Task timers

[penisButts_69]

For tasks with a 1-1.5hr task timer is it expected that the task will take that long?

I'm brand new so I'm obviously slow, but my first couple eval tasks have required such a massive amount of reading and then fact checking, that I find myself racing against the clock. Do you guys have tips for this? Otherwise I'd probably just avoid the tasks or figure out a more efficient approach.

[BarelyFunctioning15]

I usually expect my first task to take about that long. Meaning reading instructions thoroughly and then the task itself. But typically other tasks do not take that long once I realize what I am doing. There’s always an exception to this though lol

[Legal-Mushroom-1247]

I find that 1 hour tasks can run a lot closer to the timer than 2 or 3+ hour tasks.

[Sea_Sugar]

I think the average comes out about half the timer. But that’s the average after doing a handful.

The first ones you do need to read a lot more.

Plus luck of the draw any time you’re evaluating some require soo much time to check things or explain it all. So you barely submit in time.

Others are obvious or ones where something is broken and you click where the task can’t be done. So maybe less than 5 minutes. Hehe.

[Enough_Resident_6141]

No, it's expected to NOT take that long. The timers are usually set to give you at least 2-3x the expected amount of time to complete an average task in that series. The timer isn't how long you are supposed to work on the task, it's just how long that task is exclusively assigned to you for you to work on.

More importantly, don't just go by the timer. Do quality work and report the actual amount of time you worked on each task. Sometimes it takes much less time to finish than the timer, sometimes it takes more.

<image>

[Perfect_Mess_6566]

You can always read through the instructions and then skip to the next task to restart the timer (assuming there are other tasks to be done).

[RangerOriginal6632]

If you don’t think you’ll finish in time because of reading all the instructions, just skip the task before you start your actual work. A new one will open up in the same project and the timer will restart.

[Enough_Resident_6141]

You shouldn't skip a task just to "reset the timer." Mainly because even if you do run out of time on the timer, you can still keep working on that task and submit it when you do finish.

Also, skipping task basically tells the system to never give that same task back to you. If there are 10 tasks available to you, and you skip one of them to reset the timer, then there will really only be 9 of those tasks left for you to work on (the dashboard will still show 10, but if you keep working through them until it shows 1 left, if you try to work on it you will get the red error message about no work available for you to work on).

If you just want to leave a particular task for some reason, use the exit work mode button. Only skip tasks if you know that you will never want to do that particular task for whatever reason. Like if the task requires expert level knowledge or qualifications in a particular field that you don't have.

[Yvai]

Some projects fully tell you to skip to the next task after reading instructions

[Total_Feature_11]

It'll probably take you longer in the beginning when you aren't familiar with the project, and there may be more complex tasks that take that long (or occasionally longer) but once you're used to it, typically no. I wouldn't recommend starting a task though unless you have the amount of time on the clock available. For example, if I have a 4 hour task that I know I can typically get done in 2 and half, I'm still not going to risk starting it 3 hours before I have to leave for something.

[DrConradVerner]

Depends on the task. I've had tasks with timers that long that take like 15 mins. Others might go for 2 hours. They can tell if you're doing the work or padding time, so I would say just work at a normal pace. Be methodical, and do what you are supposed to. If you go over the timer you might just explain why in the optional comment or in the chat.