Setting quiz attempt limits, time limits, and expiry dates on a QuizMagic Smart Sharing session is one of the most effective ways to keep an online assessment fair, focused, and straightforward to grade. A well-configured session tells every student exactly how long they have, how many tries they get, and when the quiz closes. So there is no room for confusion or inconsistency.
This article explains where these controls live inside Smart Sharing and how to configure each one for different assessment purposes.
Smart Sharing required. Attempt limits, time limits, and expiry dates are Smart Sharing features. They are not available on Simple Sharing sessions. If you have not yet set up Smart Sharing for your quiz, see Smart Sharing: QuizMagic’s Complete Quiz Distribution and Auto-Grading Guide first.
The Four Controls at a Glance
Before configuring anything, it helps to understand what each setting does and when to reach for it.
| Control | What it does | When to use it |
|---|---|---|
| Attempt limit | Decides how many times a single student can take the same quiz before being blocked | Graded exams (1), practice quizzes (2-3), self-study (unlimited) |
| Time limit | Sets a per-student countdown that starts the moment the student opens the quiz | Any assessment where consistent timing matters |
| Expiry date and time | Automatically closes the session at a specific date and time in your local timezone | Any quiz with a defined submission deadline |
| Activate/Deactivate button | Manually opens or closes the session for new students at any time | Overriding the schedule or closing a quiz immediately |
Used together, these controls give you the same level of oversight as an in-room exam, with the convenience of a shareable link. Furthermore, a properly configured session produces cleaner results because every student follows the same rules.
Step 1: Open the Smart Sharing Session
Quiz attempt limits, time limits, and expiry dates all live inside the Smart Sharing session editor. Here is how to get there.
- Sign in to your QuizMagic dashboard.
- Open Smart Sharing from the top menu.
- Locate the quiz session you want to update. Use the search bar or the status filter at the top if your list is long.
- Click the Edit Session action in the kebab menu on the far right of the quiz session.
If you have not shared this quiz yet, generate or save it first, then click Share from the quiz card. QuizMagic creates a Smart Sharing session automatically and opens the session editor.
Tip: Sessions you have not opened in a while can be sorted by Most Active, which keeps the quizzes your students are currently taking at the top of the list.
Step 2: Set the Quiz Attempt Limit
Inside the session editor, find the Attempt Limits section. This is where you set quiz attempt limits for the session.
Attempt limit options
1 attempt is the default setting and the right choice for graded exams, certification tests, and any quiz where you want one definitive result per student.
2 or 3 attempts work well for low-stakes practice, vocabulary drills, and pre-class warm-ups where students benefit from a second chance to consolidate what they learned from their first attempt.
Unlimited is best for self-paced study guides and revision banks where the score does not feed into a formal grade and the value comes from repeated retrieval practice.
What students see when they hit the limit
When a student reaches the attempt limit, QuizMagic blocks any new attempts from that browser and displays a clear message explaining that the quiz is closed for them. Their previous answers remain saved and visible to you from the session’s Results view. If a student needs a reset due to a technical issue, see the section on resetting individual attempts below.
Changing the limit after students have started
You can update the attempt limit at any time, even after students have already submitted. Existing attempts remain in your records unchanged. Additionally, the new rule applies immediately to any attempts that follow the update.
Step 3: Set a Time Limit
The time limit field sets a countdown that starts the moment a student opens the quiz. Consequently, every student has the same amount of time regardless of when during the session window they choose to begin.
How the timer works
The timer is anchored to first open. When a student opens the quiz link for the first time, the clock starts.
Answers save continuously. QuizMagic saves the student’s responses as they work through the quiz.
The quiz auto-submits when time expires. When the countdown reaches zero, QuizMagic submits whatever answers the student has entered at that moment.
Recommended time allowances
As a general starting point, allow 60 to 90 seconds per Multiple Choice or True/False question and 2 to 3 minutes per Short Answer question. Adjust based on content difficulty and your students’ reading level. For a first attempt with a new class or topic, err toward a more generous time limit and tighten it for subsequent sessions once you have a sense of how long the quiz actually takes.
Step 4: Set an Expiry Date and Time
The expiry date and time field lets you schedule exactly when the quiz session closes automatically. When the expiry moment arrives, new students who click the link see a notice that the quiz is no longer available. Students who are already mid-attempt can still finish and submit their work. No student loses progress because of the expiry.
Setting the expiry date and time
In the session editor, locate the Expiry Date and Time section. Toggle it on, then enter the date and time you want the session to close. QuizMagic automatically uses your browser’s local timezone, so the time you enter is the time in your timezone. No manual timezone conversion is required.
For example, if you are in Manila and you set the expiry to Friday at 11:59 PM, the session closes at 11:59 PM Philippine Standard Time. A student in a different timezone who has the link will find it closed at the corresponding moment in their local time.
Important: QuizMagic detects your timezone from your browser at the moment you configure the session. If you are travelling or using a device with a different timezone setting, confirm your browser’s current timezone before setting the expiry time to avoid an unexpected early or late close.
Leaving the expiry blank
If you do not set an expiry date, the session remains open indefinitely until you manually deactivate it using the Activate/Deactivate button. This is appropriate for ongoing practice resources and self-paced study quizzes where there is no fixed submission deadline.
Step 5: Use the Active Toggle for Manual Control
The Activate/Deactivate button is a manual on/off switch that operates independently of the expiry date. You can use it to close a session immediately at any time, or to reopen a session whose expiry has already passed.
When the Activate/Deactivate toggle is useful
Closing a session early. If most students have finished ahead of the expiry time and you want to prevent late additions to the results, switch the session to Inactive immediately without waiting for the scheduled expiry.
Extending a session past its expiry. If a student needs additional time beyond the scheduled close, due to a verified technical issue or an approved accommodation, switch the session back to Active temporarily. When the student has submitted, switch it back to Inactive.
Running a quiz without a set expiry. When no expiry date is configured, the Activate/Deactivate button is the primary way to open and close the quiz on your schedule.
What happens when the session is set to Inactive
- New students who click the link see a clear notice that the quiz is closed
- Students who are already in the middle of an attempt can still finish and submit their work
- All previously submitted results remain safe and fully accessible in the Results view
- Switching back to Active restores the original link immediately. No new URL needs to be distributed
Step 6: Combine All Four Controls for Your Assessment Type
The real value of quiz attempt limits, time limits, and expiry dates appears when you configure all four controls together for a specific assessment purpose. Here are three recommended setups.
Final exam or graded test
Attempt limit: 1
Time limit: Strict, calibrated to the content, typically 1 to 1.5 minutes per question
Expiry date: Set to the exact end of your exam window
Active toggle: Leave Active. The expiry handles closing automatically
This configuration produces one definitive result per student, collected within a consistent time window, with the link closing automatically at the scheduled moment.
Weekly practice quiz
Attempt limit: 3
Time limit: Generous. Allow enough time for students to think without rushing
Expiry date: Set to Monday morning before the next class begins
Active toggle: Leave Active throughout the week. The expiry handles closing
This configuration lets students revisit the quiz after reviewing their mistakes, which reinforces learning through multiple retrieval attempts, while ensuring the window closes cleanly before the next session.
Tip: Try each new configuration with a small pilot group first like two or three colleagues or a handful of students, before distributing to a full class. A quick pilot run confirms whether the timer feels rushed or whether the attempt limit is too restrictive for your context.
How to Reset a Student’s Attempt
If a student was blocked by the attempt limit but needs to start again, because of a technical failure, an interrupted session, or a legitimate exception, you can reset their individual attempt from the Results view.
Open the session in Smart Sharing, navigate to the Results view, find the student’s attempt row, and use the Delete student attempt button for that student. The reset clears their attempt record for this session and allows them to start a new attempt, subject to the current attempt limit.
For more on managing individual student results and score adjustments, see How to Grade Student Responses and Override Scores.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I change the quiz attempt limit after students have started taking the quiz?
Yes. You can update the attempt limit at any time from the session editor. Existing attempts that students have already submitted remain in your records unchanged. The updated limit applies immediately to any attempts that follow the change.
What timezone does QuizMagic use for the expiry date and time?
QuizMagic automatically detects and uses your browser’s local timezone when you set the expiry date and time. The time you enter is the time in your timezone. No manual conversion is needed. If you are configuring a session while travelling or on a device with a different timezone setting, confirm your browser’s current timezone before saving.
Can I still see student results after the session expires or is set to Inactive?
Yes. Neither the expiry date nor the Activate/Deactivate toggle deletes any student data. Every previously submitted result, score, and student answer remains fully accessible in the session’s Results view regardless of whether the session is currently open or closed.
What does a student see when they have used all their attempts?
When a student reaches the attempt limit, QuizMagic blocks any new attempt from their browser and displays a clear message explaining that the quiz is no longer available to them. Their previous results remain in your Results view. If the student needs a reset due to a technical issue, use the individual Reset option described above.
Does the time limit apply per attempt or per session?
The time limit applies per attempt. Each time a student starts a new attempt, within their allowed number of attempts, the countdown begins fresh from the full time limit. The timer does not carry over the remaining time from one attempt to the next.
Can I reopen a session after the expiry date has passed?
Yes. Clicking the Activate button reopens the session immediately, even after the scheduled expiry time has passed. The original link continues to work, so you do not need to distribute a new URL. This is useful when you want to grant an extension to a specific student after the standard window has closed.
