Untimed

Untimed is an adjective describing something not constrained by time or a clock. It is used to denote a lack of fixed duration or deadline in various contexts, including examinations, tasks, events, and workflows.

In education, untimed assessments are tests or tasks that do not run against a strict time limit. Students may work at their own pace, which can reduce time pressure and emphasize problem-solving and comprehension. However, untimed formats can affect measurement of speed and fluency and may require careful design to ensure comparability across individuals.

In games and competitions, an untimed format means there is no external time limit. Participants complete the objective at their own pace, and outcomes are determined by completion, accuracy, or points rather than speed. This format is used for certain puzzle contests, demonstrations, or practice sessions.

In software development and operations, untimed tasks or jobs are those without a hard deadline, though they may be governed by internal service levels or dependency constraints. Untimed workflows can be advantageous for batch processing and reliability but may complicate prioritization and planning.

The term is contrasted with timed or time-bound variants, which impose a duration constraint. Etymologically, it derives from the prefix un- indicating negation and the adjective timed.