How to Turn Off the Quizizz Timer

Quizizz has emerged as one of the most popular digital platforms for formative assessments, enabling teachers and educators to create fun and engaging quizzes. One of its hallmark features is the timer mechanism, which places time constraints on student responses. While this feature can drive engagement and simulate test conditions, it is not ideal for every classroom or student. Some learners, especially those who require accommodations or are studying in a non-competitive setting, may benefit from having that timer removed. Understanding how to disable the Quizizz timer ensures a more inclusive learning environment, tailored to each student’s needs.

TL;DR

If you want to create a quiz on Quizizz without the stress of a countdown, you’re in luck: the platform allows you to turn off the timer for questions. This setting can be adjusted when assigning a quiz or editing quiz settings. Disabling the timer is useful for students who need more time due to learning differences or for low-pressure learning environments. Just go to the settings before starting the quiz and toggle off the timer to create a more accommodating experience.

Why Disabling the Timer May Be Necessary

The default timer on Quizizz assigns a countdown to each question based on its difficulty. This can be motivating for some students but may create undue stress for others. Disabling the timer can:

• Reduce test anxiety: Students can think through their responses at a comfortable pace.
• Support differentiated instruction: Helps learners who process information at different speeds.
• Promote deeper learning: Without watching a clock, students may focus more on content understanding than just speed.
• Give educators more control: Allows for tailoring the quiz to suit the situational requirements of the classroom.

Fortunately, Quizizz provides an option to turn off the timer, but the feature is embedded within specific settings—meaning that understanding where and how to access it is crucial.

Step-by-Step Guide: How to Turn Off the Timer on Quizizz

Depending on how you are using Quizizz—whether assigning a quiz for homework, conducting a live session, or editing a quiz that you’ve created—the method for disabling the timer can slightly vary. Here’s how to turn off the timer in each scenario:

1. Disabling the Timer When Assigning a Quiz (Live or Homework)

1. Log into your Quizizz account.
2. Either search for a quiz in the public library or open one you’ve created.
3. Click on the Assign button if you’re assigning it as homework or Start a Live Quiz for real-time play.
4. You’ll see a screen with customizable settings before the session begins. Look for the option called “Timer”.
5. Toggle off the Question Timer setting.
6. Continue by clicking on “Proceed” or “Start” to initiate the quiz with the updated settings.

2. Turning Off the Timer in Quiz Settings (Editable Quizzes Only)

If you’re editing a quiz you’ve created yourself, you can modify the timer settings permanently, question by question:

1. Go to your My Library and open a quiz you’ve created.
2. Click on the Edit button.
3. Choose a question to modify by clicking on it.
4. On the right side, look for the Timer section.
5. Set the timer to None or disable it according to the available options.
6. Repeat for other questions or apply settings batch-wise if that functionality is visible.
7. Save the quiz after making changes.

This method is particularly helpful if you know in advance that the quiz will be used in scenarios where a timer is not beneficial.

Who Can Turn Off the Timer?

Not all users may have the same level of access when it comes to customizing settings. Here’s a quick look at who can make these changes:

• Teachers with standard or free accounts: Can turn off the timer during quiz assignment.
• Premium users: May see more advanced customization options, including batch-setting timers to zero.
• Students: Cannot control timer settings; only quiz creators or assigners can make this change.

Be sure to test the quiz before launching it to ensure your settings were adequately saved, especially if you’re teaching a group with specific needs.

Accessibility and Inclusive Learning

One of the hallmarks of effective digital education tools is their adaptability to diverse learning environments. Turning off the timer supports:

• Students with Individual Education Plans (IEPs): Where extra time is a documented need.
• ESL students: Who may need more time to interpret and understand the phrasing in quizzes.
• Younger learners: Who may feel overwhelmed by ticking clocks.

Integrating accessibility into your Quizizz practices can transform assessments from high-pressure events into genuine learning opportunities.

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Considerations and Potential Drawbacks

While there are many benefits to disabling timers, it is important to weigh certain considerations:

• Pacing issues: Without a timer, quizzes may take significantly longer to complete.
• Lack of urgency: Some students might become distracted or disengaged if no time limit is enforced.
• Class management: In timed classroom activities, a lack of enforced time may disrupt scheduling.

Hence, understanding the needs of your specific group of learners and setting expectations beforehand can make a huge difference in the overall effectiveness of an untimed quiz session.

Integrating Timer-Free Quizzes Into Your Teaching Strategy

When used deliberately, removing the timer can fit into broader pedagogical strategies:

• Formative assessments: Use untimed quizzes to evaluate learning progress without pressure.
• Flipped classrooms: Assign untimed quizzes as pre-class activities to measure prior knowledge.
• Remediation sessions: Provide slower-paced quizzes to students who may need additional support.

Align your quiz settings to your instructional goals to ensure an optimized learning experience.

Quizizz Alternatives with Better Timing Flexibility

If you’re finding limitations in Quizizz’s timing settings, you’re not alone. Some educators explore alternatives that offer better flexibility in pacing, such as:

• Kahoot!: While highly interactive, custom timing is more limited in free versions.
• Gimkit: Allows creative game modes but may require a subscription for detailed timing options.
• Formative or Google Forms: Comprehensive flexibility including open-ended assignments with no timers.

Exploring multiple tools ensures you’re using the right platform for the right objective, especially when student engagement and accessibility are both priorities.

Conclusion

Disabling the timer on Quizizz is a simple yet impactful adjustment that can dramatically affect student performance, engagement, and equity. Whether you’re working with younger learners, supporting students with individualized needs, or simply aiming for a less pressured testing environment, understanding how to manage Quizizz’s timer setting is essential. By navigating through the settings as outlined above, you can create more meaningful and adaptive quiz experiences for every learner in your classroom.

Consider not just whether timing improves performance, but whether it enhances learning. The ultimate goal of any assessment should be understanding — and sometimes, that means turning the clock off altogether.