diff --git a/backend/app/main.py b/backend/app/main.py
index 8b49822..1cd5bca 100644
--- a/backend/app/main.py
+++ b/backend/app/main.py
@@ -218,6 +218,10 @@ def setup_pgvector():
             ALTER TABLE quiz_attempts
             ADD COLUMN IF NOT EXISTS selected_question_ids JSON
         """))
+        conn.execute(text("""
+            ALTER TABLE quiz_attempts
+            ADD COLUMN IF NOT EXISTS expired INTEGER DEFAULT 0
+        """))
 
         # Question ownership
         conn.execute(text("""
diff --git a/backend/app/models/attempt.py b/backend/app/models/attempt.py
index 97caef2..3798ac4 100644
--- a/backend/app/models/attempt.py
+++ b/backend/app/models/attempt.py
@@ -17,6 +17,7 @@ class QuizAttempt(Base):
     started_at = Column(DateTime, default=datetime.utcnow)
     completed_at = Column(DateTime, nullable=True)
     selected_question_ids = Column(JSON, nullable=True)  # for question pool: which questions this attempt uses
+    expired = Column(Integer, default=0)  # 1 = auto-submitted due to timer expiry (abandoned), excluded from history
 
     quiz = relationship("Quiz", back_populates="attempts")
     user = relationship("User", back_populates="attempts")
diff --git a/backend/app/routers/attempts.py b/backend/app/routers/attempts.py
index 23dc4a8..6652ad2 100644
--- a/backend/app/routers/attempts.py
+++ b/backend/app/routers/attempts.py
@@ -198,7 +198,10 @@ def list_attempts(
     db: Session = Depends(get_db),
     current_user: User = Depends(get_current_user),
 ):
-    query = db.query(QuizAttempt).filter(QuizAttempt.user_id == current_user.id)
+    query = db.query(QuizAttempt).filter(
+        QuizAttempt.user_id == current_user.id,
+        (QuizAttempt.expired == 0) | (QuizAttempt.expired.is_(None)),
+    )
     if quiz_id:
         query = query.filter(QuizAttempt.quiz_id == quiz_id)
     attempts = query.order_by(QuizAttempt.started_at.desc()).all()
@@ -224,9 +227,10 @@ class ProgressSave(BaseModel):
     current_idx: int
     mode: str
     voice: str | None = None
-    time_left: int | None = None  # remaining seconds for timed mode (informational, not authoritative)
+    time_left: int | None = None  # remaining seconds for timed mode (authoritative when suspended=True)
     started_at: str | None = None  # ISO timestamp when quiz started (for timer calculation)
     total_time: int | None = None  # original time limit in seconds
+    suspended: bool = False  # when True, timer is paused; time_left is preserved authoritatively
 
 
 @router.post("/progress")
@@ -260,6 +264,7 @@ def save_progress(
             "time_left": data.time_left,
             "started_at": data.started_at,
             "total_time": data.total_time,
+            "suspended": data.suspended,
         }))
     except Exception:
         logger.warning("Redis unavailable for progress save", exc_info=True)
@@ -310,7 +315,19 @@ def get_progress(
 
         saved = _json.loads(data)
 
-        # Check if timer expired for timed quiz (auto-submit)
+        # If the quiz was suspended, timer is paused — re-anchor on resume so
+        # the held time_left becomes the new total_time starting now.
+        if saved.get("suspended"):
+            time_left = saved.get("time_left")
+            if time_left is not None and time_left > 0:
+                saved["started_at"] = datetime.now(timezone.utc).isoformat()
+                saved["total_time"] = int(time_left)
+                saved["suspended"] = False
+                # Persist the re-anchored progress so timer continues correctly
+                r.setex(key, 7 * 24 * 3600, _json.dumps(saved))
+            return saved
+
+        # Check if timer expired for timed quiz (auto-submit) — only for unsuspended attempts
         total_time = saved.get("total_time")
         started_at_str = saved.get("started_at")
         if total_time is not None and started_at_str:
@@ -337,6 +354,7 @@ def get_progress(
                             ))
                     attempt.score = score
                     attempt.completed_at = datetime.utcnow()
+                    attempt.expired = 1  # mark as timer-expired; exclude from history
                     db.commit()
                     r.delete(key)
                     return None  # no progress to resume — already submitted
@@ -455,7 +473,7 @@ def get_quiz_history(
     db: Session = Depends(get_db),
     current_user: User = Depends(get_current_user),
 ):
-    """Return per-quiz attempt history for the performance line graph (excludes course quizzes)."""
+    """Return per-quiz attempt history for the performance line graph (excludes course quizzes and expired attempts)."""
     completed = (
         db.query(QuizAttempt)
         .join(Quiz, QuizAttempt.quiz_id == Quiz.id)
@@ -463,6 +481,7 @@ def get_quiz_history(
             QuizAttempt.user_id == current_user.id,
             QuizAttempt.completed_at.isnot(None),
             Quiz.course_id.is_(None),
+            (QuizAttempt.expired == 0) | (QuizAttempt.expired.is_(None)),
         )
         .order_by(QuizAttempt.completed_at)
         .all()
@@ -497,7 +516,7 @@ def get_dashboard_stats(
     current_user: User = Depends(get_current_user),
 ):
     total_docs = db.query(PDFDocument).filter(PDFDocument.user_id == current_user.id).count()
-    # Count distinct quizzes the user has attempted (excludes course quizzes)
+    # Count distinct quizzes the user has attempted (excludes course quizzes and expired attempts)
     total_quizzes = (
         db.query(QuizAttempt.quiz_id)
         .join(Quiz, QuizAttempt.quiz_id == Quiz.id)
@@ -505,6 +524,7 @@ def get_dashboard_stats(
             QuizAttempt.user_id == current_user.id,
             QuizAttempt.completed_at.isnot(None),
             Quiz.course_id.is_(None),
+            (QuizAttempt.expired == 0) | (QuizAttempt.expired.is_(None)),
         )
         .distinct().count()
     )
@@ -516,6 +536,7 @@ def get_dashboard_stats(
             QuizAttempt.user_id == current_user.id,
             QuizAttempt.completed_at.isnot(None),
             Quiz.course_id.is_(None),
+            (QuizAttempt.expired == 0) | (QuizAttempt.expired.is_(None)),
         )
         .all()
     )
diff --git a/frontend/src/pages/QuizPage.jsx b/frontend/src/pages/QuizPage.jsx
index cc38a72..e9fc41a 100644
--- a/frontend/src/pages/QuizPage.jsx
+++ b/frontend/src/pages/QuizPage.jsx
@@ -451,16 +451,37 @@ const timerStarted = timeLeft !== null
               Your progress is saved — you can resume from where you left off.
               {timeLeft !== null && (
                 <><br/><br/>
-                <strong style={{ color: '#f59e0b' }}>⚠️ Timer is still running.</strong> If time expires before you return, the quiz will be auto-submitted with your current answers.
-                {returnTo && quiz?.max_attempts && (
-                  <> This will count as one of your {quiz.max_attempts} allowed attempt{quiz.max_attempts !== 1 ? 's' : ''}.</>
-                )}
+                <strong style={{ color: '#16a34a' }}>Timer will pause</strong> while you are away and resume when you return. <br/>
+                <span style={{ fontSize: '0.8rem' }}>
+                  Note: closing the tab without suspending leaves the timer running, and it may auto-submit if time runs out.
+                </span>
                 </>
               )}
             </p>
             <div style={{ display: 'flex', gap: 10, justifyContent: 'center' }}>
               <button className="btn btn-secondary" onClick={() => setLeaveTarget(null)}>Stay</button>
-              <button className="btn btn-primary" onClick={() => { setLeaveTarget(null); navigate(leaveTarget) }}>Suspend &amp; Leave</button>
+              <button className="btn btn-primary" onClick={async () => {
+                // Save with suspended=true so the timer pauses on the server side
+                if (attemptId && quizMode) {
+                  try {
+                    await api.post('/attempts/progress', {
+                      quiz_id: parseInt(id),
+                      attempt_id: attemptId,
+                      answers,
+                      current_idx: currentIdx,
+                      mode: quizMode,
+                      voice: selectedVoice || null,
+                      time_left: timeLeft,
+                      started_at: startedAt,
+                      total_time: totalTime,
+                      suspended: true,
+                    }, { headers: { 'x-quiz-session': SESSION_ID } })
+                  } catch { }
+                }
+                const target = leaveTarget
+                setLeaveTarget(null)
+                navigate(target)
+              }}>Suspend &amp; Leave</button>
             </div>
           </div>
         </div>