Have you ever considered the space around students when they take exams?

Believe it or not, the physical environment has an enormous impact on student success. Everything from the exam hall tables they sit at to the lighting and temperature of the room matters.

Think about every study hack students utilise to do well on exams. The hours of revision, memorisation tactics, practice tests, copious amounts of caffeine, you name it…

If they aren’t taking the test in an environment conducive to learning, none of it matters.

The psychology of test-taking is complicated. But one of the simplest ways to give students an edge is by designing an optimal testing environment.

That starts with the furniture.

Dozens of academic studies have examined the impact of physical spaces on test performance. Today, those results are worth exploring.

What you’ll learn:

  • Why physical factors impact test performance
  • How exam tables can increase student success
  • The importance of lighting and temperature conditions

Let’s take a closer look.

Why The Environment Impacts Test-Taking Psychology

Students shouldn’t have to worry about their learning environment when taking exams.

Ideally, they should be able to lean fully into showing what they know without distractions.

But that doesn’t always happen.

From uncomfortable chairs to noisy rooms… if students aren’t in the right headspace, they won’t perform to the best of their abilities.

Test anxiety is a very real issue that affects 25-40% of students. When it occurs, they have difficulty concentrating on exams, experience physical symptoms like nausea or rapid heartbeats, and ultimately don’t do as well on tests as they should.

But the condition of your exam tables also has an impact.

Students who aren’t comfortable with their surroundings will tense up during a test. They may struggle to focus on questions when they’re distracted by their environment.

And ergonomics plays a big role in whether or not students feel relaxed during testing. Chair-to-desk height, desk size, stability… all of these factors affect whether students can sit at a desk comfortably for several hours without needing to fidget or adjust their position.

Students who sit at well-made exam desks and tables are free to focus on the test in front of them. There are no competing physical factors fighting for their brainpower.

So how can you ensure your exam tables aren’t holding students back?

Ergonomic Exam Tables are Key

Did you know that over 83% of school children use chair and desk combinations that aren’t fitted to their body height?

Studies indicate that ill-fitted classroom furniture can cause students to misalign their bodies to adapt to their desk and chair. This makes it difficult for students to concentrate on tests, as they may become distracted by physical discomfort.

Exam hall furniture should be up to science-based ergonomic standards so students can sit at them throughout an entire test without feeling tired or uncomfortable.

Poor lighting conditions and room temperature can also affect test performance.

The Right Lighting and Temperature Can Improve Student Test Scores

Students who take tests under brighter lights had better cognitive performance, including reading comprehension, maths problem solving skills, and concentration. Researchers recommend between 500-900lux of lighting with a suitable correlated colour temperature (CCT) for students’ exam halls.

Likewise, studies show that there’s an ideal temperature for learning. When the room is too cold or too hot, students have more trouble recalling information and solving problems on tests.

Strangely enough, hot temperatures have been shown to affect exam performance more significantly than cold temperatures.

Students who took a nationally administered high stakes exam on a day with 90°F weather performed approximately 14% of a standard deviation worse than students who took the same test in moderate temperatures.

If students are struggling to stay focused because of the room’s temperature, they’re going to have a more difficult time demonstrating what they know on a test.

Improving the ergonomic standards of your exam tables and optimising your lighting and temperature could help students substantially on tests. And it doesn’t have to cost your school thousands of dollars.

You can purchase high-quality desks at affordable prices that fit your students’ body types. And most lighting and thermostat systems can be adjusted to meet the recommendations of these studies.

Creating an Ideal Exam Environment

You know what factors impact student performance on tests. But what can you do to improve your school’s exam halls?

Here are a few ideas.

Invest in quality furniture.

Exam tables should come before anything else. If students are struggling to find a comfortable position during a test, it won’t matter how well-lit your room is or what the temperature feels like.

Look for ergonomic exam tables that offer the following:

  • Enough space to write comfortably during an exam
  • Height ranges that fit the majority of your student body
  • A stable build to prevent tables from wobbling

Notice how we didn’t mention tech integrations, stylish designs, or expensive materials. Students don’t care how their exam hall table looks. They just want it to support their body.

Lighting and temperature are everything.

Once you figure out your school’s exam desks, it’s time to look at the environment as a whole.

Do your students have access to natural light? If not, can you increase the brightness of your classrooms?

You should also keep an eye on temperature levels. Schools that experience widely varying temperatures throughout the year should have a set protocol for keeping exams rooms in the ideal range of 23-26°C.

Improving your school’s exam halls starts with understanding what students need to thrive. By providing ergonomically designed furniture and creating an environment with proper lighting and temperature, you’re giving your students one less thing to worry about on test day.

Wrapping Up

Everything impacts test performance, even the furniture students take exams at.

Students who don’t have ergonomic furniture that fits their body proportions fight an uphill battle when sitting all day for tests. If they’re struggling to sit still, they can’t fully focus on what matters most: showing you what they know.

And when you pair poor furniture with bad lighting and temperature conditions, test scores could suffer significantly.

At UK Educational Furniture, the mission is to provide schools with high-quality furniture that improves student outcomes. For affordable solutions to upgrade your school’s exam tables, visit the website today.

Dozens of desk options are available that are sure to support your students’ bodies and allow them to relax during testing.