diff --git a/app/controllers/admin/candidate_controller.rb b/app/controllers/admin/candidate_controller.rb
index 8a289b1..079ecea 100644
--- a/app/controllers/admin/candidate_controller.rb
+++ b/app/controllers/admin/candidate_controller.rb
@@ -3,8 +3,6 @@ module Admin
   class CandidateController < AdminController
     before_action :collect_quizzes, except: [:login, :auth]
 
-    helper_method :sort_column
-
     def index
       @candidates = policy_scope Candidate.order("#{sort_column} #{sort_direction}")
                     .page(params[:page])
diff --git a/app/controllers/admin/result_controller.rb b/app/controllers/admin/result_controller.rb
index 0c18024..48bb2b5 100644
--- a/app/controllers/admin/result_controller.rb
+++ b/app/controllers/admin/result_controller.rb
@@ -1,8 +1,6 @@
 # frozen_string_literal: true
 module Admin
   class ResultController < AdminController
-    helper_method :sort_column
-
     # TODO: change context from Candidate to Quiz
     # bypass pundit lockdowns until completed
     after_action :skip_policy_scope
@@ -32,5 +30,9 @@ module Admin
       def sort_column
         @sort_col ||= Candidate.column_names.include?(params[:sort]) ? params[:sort] : 'completed_at'
       end
+
+      def sort_direction
+        %w(asc desc).include?(params[:direction]) ? params[:direction] : 'desc'
+      end
   end
 end
diff --git a/app/controllers/admin_controller.rb b/app/controllers/admin_controller.rb
index f71567b..327e1f7 100644
--- a/app/controllers/admin_controller.rb
+++ b/app/controllers/admin_controller.rb
@@ -10,6 +10,7 @@ class AdminController < ApplicationController
   after_action :verify_policy_scoped, only: :index
 
   helper_method :sort_direction
+  helper_method :sort_column
 
   def current_user
     @current_user ||= User.find_by(id: session[:user]) if session[:user]
@@ -18,8 +19,12 @@ class AdminController < ApplicationController
 
   private
 
+    def sort_column
+      :completed_at
+    end
+
     def sort_direction
-      %w(asc desc).include?(params[:direction]) ? params[:direction] : 'desc'
+      %w(asc desc).include?(params[:direction]) ? params[:direction] : 'asc'
     end
 
     def authorize_user
diff --git a/test/controllers/admin_controller_test.rb b/test/controllers/admin_controller_test.rb
index 6666e23..6084334 100644
--- a/test/controllers/admin_controller_test.rb
+++ b/test/controllers/admin_controller_test.rb
@@ -9,4 +9,11 @@ class AdminControllerTest < ActionDispatch::IntegrationTest
     assert_redirected_to admin_login_path
     assert_match 'not authorized', flash[:error]
   end
+
+  test 'sort_column present' do
+    # a stupid coverage report thing.
+    admin_controller = AdminController.new
+
+    assert_equal :completed_at, admin_controller.send(:sort_column)
+  end
 end