If you're a student who struggles with morning exams or feels exhausted by late-afternoon tests, it might not just be your imagination. Research from the University of Messina suggests that the timing of your exam can significantly impact your chances of passing, and the same might hold true for job interviews.
Time of day may influence how your job interview goes - (Image Credit: fizkes via Shutterstock HDR tune by Universal-Sci)
Is Midday Really the Best Time?
According to Prof Carmelo Mario Vicario from the University of Messina, students taking oral exams around lunchtime have the highest chance of passing. “We show that academic assessment outcomes vary systematically across the day, with a clear peak in passing rates around midday,” Vicario explained. “Students were more likely to pass in late morning compared to early morning or late afternoon.”
The study analysed over 100,000 exam results from Italian university students, revealing a clear bell-shaped curve in success rates. Exams at noon had the highest pass rates, while those at the start and end of the day were least successful.
Could Timing Influence Job Interviews Too?
Interestingly, these findings could extend beyond academia to job interviews. Prof Vicario: “We believe this pattern could extend to job interviews or any evaluative process scheduled throughout the day. We would be very interested in investigating whether hiring decisions, too, fluctuate in fairness or outcome depending on time of day.”
This implies that scheduling job interviews around midday might also boost candidates' chances of success, although more research is needed to confirm this possibility.
Why Does Time of Day Matter?
There might be several reasons behind this phenomenon. Cognitive performance typically peaks around midday, which could explain higher pass rates at lunchtime. Early exams might pit night-owl students against morning-lark professors, creating mismatches in energy and attention levels. Late exams might see both students and professors affected by fatigue or decision exhaustion.
Prof Alessio Avenanti from the University of Bologna, co-author of the study, remarked, “These findings have wide-ranging implications. They highlight how biological rhythms—often overlooked in decision-making contexts—can subtly but significantly shape the outcome of high-stakes evaluations.”
How Can You Beat the Clock?
For students, Vicario suggests strategies to mitigate the impact of timing: “Students might benefit from strategies like ensuring quality sleep, avoiding scheduling important exams during personal ‘low’ periods, and taking mental breaks before performance tasks.” Institutions could also adapt by scheduling critical exams around late morning to enhance fairness and outcomes.
However, the researchers noted that further studies are needed. Prof Massimo Mucciardi emphasized the need for more data: “We encourage follow-up studies using physiological or behavioural measures to uncover the underlying mechanisms.”
So next time you schedule an important test or interview, remember—your chances of success might just depend on when the clock strikes!
If you are interested in more details about the underlying research, be sure to check out the article published in the peer-reviewed journal Frontiers in Psychology listed below this article.
Sources, further reading and more interesting articles in Health, Mind & Brain:
Timing matters! Academic assessment changes throughout the day - (Frontiers in Psychology)
Feeling Tired Despite Getting Enough Hours of Sleep? This Could be the Culprit - (Universal-Sci)
Women Who Drink Coffee Daily May Age Better - Here’s Why - (Universal-Sci)
Health Check: when should you throw away leftovers? - (Universal-Sci)
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