Whether it’s an all-nighter or a lucky pair of socks, college students will do anything to boost their grades on a test.
Researchers at Stanford University may have found a way for educators to help test-takers perform a little bit better on upcoming exams by simply surveying them a few days prior.
“Blind effort alone, without directing that effort in an effective manner, doesn’t always get you to where you want to go,” Patricia Chen, who led the study, said in a news release.
[Find out if you should retake the SAT.]
During the study, the researchers asked university students to take a 15-minute survey about a week to 10 days prior to taking an exam. The questions asked each student about their desired grade, the importance of receiving that grade and their ability to obtain it.
The survey then asked students about how they would study, why they are studying that way and to create a study plan.
After the students took the test, the results were compared to a control group that did not take the survey. The results showed that the students who took the survey scored about one-third of a letter grade higher on average.
[See what not to do when preparing for the SAT and ACT.]
In addition, those who were asked to think about the upcoming test twice did better than the ones who were surveyed once.
Ultimately, the study is a reminder that students shouldn’t cram for a test but plan out how they want to attack it.
“Strategic thinking distinguishes between people of comparable ability and effort,” Chen said in the release. “This can make the difference between people who achieve and people who have the potential to achieve, but don’t.”
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A 15-Minute Survey Could Boost Your GPA originally appeared on usnews.com
