15 minute timer
What a 15-minute timer is good for
- GCSE speaking preparation. In AQA's GCSE French speaking test, candidates get 15 minutes of supervised preparation time before the test. Practising with the same limit shows how much you can plan in that window.
- The long Pomodoro break. After four 25-minute focus rounds, the Pomodoro method suggests a longer break of 15 to 30 minutes. The Pomodoro timer handles the rounds for you.
- Homework for younger children. Fifteen-minute chunks with a short break in between are easier to stick to than an open-ended evening of homework.
- Quarter-hour slots. Keep a one-to-one or a stand-up meeting to 15 minutes with the timer on screen.
- Chores. Fifteen minutes on one room or one pile of ironing, then stop.
- A lunchtime walk. Out for seven and a half minutes, back for seven and a half, and you are at your desk on time.
How it works
Press Start and the 15-minute countdown begins; the bar and the browser tab show the time left. The timer counts to a fixed end time, so it stays accurate if you switch tabs, and an alarm sounds at zero while the numbers flash. Full screen makes the digits readable from across a room. Space starts and pauses, R resets. To share a different length, add ?t= and a number of seconds to the address: datetime.uk/timer/?t=1080 opens an 18-minute timer.
For custom lengths, use the online timer. For a shorter stretch, try the 10-minute timer.
Frequently asked questions
How long is the preparation time in GCSE French speaking?
For AQA GCSE French (8652), it is 15 minutes of supervised preparation at both tiers. The test itself is 7 to 9 minutes at Foundation and 10 to 12 minutes at Higher.
Will the timer keep going if I switch tabs?
Yes. The timer counts down to a fixed end time, so it stays accurate in a background tab and the alarm still sounds. Closing the tab stops it.
Can I keep my screen on while it runs?
In supported browsers, the screen stays awake while the timer is running, so your phone should not lock part-way through.