diff --git a/app/models/configuration.rb b/app/models/configuration.rb
--- a/app/models/configuration.rb
+++ b/app/models/configuration.rb
@@ -6,6 +6,7 @@
 class Configuration < ActiveRecord::Base
 
   SYSTEM_MODE_CONF_KEY = 'system.mode'
+  TEST_REQUEST_EARLY_TIMEOUT_KEY = 'contest.test_request.early_timeout'
 
   # set @@cache = true to only reload once.
   @@cache = false
@@ -36,6 +37,10 @@
     @@configurations = nil
   end
 
+  def self.cache?
+    @@cache
+  end
+
   def self.enable_caching
     @@cache = true
   end
@@ -67,8 +72,11 @@
 
   def self.allow_test_request(user)
     mode = get(SYSTEM_MODE_CONF_KEY)
+    early_timeout = get(TEST_REQUEST_EARLY_TIMEOUT_KEY)
     if (mode=='contest') 
-      return false if (user.site!=nil) and ((user.site.started!=true) or (user.site.time_left < 30.minutes))
+      return false if ((user.site!=nil) and 
+        ((user.site.started!=true) or 
+         (early_timeout and (user.site.time_left < 30.minutes))))
     end
     return false if mode=='analysis'
     return true