My Japanese teacher explained why they cover the clocks in exam rooms, such as the JLPT

You may have heard that sometimes, JLPT proctors will cover the clocks in exam rooms, which is why it’s recommended to bring an analog watch if you can (such as in [KemushiChan’s video on the JLPT](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=biMdXIpHK14&t=10m17s)).

My Japanese teacher said this is common in Japan. The reasoning is that students close to the clock would have an easier time seeing the clock and have an unfair advantage over students far away from the clock. So to make the environment fair, they cover the clocks and students are encouraged to bring their own analog watches. The proctor may even announce the exact time on their watch, and students will adjust their watches to match accordingly.

I thought this was interesting and wanted to share! Good luck, if you’re taking the JLPT!