There’s An Optimal Time of Day For A Test episode artwork

EPISODE · Aug 17, 2025 · 1 MIN

There’s An Optimal Time of Day For A Test

from Dr. Howard Smith Reports · host Howard G. Smith MD, AM

Vidcast:  https://www.instagram.com/p/DNeAc9Iv79P/The best time to take a test is between 11 AM and 1 PM.  Psychologists at Italy’s University of Messina analyzed the results of 104,552 oral exams conducted at universities and found that those yielding passing grades occurred midday.  Pass rates tend to dip early in the morning and again late in the afternoon.  In addition, test scores among those with passing grades were higher during this day period.The researchers attribute this pattern to three factors: biological rhythms, decision fatigue, and chronotype mismatches between students and professors.  Students tend to be night owls while university professors have peak performances earlier in the day.The study also suggests that this pattern could impact other situations where sharp intellectual performances are critical.  These include job interviews, courtroom proceedings, and media appearances.So if given a choice, grab that midday slot.https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2025/07/250724040928.htmhttps://www.frontiersin.org/journals/psychology/articles/10.3389/fpsyg.2025.1605041/full#test #performance #interview #testimony #midday

Episode metadata supplied by the publisher feed · Published Aug 17, 2025

Embed this episode

NOW PLAYING

There’s An Optimal Time of Day For A Test

0:00 1:30

No transcript for this episode yet

We transcribe on demand. Request one and we'll notify you when it's ready — usually under 10 minutes.

No similar episodes found.

No similar podcasts found.

Frequently Asked Questions

How long is this episode of Dr. Howard Smith Reports?

This episode is 1 minute long.

When was this Dr. Howard Smith Reports episode published?

This episode was published on August 17, 2025.

Can I download this Dr. Howard Smith Reports episode?

Yes. Use the download control on the episode player to save the publisher-provided media file.
URL copied to clipboard!