Sleep - the key to better performance in exam

Sleep seems to be the new laughter as more and more wellness experts have been suggesting sound sleep as a solution to a lot of health-related problems. And a new study says that getting enough sleep during exam time may help to boost performance.

"Better sleep helped rather than harmed final exam performance, which is contrary to most college students' perceptions that they have to sacrifice either studying or sleeping," said Michael Scullin, from Baylor University, in a study.

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Often, students lose sleep during exams. Exam stress and more caffeine intake to keep awake as they burn the midnight oil disrupt sleep.

Hence, the study – The 8-hour Challenge - was conducted on students sitting for exam by researchers from Baylor University in the US. Students who participated in the challenge were to complete eight hours sleep for five nights. The participants included undergraduate interior design students and students in upper-level neuroscience and psychology classes.

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The study found that students who completed the sleep challenge got better grades in exams. Students who met the sleep challenge were given extra points, the "mini-incentive" was not included in the analysis of their performances in the finals, said Elise King, assistant professor at Baylor.

"Students know that sacrificing sleep to complete school work is not a healthy choice, but they assume they don't have a choice, often remarking that there aren't enough hours in the day for coursework, extracurriculars, jobs, etc," King said in the study, adding, "This removes that excuse".

Now, in view of the new finding, students have the choice. They can sleep longer and perform better in exams.

(With PTI inputs)