How to Create a Timed Quiz

In this article, we’ll show you how to create timed quizzes and tests using iSpring Suite, a powerful, yet easy-to-use timed quiz maker and much more.

What Is a Timed Quiz?

A timed quiz is a quiz with a built-in countdown timer for each question. This type of assessment can be applied to any learning assignment, from short knowledge tests to classic quizzes and final exams. 

Here’s an example of a timed math quiz made with iSpring Suite.

Step 1. Install iSpring Suite

iSpring Suite allows you to create professional online quizzes without the help of instructional designers or programmers. The toolkit comprises the online quiz creator functionality with everything needed for building varied eLearning content, and you can test drive it during a free 14-day trial.  

Just download iSpring Suite and install it to make a quiz with a timer right away. After that, you can create an unlimited number of quizzes with a timer function and use all the tool’s capabilities to the fullest.

Step 2. Create a Quiz

Open the app, click on Quizzes in the Quick Start menu, select Create Graded Quiz and click on Graded Quiz. You can apply timing to any quiz which is graded. 

You can create graded quizzes and surveys in iSpring Suite. Let’s select Graded Quiz for example

 

Step 3. Choose a Question Type

There are 14 types of questions in iSpring Suite. To select the needed type click the Question tab.

Step 4. Add a Question Text

As an example, we chose the Multiple Choice configuration and made a multiple choice timed test.  You can do the following for any other timed quiz in iSpring Suite. 

Enter a text in the question field and add answer options in Choices. Mark the correct answer and leave incorrect answers unmarked. After you’re done with the first question, add more questions the same way.

Step 5. Set a Quiz Timer

In iSpring Suite, there are three ways to set timing for a quiz. Check out these major timer options below.

Set the same time for all questions

If questions in your timed quiz are of a more or less equal difficulty, you can set the same time limit for each of them. Click on Properties on the toolbar:

And select the Question Properties tab. 

Tick Limit time to answer the question and set a time limit. To apply the setting, click on Save. Now, your learners will see a timer warning that will show them the end time for each unanswered question in real-time.

Note: The time limit will only be applied to new questions.

Set custom time limits for quiz questions

In some quizzes, there can be different levels of difficulty for each question. For example, we tend to count answering an essay question as more difficult than deciding whether a statement is true or false.  They will require a different amount of time. In iSpring Suite, you can determine a custom time limit for each question.

Select the question in your timed test and, in the Slide Options tab, tick Limit time to answer the question. Set the number of minutes the test taker will have to answer.

Set a general time limit

If you don’t need to limit questions separately, you can set an overall time limit for your interactive quiz to make it automatically stop. This way, your learners need to submit their answers before the time runs out.  iSpring Suite offers this feature as well. 

Click on Properties. In the Main Properties tab, tick Time to complete the quiz and specify a time limit. To apply the settings, click on Save.

Step 6. Publish Your Quiz

You can choose between several ways to publish the quiz with a time limit, depending on your requirements. If you want to publish your online test with a timer to a web page or a blog, or you conduct distance learning, the HTML5 output is the best option.

First, click the Publish button on the toolbar.

In the My Computer tab, add the name of the project and its location and click on Publish.

There are other publishing destination options for your timed quizzes:

• LMS: choose this tab if you want to upload your timed quiz to a learning management system. iSpring supports SCORM, xAPI (Tin Can), AICC, and cmi5 eLearning formats.
• iSpring Learn: here you can publish your online timed quiz directly to your iSpring Learn LMS account, set a due date for completing the quiz that will automatically display in your learners’ Microsoft Outlook calendar.
• Microsoft Word: choose this tab if you need a test in a printable format.

For How Long Should We Set the Timer for in Timed Quizzes? 

 There can be different reasons for creating a timed quiz. Perhaps, the most likely are the following:

• To make quizzes cheat proof
• To make sure the assessment module doesn’t take too long to finish
• To prompt learners to complete a quiz against the clock 
• To meet the requirements that the format prescribes, e.g., if you make a trivia quiz or a personality test 

The question then arises as to how long the timed quiz should be in order to be challenging enough but not overwhelming. Basically, you can decide how long a quiz question will be depending on whether it’s a formative or summative assessment, what the subject is, and, of course, who your audience is. 

Another option is to take the approximate length of the timed quiz questions used by other teachers and instructors as a point of reference. For example, as per the handout, “Is This a Trick Question? A Short Guide to Writing Effective Test Questions” by Kansas Curriculum Center, there is an optimal time duration for particular types of quiz questions. So, in case of doubt, you can base your quiz timing on the following:

True or false: 30 seconds

Multiple-choice: 1 second

Short answer: 120 seconds

Essay question: 10–15 minutes 

This can help you decide on the maximum time to allow for different types of questions correctly. 

Some Extra Options to Enhance Your Quiz

It’s also worth mentioning that there are other aspects that need to be considered if you want your own quiz to be truly effective. Here’s a list of some extra steps you might want to take:

Make your quiz “more cheat proof”

Apart from adding countdown timers, you can also prevent students from cheating by shuffling answers in iSpring Suite. This way, learners will see answers in a different order and thus won’t be able to use a list of correct answers if shared by their group mates.

Make your timed quiz more informative

The main goal of education is sharing knowledge. So, if a student provides an incorrect answer, you can give them feedback so they remember the accurate information and will fare better in additional attempts to pass the test.

Make assessments more individualized

Students differ. One might know the topic thoroughly, while another may simply remember one or two facts. To get a deeper insight into their actual knowledge, you can set branching scenarios by creating a variety of questions that develop according to learners’ quiz responses. For example, if a student answers A, they will then be given question B. If they answer C, they will be given question D, and so forth – each learner gets a unique question that addresses their individual need for knowledge assessment.

Make the assessment process more engaging and fun

Visual design can play an important role in making quizzes more engaging. With the iSpring Suite online quiz maker, you can set background images, font, size, and color changes, add your organization’s logo, and more, according to your preferences. Preview your quiz before publishing to check whether your learners will see the quiz exactly as you want them to.

As you can see, building a quiz with timing can be quite simple, even if you’re just starting out as an online trainer. People with no instructional design experience won’t face any technical issues if they use the right tool. The ready-made timed tests will adapt to any screen size, so learners can even take them from mobile devices and tablets – they just need an internet connection.

You, too, can create quizzes with a timer using iSpring Suite. Plus, the toolkit will save you from having to spend hours on counting points and grading your student tests manually. You will be able to collect and view results immediately. Just download a free trial and give it a shot.