Exam Hall Clock

Walk the room before choosing a position

A hall introduces obstacles that may not exist in a classroom: pillars, broad seating blocks, a raised stage or screens mounted off-centre. Inspect the view from the last row and from seats at both sides. Check whether a person standing at the front could block the time.

Use the real seating layout if it is available. A screen that is visible in an empty hall can become obscured by people, furniture or examination partitions.

One source, more than one screen

Where the room’s AV system can mirror a single computer output to several screens, each screen can show the same browser display. Check the signal at every screen; the software cannot confirm that an HDMI distribution system or projector is working.

If you use separate computers, each one follows its own system clock. A copied exam URL preserves the scheduled timestamps, but does not synchronise those computers. Verify device times and the loaded exam on each display before the session.

Keep identification short

A short exam title and hall label help staff confirm that the correct schedule is open. They should not dominate the current time. Where a hall hosts several schedules, one finish time may not describe every candidate’s arrangement.

The free display handles one schedule at a time. It does not manage multiple finish groups, reading time, late starters or individual extra time. Follow the institution’s communication procedure for those arrangements instead of expecting a single countdown to represent everyone.

Review power and visibility together

Connect the computer and displays to reliable power. Check both computer sleep and the screen’s own automatic shutdown settings. A browser wake lock, when available, is helpful but can be released by the browser or operating system.

During the rehearsal, leave the display idle long enough to expose screen-saver or power-saving behaviour. Test the display after temporarily removing network access as well. Keep any contingency equipment and staff instructions agreed for that venue.

Assign the final check

Before admitting candidates, identify who confirms the exam date, start, finish and room. After a break or change of paper, repeat that check rather than relying on the last saved session. The exam officer page suggests a handover process; the university page covers multiple independently prepared rooms.