A time limit for Google Forms quizzes that actually holds
Tickwell gives every student a countdown they can't reset, saves their answers as they go, and submits them to your form when time runs out, even if they closed the tab.
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What it does
The deadline lives on our server. Refreshing, reopening, switching devices or changing the clock doesn't add time.
Answers save every few seconds. When time is up they're sent to your form, tab open or not, and retried until Google accepts them.
Write "Ana Ruiz, +15" or "Ben 1.5x". Each student gets a personal link with their own limit.
Set when the quiz opens and closes and how many tries each person gets. Allow a retake in one click.
Student, minutes taken and how the attempt ended land in Responses and your linked Sheet, next to the answers.
The plain Google Forms link can't be used to skip the timer. Anything sent that way is flagged or deleted, your choice.
How it works
- Open your form, then click the Add-ons (puzzle piece) icon > Tickwell > Set up timer.
- Pick a time limit (and, if you like, an opening window, attempts and extra time). Click Publish timed link.
- Share the timed link with your class instead of the Google Forms link. Watch attempts come in from the sidebar.
Tickwell adds four short questions at the top of your form (code, student, minutes taken, details) that only the timed link fills in. While the timer is on, your questions are optional in Google so a half-finished quiz can still be submitted at the deadline; the timed page still requires them on a normal submit. Turn off puts everything back.
Compared with other Forms timers
| Tickwell | Typical timer add-on | |
|---|---|---|
| When the tab is closed at the deadline | Saved answers are submitted by our server | Often nothing is submitted |
| Student stuck at "0 attempts left" | Allow retake, one click | Email support |
| Extra time for accommodations | Per student, +minutes or 1.5x, personal links | Often missing or a separate form |
| Permissions | Only the form it's installed on | Often all your forms and all your Sheets |
| Camera or microphone | Never | Some require it |
| Pricing | On this page, before you install | Often only after signing up |
Pricing
Teacher. $8 a month, billed yearly. Unlimited forms and students.
Teacher, month to month. Cancel any time.
Whole school: every teacher on your school's Google Workspace domain. Or $30 a month.
Free trial: 40 timed attempts or 14 days, whichever comes first. No card needed. One attempt is one student starting the quiz. Setting up, checking your form, the attempt log and retakes are free. Attempts already in progress always finish, even if the trial ends mid-test.
Renewal: yearly and monthly plans renew automatically at the same price until you cancel. Cancel in one step from the Add-ons (puzzle piece) icon > Tickwell > Plans and billing; you keep access until the end of the period you paid for.
UK and EU customers: you have 14 days from purchase to cancel for a full refund (your statutory right to cancel). Email hello@greatwork.company or cancel in Plans and billing.
Mistaken or double charges are refunded. Prices exclude any sales tax or VAT your location requires. School plans can't be bought from personal Gmail, Outlook or similar addresses.
Questions
Can Google Forms set a time limit on its own?
No. Forms can close a form at a time you choose (with an add-on or manually), but it can't time each student. Locked mode only works on school-managed Chromebooks and doesn't time anything.
What if a student's internet drops?
The page keeps their answers and keeps trying. Everything saved before the deadline is submitted for them when time runs out.
Which forms work?
Any form that doesn't require Google sign-in. If your form collects verified emails or is limited to your school, switch email collection to "Responder input": Tickwell asks students for their email and passes it to your form. File upload questions aren't supported, videos are skipped, and images attached directly to a question can't be read by add-ons, so use an Image item.
Does it work with Quiz mode and grading?
Yes. Google grades the responses as usual. Release scores from the Responses tab.
Do students need an account?
No. They open the link, type their name (or email) and click Start.
What does it need permission for?
To read and change the form it's opened in, run when you're not there (to check each new response came through the timed link), show its sidebar, talk to the Tickwell service and our licensing server, and know your Google account email. It can't see your other forms, your Drive, your email or your Sheets.
Privacy
We keep as little as possible, for as short as possible. Answers in progress are kept only until they're submitted to your form, then deleted. The attempt log (the name or email a student typed, start and end times, page switches) is deleted 30 days after each attempt, or when you turn the timer off. We don't store IP addresses, use analytics or ad trackers, or ask for camera or microphone access. Tickwell's use and transfer of information received from Google APIs adheres to the Google API Services User Data Policy, including the Limited Use requirements. Full details: Tickwell privacy · Terms.