Achievement in the early hours, defeat turned into triumph in the afternoon?
In a groundbreaking study published in the journal "Frontiers in Psychology", researchers from the University of Messina and the University of Bologna have found that the time of day significantly affects performance in university exams and job interviews. The study, which involved over 19,000 students and 680 examiners, suggests that the best results are often achieved around midday.
Led by Carmelo Mario Vicario from the University of Messina, the study analyzed more than 1,200 courses at all levels from October 2018 to February 2020. The findings reveal a clear peak in passing rates around noon (about 12:00 p.m.) with pass rates around 73%, compared to roughly 50% early morning (8 a.m.) or late afternoon (4:00 p.m.).
Co-author Alessio Avenanti from the University of Bologna explains that these fluctuations are primarily due to biological factors often overlooked in daily life. These factors, known as circadian rhythms, influence cognitive functions such as attention, memory, and decision-making ability.
The study's key findings highlight the importance of aligning exam or assessment times with times of peak alertness. For many people, this occurs around late morning to noon. This period is when cognitive performance improves, while energy and focus decline later in the day.
Individual differences, such as chronotypes (morning larks vs. night owls), also play a role. Younger people, including many students, tend to be "night owls" who perform better later in the day, whereas older adults often are "morning larks" who peak earlier. This mismatch can influence outcomes if examiners and examinees have opposing chronotypes.
Diminishing energy levels as the day progresses can also hinder concentration for students. Similarly, examiners or interviewers may experience decision fatigue, potentially leading to harsher grading or evaluation later in the day.
The study's implications for scheduling suggest that aligning exam or assessment times with times of peak alertness can improve fairness and performance outcomes. Students are also advised to ensure good sleep and time assessments away from their personal low-performing periods.
The study did not explore the potential influence of the body clock on the average pass rate in exams beyond suggesting that it could be a factor. Nor did it provide specific recommendations for handling "decision fatigue" during assessments or investigate the potential effects of the body clock on job interviews or other assessment processes beyond exams.
Further research is needed on factors like sleep, stress, diet, and daily routine in relation to performance. The study did not consider the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on the body clock or performance, nor did it directly examine the impact of the body clock on examiners' performance.
Despite these limitations, the study's findings underscore the importance of considering the time of day when scheduling exams and interviews. As we strive for fairness and excellence in our assessment processes, understanding and accommodating our body's natural rhythms can help us achieve these goals.
- To maximize performance in university exams and job interviews, it is crucial to align learning and assessment times with periods of peak alertness, such as late morning to noon, as suggested by a study in "Frontiers in Psychology."
- The study further emphasizes the significance of considering individual differences, like chronotypes, in scheduling assessments, as younger individuals, who are often students, typically perform better late in the day, while older adults peak earlier.
- The study's findings in health-and-wellness, fitness-and-exercise, education-and-self-development, and science, underscore the importance of understanding our body's natural rhythms, such as circadian rhythms, to achieve optimal learning and performance outcomes.
