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Until we have instant learning, we’ll still have to study for tests. Have an important final exam coming up? You’ll do better if you chew gum! Psychologists conducted a study that showed that students who chewed gum for five minutes before taking a test did better on the test than non-gum-chewing students.

"Mastication-induced arousal" is credited for the boost, which lasted for about the first 20 minutes or so of testing. A "battery of cognitive tasks" was given to the study participants, who chewed gum either prior to or throughout testing. Their performance was then compared with subjects who did not chew gum.
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Researchers are trying to figure out why low-income children lag behind their more privileged classmates in high school graduation rates and college attendance. Some of them think that the difference in children’s future academic success can be explained, in part, by their experiences during their summer vacations.
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Remember those kids who wanted to study only what was on the test? They may have cheated themselves. When it comes to schools, there is a lot of controversy about homework and testing. Homework is popular with parents, but many teachers think that it is unnecessary “busy work” that keep kids from enjoying their free time. But researchers now think there is real value in taking tests.

New research reveals that the simple act of taking a test helps you remember everything you learned, even if it isn’t tested. Tests are more than efficient scoring tools, they are a powerful memory enhancer.
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