Essay Timer
A countdown timer and a live word counter on the same screen, so you can write an essay or exam answer against the clock and see your pace as you go.
Time limit
00:00
Set a limit and click Start
0
Words
0
Characters
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Your pace (wpm)
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Pace needed (wpm)
How to use this tool
- Pick a preset time limit, or type a custom number of minutes.
- Set a target word count if you have one, such as an exam's minimum length.
- Write in the box below. Click Start when you begin; the clock and your live word count both run at the same time.
- Watch the pace figure: it shows the words per minute you need to average for the rest of the time to reach your target.
- Click Pause to stop the clock without losing your place, or Reset to start over. Your draft is saved on this device even if you close the tab.
About this tool
Most essay timers are a plain countdown with the word "essay" in the title, and nothing about them actually helps you write. The two things a timed writing task needs on screen at once are how much time is left and how many words you have written, because the only decision that matters while writing against a clock is whether to keep going at the current pace or speed up. This tool puts both in one place. Set a time limit and, optionally, a target word count, then write directly in the box. As you type, it works out the pace you are actually writing at and, more usefully, the pace you now need for the remaining time to still hit your target. If that number climbs, you know before the clock runs out rather than after. It suits exam practice with a fixed time limit (the SAT and IELTS essay sections, timed coursework, mock exams), and it suits open writing sprints where the goal is simply to keep moving for a set number of minutes. Your draft is kept in your browser's local storage between visits, so closing the tab by accident does not lose your work, but nothing you write is ever uploaded, transmitted, or seen by anyone else. Clear it yourself with the Clear Draft button when you are done.
Frequently asked questions
How does the pace figure work?
Once the timer is running, the tool divides the words remaining to your target by the minutes remaining on the clock, and updates that figure every second. If you are ahead of pace it falls; if you are behind it rises. It is a live answer to 'how fast do I need to write right now', not a fixed number set at the start.
Do I have to set a target word count?
No. Leave it as a rough guide, or ignore the pace figures entirely and use the tool as a plain timer with a word counter running alongside it. It still shows total words and characters either way.
Is my essay draft saved anywhere?
It is saved to your own browser's local storage, on your device only, so it survives closing the tab or refreshing the page by accident. It is never uploaded to a server or seen by anyone else. Click 'Clear Draft' to remove it, or clear your browser's site data for the same effect.
Can I use a custom time limit instead of a preset?
Yes. Type any number of minutes into the custom field and it overrides the preset buttons. Fractional minutes work too, for a 12.5 minute limit, for example.
What happens when the timer reaches zero?
The countdown stops at zero and the tool marks time as up, without clearing or locking your draft. You keep everything you wrote and can review your final word count and pace straight away.
Does this send my writing anywhere for checking or scoring?
No. This is a timer and a word counter, not a grading tool. Everything runs as plain JavaScript in your browser; your writing is never analysed, uploaded, or stored anywhere except your own device's local storage.