Abstract
Emerging research suggests that high caffeine intake during study sessions is linked to increased physiological stress and poor examination outcomes in adolescents. This study investigates whether the daily volume of caffeinated energy drinks consumed during preparation weeks is associated with elevated resting heart rates and subsequent performance in advanced science GCSE exams.
Methods: We collected biometric data and self-report logs from a volunteer cohort of 180 GCSE science students (aged 15–16) attending a single high-fee-paying independent school in Central London. Correlation analysis was used to examine the relationship between daily caffeine intake, mean resting heart rate during study blocks, and raw exam percentages.
Findings: High caffeine consumption was strongly correlated with elevated mean heart rates and self-reported sleep disturbance during exam weeks, which in turn were statistically significantly associated with lower raw exam percentages. This negative association was particularly pronounced among students who reported studying past midnight.
Interpretation: The results suggest that excess caffeine intake during revision may induce physiological arousal levels that impair cognitive performance. These findings could be highly beneficial for school counsellors and parents designing study regimens for high-achieving pupils.
Using Item A, outline one weakness of the sample used in this study.
201 exam-style questions on OCR A Level Psychology Planning and conducting research. Each one has a worked solution and a mark scheme showing where the marks go.