diff --git a/src/core/OuterExamTimer.jsx b/src/core/OuterExamTimer.jsx
index 77ecc992..425bc689 100644
--- a/src/core/OuterExamTimer.jsx
+++ b/src/core/OuterExamTimer.jsx
@@ -8,10 +8,9 @@ import { getLatestAttemptData } from '../data';
 import { IS_STARTED_STATUS } from '../constants';
 
 const ExamTimer = ({ courseId }) => {
-  const { activeAttempt } = useSelector(state => state.specialExams);
+  const { activeAttempt, apiErrorMsg } = useSelector(state => state.specialExams);
   const { authenticatedUser } = useContext(AppContext);
   const showTimer = !!(activeAttempt && IS_STARTED_STATUS(activeAttempt.attempt_status));
-  const { apiErrorMsg } = useSelector(state => state.specialExams);
   const dispatch = useDispatch();
 
   useEffect(() => {
diff --git a/src/data/api.js b/src/data/api.js
index 5cd62c42..a01247de 100644
--- a/src/data/api.js
+++ b/src/data/api.js
@@ -1,6 +1,5 @@
 import { getConfig } from '@edx/frontend-platform';
 import { getAuthenticatedHttpClient } from '@edx/frontend-platform/auth';
-import { logError } from '@edx/frontend-platform/logging';
 import { ExamAction } from '../constants';
 import { generateHumanizedTime } from '../helpers';
 
@@ -13,14 +12,14 @@ async function fetchActiveAttempt() {
   return activeAttemptResponse.data;
 }
 
-async function fetchLatestExamAttempt(sequenceId) {
+async function fetchAttemptForExamSequnceId(sequenceId) {
+  const attemptUrl = new URL(`${getConfig().EXAMS_BASE_URL}/api/v1/exams/attempt/latest`);
   // the calls the same endpoint as fetchActiveAttempt but it behaves slightly different
   // with an exam's section specified. The attempt for that requested exam is always returned
   // even if it is not 'active' (timer is not running)
-  const attemptUrl = new URL(`${getConfig().EXAMS_BASE_URL}/api/v1/exams/attempt/latest`);
   attemptUrl.searchParams.append('content_id', sequenceId);
-  const response = await getAuthenticatedHttpClient().get(attemptUrl.href);
-  return response.data;
+  const attemptResponse = await getAuthenticatedHttpClient().get(attemptUrl.href);
+  return attemptResponse.data;
 }
 
 export async function fetchExamAttemptsData(courseId, sequenceId) {
@@ -70,25 +69,31 @@ export async function fetchLatestAttempt(courseId) {
 
 export async function pollExamAttempt(pollUrl, sequenceId) {
   let data;
+
+  // sites configured with only edx-proctoring must have pollUrl set
   if (pollUrl) {
     const edxProctoringURL = new URL(
       `${getConfig().LMS_BASE_URL}${pollUrl}`,
     );
     const urlResponse = await getAuthenticatedHttpClient().get(edxProctoringURL.href);
     data = urlResponse.data;
-  } else if (sequenceId && getConfig().EXAMS_BASE_URL) {
-    data = await fetchLatestExamAttempt(sequenceId);
-
-    // Update dictionaries returned by edx-exams to have correct status key for legacy compatibility
-    if (data.attempt_status) {
-      data.status = data.attempt_status;
-      delete data.attempt_status;
-    }
+
+    return data;
+
+  // exams configured with edx-exams expect sequenceId if pollUrl is not set when viewing the exam sequence
+  } if (sequenceId) {
+    data = await fetchAttemptForExamSequnceId(sequenceId);
+  // outside the exam sequence, we can't get the sequenceId easily, so here we just call the last active attempt
   } else {
-    // sites configured with only edx-proctoring must have pollUrl set
-    // sites configured with edx-exams expect sequenceId if pollUrl is not set
-    logError(`pollExamAttempt recieved unexpected parameters pollUrl=${pollUrl} sequenceId=${sequenceId}`);
+    data = await fetchActiveAttempt();
+  }
+
+  // Update dictionaries returned by edx-exams to have correct status key for legacy compatibility
+  if (data.attempt_status) {
+    data.status = data.attempt_status;
+    delete data.attempt_status;
   }
+
   return data;
 }
 
diff --git a/src/data/redux.test.jsx b/src/data/redux.test.jsx
index bffa0cde..6a036a03 100644
--- a/src/data/redux.test.jsx
+++ b/src/data/redux.test.jsx
@@ -990,10 +990,14 @@ describe('Data layer integration tests', () => {
         await api.pollExamAttempt(null, sequenceId);
         expect(axiosMock.history.get[0].url).toEqual(expectedUrl);
       });
-      test('pollUrl is required if edx-exams in not enabled, an error should be logged', async () => {
-        mergeConfig({ EXAMS_BASE_URL: null });
-        api.pollExamAttempt(null, null);
-        expect(loggingService.logError).toHaveBeenCalled();
+      test('should call the latest attempt w/o a sequence if if neither a pollUrl or sequence id is provided', async () => {
+        const expectedUrl = `${getConfig().EXAMS_BASE_URL}/api/v1/exams/attempt/latest`;
+        axiosMock.onGet(expectedUrl).reply(200, {
+          time_remaining_seconds: 1739.9,
+          status: ExamStatus.STARTED,
+        });
+        await api.pollExamAttempt(null);
+        expect(axiosMock.history.get[0].url).toEqual(expectedUrl);
       });
     });
   });
diff --git a/src/data/thunks.js b/src/data/thunks.js
index c0628b7f..31759531 100644
--- a/src/data/thunks.js
+++ b/src/data/thunks.js
@@ -271,8 +271,6 @@ export function pollAttempt(url) {
     }
 
     try {
-      // TODO: make sure sequenceId pulled here is correct both in-exam-sequence and in outline
-      // test w/ timed exam
       const { exam } = getState().specialExams;
       const data = await pollExamAttempt(url, exam.content_id);
       if (!data) {
diff --git a/src/timer/TimerProvider.jsx b/src/timer/TimerProvider.jsx
index 74fbc87e..2671fe2b 100644
--- a/src/timer/TimerProvider.jsx
+++ b/src/timer/TimerProvider.jsx
@@ -95,15 +95,20 @@ const TimerProvider = ({
     timeLimitMins,
   ]);
 
+  // Set deadline as a reference to timerEnds that updates when it changes
+  const deadline = useRef(new Date(timerEnds));
+  useEffect(() => {
+    deadline.current = new Date(timerEnds);
+  }, [timerEnds]);
+
   useEffect(() => {
     const timerRef = { current: true };
     let timerTick = -1;
-    const deadline = new Date(timerEnds);
 
     const ticker = () => {
       timerTick++;
       const now = Date.now();
-      const remainingTime = (deadline.getTime() - now) / 1000;
+      const remainingTime = (deadline.current.getTime() - now) / 1000;
       const secondsLeft = Math.floor(remainingTime);
 
       setTimeState(getFormattedRemainingTime(secondsLeft));
@@ -143,7 +148,6 @@ const TimerProvider = ({
       timerRef.current = null;
     };
   }, [
-    timerEnds,
     pingInterval,
     workerUrl,
     processTimeLeft,