“How can you possibly concentrate with those headphones on?”
With exam season in full swing and students several weeks into study leave, this question echoes through homes across the country. Parents often contact our staff, wondering if those ever-present headphones are helping or hindering their child’s revision.
into whether music helps or hinders studying because this tends to be a source of friction for students and parents during exam season. Mobile phone use is a recognised distraction, along with other forms of procrastination where a student stops working; but music while revising is more varied, and we were keen to provide students and parents with a bit more detail.
What emerged from the study was a nuanced picture that challenges certain assumptions. The evidence shows there’s no one-size-fits-all solution. What works for one student might actively harm another’s performance.
This explains why the headphones debate causes so much friction in households. Both parents and students might be right 鈥 just in different contexts and for different individuals.
What works for one student might actively harm another’s performance.
Some students genuinely benefit from certain types of music, while others are severely hampered by it. This isn’t just personal preference 鈥 it’s linked to how different minds work. The quiet, reflective student often finds lyrics distracting, while the fidgety, easily bored student might need background sound to maintain focus. Introverts typically perform better in silence, while extroverts are less affected by background noise.
What’s most evident is what type of music might help. Lyrics, regardless of genre, typically damage comprehension and retention. Fast tempos and high volumes further reduce concentration. If students must listen to something, instrumental music at low volume or 鈥 surprisingly 鈥 nature sounds like rainfall or birdsong show genuine promise for reducing anxiety while improving concentration.
As all our students enter their final exam weeks, the most practical advice I can offer is this: the exam hall will be silent. Students should spend at least some of their remaining revision sessions in similar conditions. Our brains form connections between the context of learning and the material itself, so practising retrieval in exam-like conditions strengthens those connections.
Lyrics, regardless of genre, typically damage comprehension and retention.
This simple adjustment can make a substantial difference. Students who have become dependent on music may find their concentration falters in its absence during the actual exam.
Practising working in silence now builds mental stamina for exam days.
At this late stage, drastic changes to established study habits could be counterproductive. For students who have developed effective routines 鈥 even if they include some background music 鈥 maintaining consistency might be more valuable than sudden shifts.
For those who insist music helps, suggest they listen between study sessions rather than during them. This preserves the mood-enhancing benefits without compromising cognitive resources.
A well-chosen playlist before studying can boost motivation, while silence during the actual revision maximises focus.
Suggesting students try nature sounds instead of lyrical music offers a practical compromise.
When parents call concerned about headphones, advise them to ask what their child is listening to and why. This conversation often reveals more about learning preferences than formal assessments. My advice is to approach this as a chance for reflection rather than confrontation.
Ask questions such as “Have they noticed which subjects their child finds easier to revise with music?” This helps parents develop better awareness of their own child鈥檚 learning processes.
Even in these final weeks, small adjustments can make meaningful differences. For students struggling with concentration, suggesting they try nature sounds instead of lyrical music offers a practical compromise. For those battling pre-exam anxiety, a calm instrumental playlist before study sessions might help manage stress without hindering learning.
The goal isn’t enforcing uniformity but helping each student understand how their mind works best 鈥 a lesson that will serve them long after exam season ends.
A free copy of MPW鈥檚 report 鈥淭une Out or Tune In鈥 is available . For students that want to listen to music while revising, MPW has prepared a suitable playlist on .
