Study Timer

How to study with a timer

1. Decide what this block is for before you start it: one chapter, one problem set, twenty flashcards. "Study chemistry" is too vague to finish.
2. Press Start and put the phone out of reach. The timer keeps counting if you switch to your notes or a PDF in another tab.
3. When it rings, stop, even mid-sentence, and write one line about where you are. That line is what makes the next block easy to begin.
4. Take the break away from the screen, then start the next block. After four blocks, take a longer break of 15 to 30 minutes.

This page runs one countdown at a time and does not switch to the break on its own. Change the minutes for the break, or keep a 5 minute timer open in a second tab: each tab has its own timer.

Which study interval to use

There is no single correct length. The right block is the longest one you can get through without checking your phone, and that depends on the task.

Pomodoro: 25 minutes of work, 5 minutes of break

The default on this page. Short enough to start when you do not feel like starting, which makes it the one to use for reading you have been putting off, flashcards and problem sets.

50/10: 50 minutes of work, 10 minutes of break

One block per hour, so every session starts on a round time. Better than 25 minutes for essays and long problems, where the first quarter of an hour goes into getting back into the material.

Class period: 45 minutes of work, 15 minutes of break

The rhythm of a school day. Useful when you are revising for a subject taught in periods of about that length, since it is the stretch you are already used to concentrating for.

Mock exam: 90 minutes of work, 20 minutes of break

For practice papers under real conditions: no pause, no phone, one sitting. Keep the device plugged in so it does not go to sleep before the end.

Frequently asked questions

Is this a Pomodoro timer?

It opens on 25 minutes, the Pomodoro work interval, and you can use it that way. It does not run the breaks automatically: when a block ends, set the break yourself or use a second tab.

How long should a study session be?

Start with 25 minutes and a 5-minute break. If you are still concentrating when it rings, move up to 45 or 50 minutes. If you keep reaching for your phone before the end, the block is too long for that task.

Can I use it to time a practice exam?

Yes. Set the hours and minutes the real paper allows and start it once. The line above the Start button shows the time it will end, which is what an exam hall clock would tell you.

Will the timer keep going while I use other tabs or apps?

Yes, as long as this tab stays open and the device stays awake. It cannot ring if the tab is closed or the computer goes to sleep, so plug in a laptop for a long session.

Related tools

To measure how long a task really takes instead of limiting it, use the online stopwatch. To count the days left before an exam, use the countdown timer. Every other preset length is on the timer page.