OSCE timer
Reading time, station time and warnings, with a bell and a voice that calls you in. Runs a whole circuit, keeps your phone awake and carries on through a refresh. Free, no login.
Ready · reading time first
Timed the way a real station is
Reading time, then the bell
The clock starts outside the door. One bell and “Reading time”, then two bells and “Students, please go in” when the station opens.
Warnings you choose
A two-minute call is the default. Add a one-minute or thirty-second call, or a five-minute one for a long combined station.
A voice, not just a beep
Announcements are spoken by your device's own English voice, so a partner acting as examiner never has to watch the screen.
Whole circuits
Set the number of stations and the timer runs reading and station time for each, calling the station number at every changeover.
Made for a phone on the desk
A full-screen clock readable from across the room, buttons sized for thumbs, and the screen held awake while it runs.
Nothing to lose
Refresh, switch apps or lose signal: the run resumes from the clock, and any bell you missed rings when you come back.
Common OSCE station formats
Every link opens the timer already set up. Check the rules of your own exam for the exact numbers; these are the shapes we see most.
| Format | Reading | Station | Warning | Typical use | Open |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2 + 8 | 2 min | 8 min | 2 min | AMC Clinical and most Year 1–3 stations | Open → |
| 1½ + 8 | 1 min 30 s | 8 min | 2 min | PLAB 2 | Open → |
| 2 + 10 | 2 min | 10 min | 2 min | Year 3+ single-skill stations | Open → |
| 2 + 15 | 2 min | 15 min | 2 min | Combined history and examination | Open → |
| 1 + 5 | 1 min | 5 min | 1 min | Short procedural and skills stations | Open → |
Questions
What does the OSCE timer announce?
A bell and “Reading time” when the run starts, two bells and “Reading time is over. Students, please go in” when the station begins, “You have two minutes remaining” (or whichever warnings you set) during the station, and a long bell with “Time is up. Please stop and leave the station” at the end. In a circuit it also calls the next station number.
Does it keep going if I switch apps or my screen locks?
Yes. The timer works from the clock, not by counting, so it is always right when you come back and any bell you missed rings once you return. While it runs it asks the browser to keep your screen awake, so on most phones the screen simply stays on. A locked iPhone does pause web audio, so prop the phone up rather than pocketing it.
Will I lose the timer if I refresh the page?
No. The run is saved in your browser and resumes exactly where it was, including mid-station and while paused. Your settings and your choice of voice are remembered too.
Can I run a full mock OSCE circuit?
Set Stations to the number in your circuit. The timer runs reading time and station time for each in turn, announces “Station 2, reading time” at every changeover and tells you when the circuit is over.
Which reading time and warning should I use?
Most Australian medical school OSCEs and the AMC Clinical Examination give two minutes of reading time and a two-minute warning inside an eight or ten minute station. PLAB 2 uses one and a half minutes of reading. If your school does a one-minute warning instead, tap the 1 min chip.
Why is there no sound on my phone?
Browsers only allow sound after you have tapped the page, and Start counts as that tap. If the timer was restored after a refresh, tap anywhere once. On an iPhone, check the ring/silent switch: it mutes web audio too. Use Hear a warning in the settings to check the volume before you begin.
Can I share my settings with a study group?
Copy link puts your reading time, station time, warnings and station count into the address, so everyone opens the same timer. You can also type it by hand: /osce/timer?reading=2&station=8&remind=2.
Is the OSCE timer free?
Yes. No account, no sign-up, no ads over the clock. It is part of ChoiceHub's free OSCE practice tools alongside the mock stations and examination checklists.