTimerApp free ~3 MB · Windows · works offlineTips for teachers and invigilators
- Set it before students enter. Have the duration ready and the timer paused at the full time so you can press Start the moment the exam begins.
- Check the volume first. Play a quick test so the alarm is loud enough to be heard across the room, but not startling.
- Mind the projector position. Place the countdown where invigilators and students can both see it without turning around.
- Use round presets for sections. The 10, 15, 30, 45 and 60-minute presets map neatly onto reading time, sections and short quizzes.
- For multi-part exams, run a fresh countdown per section so the alarm signals each transition clearly.
More timers
Classroom timer
A big, visible countdown for lessons and activities.
Online timer with sound
Free countdown with an alarm at zero.
Download SlideTimerApp
Float the timer on top of your slides — free for Windows.
Frequently asked questions
Is this exam timer free?
Yes. The exam timer on this page is completely free to use, needs no sign-up and collects no student data. Set the minutes, press Start and press Fullscreen so the whole room can read the countdown. For a timer that floats on top of your slides while you present, download SlideTimerApp, the free Windows overlay.
How do I show an exam timer on the projector?
Open this page on the computer connected to the projector, set the exam length, press Start and then press Fullscreen. The countdown fills the screen with big digits so every student can read the remaining time from anywhere in the room.
Does the exam timer have an alarm?
Yes. The timer plays an alarm tone when the countdown reaches zero, and the digits turn red in the final seconds, so you get both an audible and a visual cue that the exam is over. Make sure the device isn't muted so the alarm can be heard across the room.
Can I keep an exam timer on top of my slides?
A browser tab can't stay on top of a full-screen slideshow. Download SlideTimerApp, a free Windows overlay that floats a transparent exam countdown over PowerPoint, Google Slides or Canva and rings an alarm at zero, so the timer stays visible while you present instructions or reading passages.