Student exam time: the truth behind the myths
Radio station MNM joined hands with a well-known research firm to fact-check some of the commonly held myths and stereotypes about Flemish students
Mass cram sessions not a thing
The results of Het Grote Studenten Onderzoek, or The Big Student Survey, confirmed a number of commonly held clichés but also yielded a few surprises.
The survey was carried out by Trendwolves, a well-known Ghent-based research and marketing company that focuses on youth culture. Some 3,300 students between the ages of 13 and 25 completed the list of 30 questions.
“I don’t think there has been a similar student study before, and for MNM it definitely was their first such project,” says Trendwolves’ Willem Roose (pictured).
One of the most stubborn clichés about students posits that girls spend much more time chained to their desks than boys. “That was one of our premises, and, as a researcher, it’s always interesting to see your gut feelings confirmed,” Roose says. “The contrast is consistent, since both sexes answered differently to every one of the questions. To have this divergence quantified is of great value.”
Female students study approximately 30 minutes a day more than their male counterparts. They also feel better prepared for the exams. But just because women study for longer periods doesn’t mean they feel more confident about the exam process.
“Out of a list of 10 psychological problems, girls ticked off an average of 5.4,” Roose explains. “Compared to boys, who ticked off 3.8 problems on the list. Fatigue and nerves are the most common factors.”
Debunking stereotypes
Students also swear by an array of strategies to boost their stamina during exams that can be physically and psychologically demanding. “Caffeine drinks and coffee top the list,” Roose says. “Thirty percent of the girls reach for vitamin supplements, compared to 20% of the boys. The latter also turn to alcohol (18%) and concentration improving-drugs such as Ritalin (4%).”
Study results decline by 10% every four years because of the World Cup
For moral support, Flemish students mostly rely on their mums. More than 41% of secondary school students and 32% of university students rely primarily on their mothers for extra moral support, followed by their fellow students and then their partners. “Only 3% claim to rely on their dads,” Roose says.
The survey also invalidated a number of stereotypes. “The idea of students cramming together in Ghent’s Boekentoren or the library on Leuven’s Ladeuzeplein doesn’t seem that true,” Roose says. “Only one in 10 students prefers to study together, or three out of 20, when we narrow the results to university students only.”
And what about the football craze? “Previous research has shown that study results decline by 10% every four years because of the World Cup,” Roose confirms. “In our survey, half of the students claim they won’t watch the matches, although 65% of the boys answered that they would.”
Another interesting finding – 50% of the students would like their exams scheduled around the Belgian team's matches.
Photo courtesy Trendwolves
Educational system
million school-going children in 2013
million euros Flemish education budget for new school infrastructures in 2013
percent of boys leaving secondary school without a diploma
- Education in Flanders
- Secondary education reform
- European Encyclopaedia on National Education Systems
