Adding a timer to a question enhances engagement by introducing variety in question types and rewarding quick, correct answers. It also helps diversify leaderboard scores and break ties. You can read about additional leaderboard tie-breaks here.
Note: Timed bonuses may not be suitable for learners with visual, cognitive, or motor disabilities. We recommend using this feature only if confirmed as accessible for all participants.
Timed bonuses are set per Qstream, allowing questions to be reused with or without them based on learning goals. Bonus points apply only if the answer is correct and submitted within the time limit.
Program Manager Experience
As a Program Manager, you can assign a timed bonus to any question in your Qstream. This setting applies only to that specific Qstream - If the same question or Deck is used elsewhere, the bonus must be re-applied.
The default number of seconds/points assigned to a Timed Question is 30 - i.e. a timed question will give a participant 30 seconds to earn a timed bonus with a maximum bonus of 30 points. This figure can be adjusted on the “Features” page when creating or editing a Qstream:
The timed bonus questions duration and points can be edited at any time. If it is edited while a Qstream is active, the Program Manager will receive the following warning:
Set a question to be timed from the “View questions” page when creating or editing a Qstream as shown below:
As with the timed duration, timed questions status on a question can be edited at any time. If it is altered while a Qstream is active, the Program Manager will see the following warnings:
Disabling a timed question:
You can also view your questions and their timed status in the carousel view under the “Settings” details in the side panel:
Participant Experience
When a participant opens a timed question, they are shown the question stem only with any answer choices hidden, and given an explanation for how a timed question works:
Once a participant clicks “Continue” the answer choices are displayed, along with a countdown timer:
If the question is answered correctly, the participant will receive a number of timed bonus point equal to the amount of time that remained on the countdown when they clicked “Submit”:
If the question is answered incorrectly or partially correctly, no timed bonus points are awarded.
If the timer runs out, the participant can still answer the question, but will be awarded no timed bonus points.
If the participant navigates away from the question, when they return to it, they will only have whatever amount of time was remaining the last time they viewed the question (i.e. to prevent cheating.)