diff --git a/frontend/src/ts/config.ts b/frontend/src/ts/config.ts
index 271105df5..eef25f4bd 100644
--- a/frontend/src/ts/config.ts
+++ b/frontend/src/ts/config.ts
@@ -79,7 +79,7 @@ export function saveFullConfigToLocalStorage(noDbCheck = false): void {
 }
 
 function isConfigChangeBlocked(): boolean {
-  if (TestState.isActive && config.funbox.includes("no_quit")) {
+  if (TestState.isActive() && config.funbox.includes("no_quit")) {
     Notifications.add("No quit funbox is active. Please finish the test.", 0, {
       important: true,
     });
@@ -112,7 +112,7 @@ export function setConfig<T extends keyof Config>(
 
   if (
     metadata.changeRequiresRestart &&
-    TestState.isActive &&
+    TestState.isActive() &&
     config.funbox.includes("no_quit")
   ) {
     Notifications.add("No quit funbox is active. Please finish the test.", 0, {
diff --git a/frontend/src/ts/controllers/ad-controller.ts b/frontend/src/ts/controllers/ad-controller.ts
index 31bab3ca7..d9c98545e 100644
--- a/frontend/src/ts/controllers/ad-controller.ts
+++ b/frontend/src/ts/controllers/ad-controller.ts
@@ -42,7 +42,7 @@ function init(): void {
   }
 
   setInterval(() => {
-    if (TestState.isActive) {
+    if (TestState.isActive()) {
       return;
     }
     if (choice === "eg") {
diff --git a/frontend/src/ts/controllers/route-controller.ts b/frontend/src/ts/controllers/route-controller.ts
index d9d429525..5949cc683 100644
--- a/frontend/src/ts/controllers/route-controller.ts
+++ b/frontend/src/ts/controllers/route-controller.ts
@@ -176,7 +176,7 @@ export async function navigate(
   }
 
   const noQuit = isFunboxActive("no_quit");
-  if (TestState.isActive && noQuit) {
+  if (TestState.isActive() && noQuit) {
     Notifications.add("No quit funbox is active. Please finish the test.", 0, {
       important: true,
     });
diff --git a/frontend/src/ts/input/handlers/before-delete.ts b/frontend/src/ts/input/handlers/before-delete.ts
index 79fb28d77..c42d36517 100644
--- a/frontend/src/ts/input/handlers/before-delete.ts
+++ b/frontend/src/ts/input/handlers/before-delete.ts
@@ -7,7 +7,7 @@ import * as TestUI from "../../test/test-ui";
 import { isAwaitingNextWord } from "../state";
 
 export function onBeforeDelete(event: InputEvent): void {
-  if (!TestState.isActive) {
+  if (!TestState.isActive()) {
     event.preventDefault();
     return;
   }
diff --git a/frontend/src/ts/input/handlers/insert-text.ts b/frontend/src/ts/input/handlers/insert-text.ts
index 00a0f7258..6ecc39886 100644
--- a/frontend/src/ts/input/handlers/insert-text.ts
+++ b/frontend/src/ts/input/handlers/insert-text.ts
@@ -113,7 +113,7 @@ export async function onInsertText(options: OnInsertTextParams): Promise<void> {
   const data = normalizedData ?? options.data;
 
   // start if needed
-  if (!TestState.isActive) {
+  if (!TestState.isActive()) {
     TestLogic.startTest(now);
   }
 
diff --git a/frontend/src/ts/input/listeners/composition.ts b/frontend/src/ts/input/listeners/composition.ts
index e3388a557..4904651c1 100644
--- a/frontend/src/ts/input/listeners/composition.ts
+++ b/frontend/src/ts/input/listeners/composition.ts
@@ -19,7 +19,7 @@ inputEl.addEventListener("compositionstart", (event) => {
   CompositionState.setComposing(true);
   CompositionState.setData("");
   setLastInsertCompositionTextData("");
-  if (!TestState.isActive) {
+  if (!TestState.isActive()) {
     TestLogic.startTest(performance.now());
   }
 });
diff --git a/frontend/src/ts/signals/live-states.ts b/frontend/src/ts/signals/live-states.ts
index 1ac3bdbbd..7440f8bbd 100644
--- a/frontend/src/ts/signals/live-states.ts
+++ b/frontend/src/ts/signals/live-states.ts
@@ -2,5 +2,3 @@ import { createSignal } from "solid-js";
 export const [getWpm, setWpm] = createSignal("0");
 export const [getAcc, setAcc] = createSignal("100%");
 export const [getBurst, setBurst] = createSignal("0");
-export const [getFocus, setFocus] = createSignal(false);
-export const [getTestRunning, setTestRunning] = createSignal(false);
diff --git a/frontend/src/ts/states/connection.ts b/frontend/src/ts/states/connection.ts
index efaeebd8f..76bd47cfa 100644
--- a/frontend/src/ts/states/connection.ts
+++ b/frontend/src/ts/states/connection.ts
@@ -39,7 +39,7 @@ const throttledHandleState = debounce(5000, () => {
       )?.dispatch("click");
     }
     bannerAlreadyClosed = false;
-  } else if (!TestState.isActive) {
+  } else if (!TestState.isActive()) {
     showOfflineBanner();
   }
 });
diff --git a/frontend/src/ts/test/focus.ts b/frontend/src/ts/test/focus.ts
index dd2bad158..4ce820e55 100644
--- a/frontend/src/ts/test/focus.ts
+++ b/frontend/src/ts/test/focus.ts
@@ -2,10 +2,10 @@ import * as Caret from "./caret";
 import * as TimerProgress from "./timer-progress";
 import * as PageTransition from "../states/page-transition";
 import { requestDebouncedAnimationFrame } from "../utils/debounced-animation-frame";
-import { setFocus } from "../signals/live-states";
+import { createSignal } from "solid-js";
 
 const unfocusPx = 3;
-let state = false;
+let [state, setState] = createSignal(false);
 
 let cacheReady = false;
 let cache: {
@@ -13,6 +13,10 @@ let cache: {
   cursor?: HTMLElement[];
 } = {};
 
+export function isFocused(): boolean {
+  return state();
+}
+
 function initializeCache(): void {
   if (cacheReady) return;
 
@@ -43,8 +47,8 @@ export function set(value: boolean, withCursor = false): void {
   requestDebouncedAnimationFrame("focus.set", () => {
     initializeCache();
 
-    if (value && !state) {
-      state = true;
+    if (value && !state()) {
+      setState(true);
 
       // batch DOM operations for better performance
       if (cache.focus) {
@@ -60,8 +64,8 @@ export function set(value: boolean, withCursor = false): void {
 
       Caret.stopAnimation();
       TimerProgress.show();
-    } else if (!value && state) {
-      state = false;
+    } else if (!value && state()) {
+      setState(false);
 
       if (cache.focus) {
         for (const el of cache.focus) {
@@ -77,14 +81,12 @@ export function set(value: boolean, withCursor = false): void {
       Caret.startAnimation();
       TimerProgress.hide();
     }
-
-    setFocus(state);
   });
 }
 
 $(document).on("mousemove", function (event) {
   if (PageTransition.get()) return;
-  if (!state) return;
+  if (!state()) return;
   if (
     event.originalEvent &&
     // To avoid mouse/desk vibration from creating a flashy effect, we'll unfocus @ >5px instead of >0px
diff --git a/frontend/src/ts/test/live-states.tsx b/frontend/src/ts/test/live-states.tsx
index bb7dce51c..c5cbad303 100644
--- a/frontend/src/ts/test/live-states.tsx
+++ b/frontend/src/ts/test/live-states.tsx
@@ -2,20 +2,16 @@ import { createMemo } from "solid-js";
 import { qsr } from "../utils/dom";
 import { LiveCounter } from "./live-counter";
 import { render } from "solid-js/web";
-import {
-  getAcc,
-  getBurst,
-  getFocus,
-  getTestRunning,
-  getWpm,
-} from "../signals/live-states";
+import { getAcc, getBurst, getWpm } from "../signals/live-states";
 import {
   getLiveAccStyle,
   getLiveBurstStyle,
   getLiveSpeedStyle,
 } from "../signals/config";
+import { isActive } from "./test-state";
+import { isFocused } from "./focus";
 
-const isTestRunning = createMemo(() => getTestRunning() && getFocus());
+const isTestRunning = createMemo(() => isActive() && isFocused());
 
 const liveWpmText = createMemo(() =>
   isTestRunning() && getLiveSpeedStyle() === "text" ? getWpm() : "",
diff --git a/frontend/src/ts/test/monkey.ts b/frontend/src/ts/test/monkey.ts
index b1966c3e4..f05a6f0e2 100644
--- a/frontend/src/ts/test/monkey.ts
+++ b/frontend/src/ts/test/monkey.ts
@@ -9,7 +9,7 @@ const monkeyEl = document.querySelector("#monkey") as HTMLElement;
 const monkeyFastEl = document.querySelector("#monkey .fast") as HTMLElement;
 
 ConfigEvent.subscribe(({ key }) => {
-  if (key === "monkey" && TestState.isActive) {
+  if (key === "monkey" && TestState.isActive()) {
     if (Config.monkey) {
       monkeyEl.classList.remove("hidden");
     } else {
diff --git a/frontend/src/ts/test/pace-caret.ts b/frontend/src/ts/test/pace-caret.ts
index da0b4d01c..830849589 100644
--- a/frontend/src/ts/test/pace-caret.ts
+++ b/frontend/src/ts/test/pace-caret.ts
@@ -133,7 +133,7 @@ export async function update(expectedStepEnd: number): Promise<void> {
   const currentSettings = settings;
   if (
     currentSettings === null ||
-    !TestState.isActive ||
+    !TestState.isActive() ||
     TestState.resultVisible
   ) {
     return;
diff --git a/frontend/src/ts/test/test-logic.ts b/frontend/src/ts/test/test-logic.ts
index 90138cefa..a01ef91b5 100644
--- a/frontend/src/ts/test/test-logic.ts
+++ b/frontend/src/ts/test/test-logic.ts
@@ -151,7 +151,7 @@ export function restart(options = {} as RestartOptions): void {
   const animationTime = options.noAnim ? 0 : Misc.applyReducedMotion(125);
 
   const noQuit = isFunboxActive("no_quit");
-  if (TestState.isActive && noQuit) {
+  if (TestState.isActive() && noQuit) {
     Notifications.add("No quit funbox is active. Please finish the test.", 0, {
       important: true,
     });
@@ -196,7 +196,7 @@ export function restart(options = {} as RestartOptions): void {
     }
   }
 
-  if (TestState.isActive) {
+  if (TestState.isActive()) {
     if (TestState.isRepeated) {
       options.withSameWordset = true;
     }
@@ -221,7 +221,7 @@ export function restart(options = {} as RestartOptions): void {
     TestWords.currentQuote !== null &&
     Config.language.startsWith(TestWords.currentQuote.language) &&
     Config.repeatQuotes === "typing" &&
-    (TestState.isActive || failReason !== "")
+    (TestState.isActive() || failReason !== "")
   ) {
     options.withSameWordset = true;
   }
@@ -854,7 +854,7 @@ function buildCompletedEvent(
 }
 
 export async function finish(difficultyFailed = false): Promise<void> {
-  if (!TestState.isActive) return;
+  if (!TestState.isActive()) return;
   TestUI.setResultCalculating(true);
   const now = performance.now();
   TestTimer.clear();
@@ -1404,7 +1404,7 @@ $(".pageTest").on("click", "#restartTestButton", () => {
   ManualRestart.set();
   if (TestUI.resultCalculating) return;
   if (
-    TestState.isActive &&
+    TestState.isActive() &&
     Config.repeatQuotes === "typing" &&
     Config.mode === "quote"
   ) {
diff --git a/frontend/src/ts/test/test-state.ts b/frontend/src/ts/test/test-state.ts
index 1b5079d9d..a47220c75 100644
--- a/frontend/src/ts/test/test-state.ts
+++ b/frontend/src/ts/test/test-state.ts
@@ -1,9 +1,10 @@
 import { Challenge } from "@monkeytype/schemas/challenges";
 import { promiseWithResolvers } from "../utils/misc";
+import { createSignal } from "solid-js";
 
 export let isRepeated = false;
 export let isPaceRepeat = false;
-export let isActive = false;
+export let [isActive, setActive] = createSignal(false);
 export let activeChallenge: null | Challenge = null;
 export let savingEnabled = true;
 export let bailedOut = false;
@@ -23,10 +24,6 @@ export function setPaceRepeat(tf: boolean): void {
   isPaceRepeat = tf;
 }
 
-export function setActive(tf: boolean): void {
-  isActive = tf;
-}
-
 export function setActiveChallenge(val: null | Challenge): void {
   activeChallenge = val;
 }
diff --git a/frontend/src/ts/test/test-stats.ts b/frontend/src/ts/test/test-stats.ts
index 2644e4ee6..9d27941de 100644
--- a/frontend/src/ts/test/test-stats.ts
+++ b/frontend/src/ts/test/test-stats.ts
@@ -160,7 +160,7 @@ export function calculateWpmAndRaw(
   raw: number;
 } {
   const testSeconds = calculateTestSeconds(
-    TestState.isActive ? performance.now() : end,
+    TestState.isActive() ? performance.now() : end,
   );
   const chars = countChars(final);
   const wpm = Numbers.roundTo2(
@@ -256,7 +256,7 @@ function getInputWords(): string[] {
 
   let inputWords = [...TestInput.input.getHistory()];
 
-  if (TestState.isActive) {
+  if (TestState.isActive()) {
     inputWords.push(TestInput.input.current);
   }
 
@@ -276,7 +276,7 @@ function getTargetWords(): string[] {
       : TestWords.words.list),
   ];
 
-  if (TestState.isActive) {
+  if (TestState.isActive()) {
     targetWords.push(
       Config.mode === "zen"
         ? TestInput.input.current
diff --git a/frontend/src/ts/test/test-timer.ts b/frontend/src/ts/test/test-timer.ts
index fa18c2ece..4c67aa4dd 100644
--- a/frontend/src/ts/test/test-timer.ts
+++ b/frontend/src/ts/test/test-timer.ts
@@ -308,7 +308,7 @@ async function _startOld(): Promise<void> {
     const drift = Math.abs(interval - delay);
     checkIfTimerIsSlow(drift);
     timer = setTimeout(function () {
-      if (!TestState.isActive) {
+      if (!TestState.isActive()) {
         if (timer !== null) clearTimeout(timer);
         SlowTimer.clear();
         slowTimerCount = 0;
diff --git a/frontend/src/ts/test/test-ui.ts b/frontend/src/ts/test/test-ui.ts
index a388ff763..ee5d9a2c7 100644
--- a/frontend/src/ts/test/test-ui.ts
+++ b/frontend/src/ts/test/test-ui.ts
@@ -55,12 +55,7 @@ import * as ModesNotice from "../elements/modes-notice";
 import * as Last10Average from "../elements/last-10-average";
 import * as MemoryFunboxTimer from "./funbox/memory-funbox-timer";
 import { qsr } from "../utils/dom";
-import {
-  setAcc,
-  setBurst,
-  setTestRunning,
-  setWpm,
-} from "../signals/live-states";
+import { setAcc, setBurst, setWpm } from "../signals/live-states";
 
 export const updateHintsPositionDebounced = Misc.debounceUntilResolved(
   updateHintsPosition,
@@ -88,7 +83,7 @@ export function focusWords(force = false): void {
     blurInputElement();
   }
   focusInputElement(true);
-  if (TestState.isActive) {
+  if (TestState.isActive()) {
     keepWordsInputInTheCenter(true);
   } else {
     const typingTest = document.querySelector<HTMLElement>("#typingTest");
@@ -1818,7 +1813,6 @@ export function onTestStart(): void {
   Focus.set(true);
   Monkey.show();
   TimerProgress.show();
-  setTestRunning(true);
   TimerProgress.update();
 }
 
@@ -1875,7 +1869,6 @@ export function onTestRestart(source: "testPage" | "resultPage"): void {
 
 export function onTestFinish(): void {
   Caret.hide();
-  setTestRunning(false);
   TimerProgress.hide();
   OutOfFocus.hide();
   Monkey.hide();
diff --git a/frontend/src/ts/test/timer-progress.ts b/frontend/src/ts/test/timer-progress.ts
index a1fe882ca..8b3967d60 100644
--- a/frontend/src/ts/test/timer-progress.ts
+++ b/frontend/src/ts/test/timer-progress.ts
@@ -20,7 +20,7 @@ const textEl = document.querySelector(
 const miniEl = document.querySelector("#liveStatsMini .time") as HTMLElement;
 
 export function show(): void {
-  if (!TestState.isActive) return;
+  if (!TestState.isActive()) return;
   requestDebouncedAnimationFrame("timer-progress.show", () => {
     if (Config.mode !== "zen" && Config.timerStyle === "bar") {
       animate(barOpacityEl, {
@@ -255,7 +255,7 @@ export function update(): void {
 }
 
 export function updateStyle(): void {
-  if (!TestState.isActive) return;
+  if (!TestState.isActive()) return;
   hide();
   update();
   if (Config.timerStyle === "off") return;
diff --git a/frontend/src/ts/ui.ts b/frontend/src/ts/ui.ts
index 568a21cb1..39d2ed126 100644
--- a/frontend/src/ts/ui.ts
+++ b/frontend/src/ts/ui.ts
@@ -81,7 +81,7 @@ window.addEventListener("beforeunload", (event) => {
   ) {
     //ignore
   } else {
-    if (TestState.isActive) {
+    if (TestState.isActive()) {
       event.preventDefault();
       // Included for legacy support, e.g. Chrome/Edge < 119
       // oxlint-disable-next-line no-deprecated