Skip to content
Python Central Hub

Quiz Game with Timer

View on GitHub

Abstract

Quiz Game with Timer is a Python project that challenges users with timed questions. It demonstrates event-driven programming, GUI development, and time management. This project is ideal for learning about interactive games, user input, and countdown timers in Python.

Prerequisites

  • Python 3.6 or above
  • tkinter (usually pre-installed)
  • random (built-in)

Before you Start

Ensure Python is installed. No external packages are required. For GUI, make sure Tkinter is available.

Getting Started

  1. Create a folder named quiz-game-timerquiz-game-timer.
  2. Create a file named quiz_game_with_timer.pyquiz_game_with_timer.py.
  3. Copy the code below into your file.
⚙️ Quiz Game with Timer
Quiz Game with Timer
"""
Quiz Game with Timer
 
A Python-based quiz game where players must answer questions within a time limit. The game includes:
- A set of multiple-choice questions
- A timer for each question
- Score calculation based on correct answers
"""
 
import time
import threading
from tkinter import Tk, Label, Button, messagebox
 
 
class QuizGameWithTimer:
    def __init__(self, root):
        self.root = root
        self.root.title("Quiz Game with Timer")
 
        self.questions = [
            {"question": "What is the capital of France?", "options": ["Paris", "London", "Berlin", "Madrid"], "answer": "Paris"},
            {"question": "What is 5 + 7?", "options": ["10", "12", "14", "16"], "answer": "12"},
            {"question": "Which planet is known as the Red Planet?", "options": ["Earth", "Mars", "Jupiter", "Venus"], "answer": "Mars"},
        ]
 
        self.current_question_index = 0
        self.score = 0
        self.time_left = 10
 
        self.timer_thread = None
        self.timer_running = False
 
        self.setup_ui()
        self.display_question()
 
    def setup_ui(self):
        """Set up the user interface."""
        self.question_label = Label(self.root, text="", wraplength=400, font=("Arial", 14))
        self.question_label.pack(pady=20)
 
        self.option_buttons = []
        for i in range(4):
            button = Button(self.root, text="", command=lambda i=i: self.check_answer(i), width=20)
            button.pack(pady=5)
            self.option_buttons.append(button)
 
        self.timer_label = Label(self.root, text="Time left: 10 seconds", font=("Arial", 12))
        self.timer_label.pack(pady=10)
 
    def display_question(self):
        """Display the current question and options."""
        if self.current_question_index >= len(self.questions):
            self.end_game()
            return
 
        question_data = self.questions[self.current_question_index]
        self.question_label.config(text=question_data["question"])
 
        for i, option in enumerate(question_data["options"]):
            self.option_buttons[i].config(text=option)
 
        self.time_left = 10
        self.timer_label.config(text=f"Time left: {self.time_left} seconds")
        self.start_timer()
 
    def start_timer(self):
        """Start the countdown timer."""
        self.timer_running = True
        self.timer_thread = threading.Thread(target=self.countdown)
        self.timer_thread.start()
 
    def countdown(self):
        """Countdown timer logic."""
        while self.time_left > 0 and self.timer_running:
            time.sleep(1)
            self.time_left -= 1
            self.timer_label.config(text=f"Time left: {self.time_left} seconds")
 
        if self.time_left == 0:
            self.timer_running = False
            self.root.after(0, self.time_up)
 
    def time_up(self):
        """Handle the event when time is up."""
        messagebox.showinfo("Time's Up!", "You ran out of time for this question.")
        self.next_question()
 
    def check_answer(self, index):
        """Check if the selected answer is correct."""
        if not self.timer_running:
            return
 
        self.timer_running = False
        question_data = self.questions[self.current_question_index]
        selected_option = self.option_buttons[index].cget("text")
 
        if selected_option == question_data["answer"]:
            self.score += 1
 
        self.next_question()
 
    def next_question(self):
        """Move to the next question."""
        self.current_question_index += 1
        self.display_question()
 
    def end_game(self):
        """End the game and display the score."""
        messagebox.showinfo("Game Over", f"Your score: {self.score}/{len(self.questions)}")
        self.root.destroy()
 
 
def main():
    root = Tk()
    app = QuizGameWithTimer(root)
    root.mainloop()
 
 
if __name__ == "__main__":
    main()
Quiz Game with Timer
"""
Quiz Game with Timer
 
A Python-based quiz game where players must answer questions within a time limit. The game includes:
- A set of multiple-choice questions
- A timer for each question
- Score calculation based on correct answers
"""
 
import time
import threading
from tkinter import Tk, Label, Button, messagebox
 
 
class QuizGameWithTimer:
    def __init__(self, root):
        self.root = root
        self.root.title("Quiz Game with Timer")
 
        self.questions = [
            {"question": "What is the capital of France?", "options": ["Paris", "London", "Berlin", "Madrid"], "answer": "Paris"},
            {"question": "What is 5 + 7?", "options": ["10", "12", "14", "16"], "answer": "12"},
            {"question": "Which planet is known as the Red Planet?", "options": ["Earth", "Mars", "Jupiter", "Venus"], "answer": "Mars"},
        ]
 
        self.current_question_index = 0
        self.score = 0
        self.time_left = 10
 
        self.timer_thread = None
        self.timer_running = False
 
        self.setup_ui()
        self.display_question()
 
    def setup_ui(self):
        """Set up the user interface."""
        self.question_label = Label(self.root, text="", wraplength=400, font=("Arial", 14))
        self.question_label.pack(pady=20)
 
        self.option_buttons = []
        for i in range(4):
            button = Button(self.root, text="", command=lambda i=i: self.check_answer(i), width=20)
            button.pack(pady=5)
            self.option_buttons.append(button)
 
        self.timer_label = Label(self.root, text="Time left: 10 seconds", font=("Arial", 12))
        self.timer_label.pack(pady=10)
 
    def display_question(self):
        """Display the current question and options."""
        if self.current_question_index >= len(self.questions):
            self.end_game()
            return
 
        question_data = self.questions[self.current_question_index]
        self.question_label.config(text=question_data["question"])
 
        for i, option in enumerate(question_data["options"]):
            self.option_buttons[i].config(text=option)
 
        self.time_left = 10
        self.timer_label.config(text=f"Time left: {self.time_left} seconds")
        self.start_timer()
 
    def start_timer(self):
        """Start the countdown timer."""
        self.timer_running = True
        self.timer_thread = threading.Thread(target=self.countdown)
        self.timer_thread.start()
 
    def countdown(self):
        """Countdown timer logic."""
        while self.time_left > 0 and self.timer_running:
            time.sleep(1)
            self.time_left -= 1
            self.timer_label.config(text=f"Time left: {self.time_left} seconds")
 
        if self.time_left == 0:
            self.timer_running = False
            self.root.after(0, self.time_up)
 
    def time_up(self):
        """Handle the event when time is up."""
        messagebox.showinfo("Time's Up!", "You ran out of time for this question.")
        self.next_question()
 
    def check_answer(self, index):
        """Check if the selected answer is correct."""
        if not self.timer_running:
            return
 
        self.timer_running = False
        question_data = self.questions[self.current_question_index]
        selected_option = self.option_buttons[index].cget("text")
 
        if selected_option == question_data["answer"]:
            self.score += 1
 
        self.next_question()
 
    def next_question(self):
        """Move to the next question."""
        self.current_question_index += 1
        self.display_question()
 
    def end_game(self):
        """End the game and display the score."""
        messagebox.showinfo("Game Over", f"Your score: {self.score}/{len(self.questions)}")
        self.root.destroy()
 
 
def main():
    root = Tk()
    app = QuizGameWithTimer(root)
    root.mainloop()
 
 
if __name__ == "__main__":
    main()
  1. Run the script: python quiz_game_with_timer.pypython quiz_game_with_timer.py

Explanation

Code Breakdown

  1. Import modules
import tkinter as tk
import random
import tkinter as tk
import random
  1. Set up questions and timer
questions = [
    {'q': 'What is 2+2?', 'a': '4'},
    {'q': 'Capital of France?', 'a': 'Paris'}
]
questions = [
    {'q': 'What is 2+2?', 'a': '4'},
    {'q': 'Capital of France?', 'a': 'Paris'}
]
  1. Timer mechanism
def start_timer():
    # Countdown logic
    pass
def start_timer():
    # Countdown logic
    pass
  1. GUI for quiz
root = tk.Tk()
root.title('Quiz Game with Timer')
# ...setup widgets for questions, input, timer...
root.mainloop()
root = tk.Tk()
root.title('Quiz Game with Timer')
# ...setup widgets for questions, input, timer...
root.mainloop()

Features

  • Timed questions
  • Score tracking
  • Randomized questions
  • GUI for interaction

How It Works

  • Displays questions one by one
  • Starts timer for each question
  • User enters answer before time runs out
  • Updates score and moves to next question

GUI Components

  • Label: Shows question
  • Entry box: For answer
  • Timer display: Shows remaining time
  • Score display: Tracks correct answers

Use Cases

  • Practice quick thinking
  • Educational quizzes
  • Game nights

Next Steps

You can enhance this project by:

  • Adding more questions
  • Implementing difficulty levels
  • Adding sound alerts
  • Keeping high scores
  • Supporting multiplayer

Enhanced Version Ideas

def add_sound_alert():
    # Play sound when time is up
    pass
 
def multiplayer_mode():
    # Allow multiple players
    pass
def add_sound_alert():
    # Play sound when time is up
    pass
 
def multiplayer_mode():
    # Allow multiple players
    pass

Troubleshooting Tips

  • Timer not working: Check countdown logic
  • GUI not showing: Ensure Tkinter is installed
  • Questions not loading: Check question list

Conclusion

This project teaches event-driven programming, timers, and GUI basics. Extend it for more features and challenge levels.

Was this page helpful?

Let us know how we did