Gum: The Next Best Test-Taking Strategy

Are you taking the SAT, ACT, or SAT Subject Tests this fall and prepping this summer? If so, you should start chewing gum. Recent studies at Swinburne University have revealed findings about the effects of chewing gum that lead us to think that the minty pastime is a wonderous food for thought!

Did you know that chewing gum while you study…

• Will make you 19% more alert during mildly stressful situations and 8% more alert during moderately stressful situations than if you are empty-mouthed.
• Will relieve anxiety. Chomping down during mildly stressful situations will reduce your anxiety by 17% and down by 10% in moderately stressful situations.
• Will reduce stress by 16% in mildly stressful situations and by 12% in moderately stressful situations.
• Will improve performance by 109% in mildly stressful situations and by 67% in moderately stressful situations.

So, next time you are at the store, grab a pack of the minty stuff and start the habit of chewing gum while you study. Then, on test day, make sure to include a pack of your favorite gum in your bag to make sure you perform your best in an utmost stress-free way!

Learn More about the chewy research from Swinburne University of Technology