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Timer Settings let you control when candidates can start a test, how long they have to complete it, and what happens when time runs out. You access these settings from the Settings button on your dashboard.
The times you set are in your local timezone. AutoProctor handles all timezone conversions automatically — if your candidates are in a different timezone, they will see the correct local time on their end.

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How to Configure Timer Settings

1

Enable the Timer

On the Test Settings page, check the Enable Timer checkbox. This activates all time-related settings for your test. Unchecking this box disables all time-related checks.
2

Set the Duration

Enter the maximum time a candidate has to complete the test. The countdown starts when the test loads and the candidate sees the questions.
3

Configure Auto-Submit (Optional)

Toggle Auto-submit Test to automatically submit the test when the duration ends. If disabled, candidates get unlimited time to submit after the timer runs out.
For non-Socratease quizzes, auto-submit only submits the proctoring session — not the quiz answers. If a candidate hasn’t manually submitted their answers, all responses will be lost. For Socratease quizzes, both answers and proctoring data are submitted automatically.
4

Set a Start Window (Optional)

Use Can’t Start Before and Can’t Start After to define when candidates can begin the test:
  • Can’t Start Before — the earliest date and time a candidate can start
  • Can’t Start After — the latest date and time a candidate can start
If you set a date without a time, midnight is used as the default.
5

Set a Submission Deadline (Optional)

Must Submit By sets a hard deadline for submission. If a candidate starts the test close to this deadline, their available time is reduced accordingly.For example, if the test duration is 30 minutes and the Must Submit By time is 12:30 PM, a candidate starting at 12:15 PM gets only 15 minutes. This uses the same date as Can’t Start After.
6

Configure Buffer Time (Optional)

Buffer Time is a grace period after the Can’t Start After time that allows candidates to complete the demo test and set up their device. AutoProctor adds a default 5-minute buffer when start/end times are set.
Buffer time does not apply to the Must Submit By deadline.

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Timer Settings Reference

SettingDescriptionDefault
DurationMaximum time for a test attemptNo limit
Auto-submit TestSubmit automatically when time runs outOff
Can’t Start BeforeEarliest start date and timeNo restriction
Can’t Start AfterLatest start date and timeNo restriction
Must Submit ByHard submission deadlineNot set
Buffer TimeGrace period for setup after Can’t Start After5 min (when times are set)