How to check exam clock accuracy

Check before candidates arrive

1. Compare the computer’s date and time with the reference approved by your institution. Check the timezone separately: a plausible minute reading can still be an hour wrong.
2. Review automatic time and timezone settings. On managed devices, ask IT to correct unavailable or restricted settings before the exam.
3. Open the examination link and compare its date, start and finish with the timetable. A correct device clock does not correct the wrong examination schedule.
4. Compare again after a restart, sleep or a change of network or location. Record or report differences through your existing procedure.

Do not change the system clock to extend an exam. It changes the clock’s reference for every page on that device. Handle timetable adjustments through the authorised examination procedure and explicit exam settings.

Where to check automatic time

Windows 11: open Settings → Time & language → Date & time. Review automatic time and timezone separately. Microsoft describes these controls in its date, time and timezone instructions.

macOS: open Apple menu → System Settings → General → Date & Time. Review the automatic date and time option. Apple documents setting the date and time and automatic timezone settings. Menu availability can depend on system version and device management.

Automatic settings are preparation aids, not a guarantee that a particular machine is accurate. Verify the resulting displayed time against your accepted reference. These system instructions were checked on 19 September 2026.

What happens after sleep or a delayed update?

The display recalculates from the current device time and fixed exam timestamps; it does not simply subtract one second per callback. After a paused tab resumes, the next update catches up. This prevents accumulated timer drift from delayed updates, but does not independently correct an inaccurate device clock.

A sleeping computer cannot keep the image visible. Check power settings and the wake-lock status during your room preparation.

Finish with a room check

Confirm the intended timezone on an edited or shared link, particularly on a device in another timezone. Generated links preserve the original exam’s instants and display zone. Verify the full setup checklist; use troubleshooting if the displayed result differs from the timetable.