Sat Sep 20 01:30:00 UTC 2025: ## Summary:

A study conducted in Italy on over 100,000 students reveals that the time of day significantly impacts academic performance. Exams taken between 11 am and 1 pm yielded the best results, peaking at noon, while those taken in the early morning (8-9 am) or late afternoon (2-5 pm) saw poorer performance. This is potentially due to factors like fluctuating cognitive performance, decision fatigue among graders, and differing chronotypes (body clocks) between students and professors. Experts suggest strategies for students like prioritizing sleep, avoiding exams during low-energy periods, and taking breaks. For institutions, delaying morning sessions or scheduling key assessments for late mornings could improve results. The article suggests the findings could have implications for Indian entrance exams like the CUET, which often holds sessions in both morning and afternoon slots.

## News Article:

**Italian Study Suggests Optimal Exam Times: Could Indian Entrance Exams Benefit?**

**New Delhi, September 24, 2025:** A new study published in *Frontiers in Psychology* reveals that timing is crucial when it comes to academic performance. Researchers analyzing the results of over 100,000 students in Italy found a significant correlation between exam time and success rates.

The study, led by Carmelo Vicario and his team, showed that exams taken between 11 am and 1 pm consistently produced the best results, with noon being the peak performance time. Conversely, students taking exams early in the morning (8-9 am) or late in the afternoon (2-5 pm) performed worse.

Researchers attribute this phenomenon to a variety of factors, including natural fluctuations in cognitive ability throughout the day, potential “decision fatigue” affecting graders, and differing “chronotypes,” or body clocks, between students and professors. Younger students tend to be “night owls,” while older professors are often “morning larks,” leading to a potential mismatch in cognitive alertness.

“These findings have wide-ranging implications,” said Professor Alessio Avenanti of the University of Bologna, a co-author of the study. “They highlight how biological rhythms, often overlooked in decision-making contexts, can subtly but significantly shape the outcome of high-stakes evaluations.”

Experts recommend students prioritize good sleep, avoid scheduling critical assessments during their low-energy periods, and take mental breaks. For educational institutions, the study suggests delaying morning sessions or concentrating key assessments during the late morning.

The findings could have significant implications for India, where entrance exams like the Common University Entrance Test (CUET) are typically conducted in both morning and afternoon slots. Currently, the CUET holds sessions from 9 am to 12 pm and 3 pm to 6 pm. Based on the Italian study, shifting these slots to 9-11 am and 12-2 pm might lead to improved student performance.

“While this research was in Italy, the findings may well apply in India,” the report notes, highlighting the need for further investigation in the Indian context. Researchers urge follow-up studies using physiological and behavioral measures to fully understand the mechanisms behind the impact of time of day on academic performance.

The study underscores the importance of considering biological rhythms when designing educational assessments and raises important questions about how to create fairer and more effective testing environments.

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