Soundtracking study season: The relationship between music and academic performance

Currently, students across the UK are preparing for exam season. During this study period, we at The Boar Music sought to investigate whether studying with music has a positive or negative impact on academic performance. Using data collected from Warwick students, alongside independent study, this article will investigate which music is the most popular for studying, and whether or not science backs up its benefits. Is it truly a study stimulant? Or just a distracting habit? 

According to data collected from a survey of Warwick students, 70% of participants listen to music while studying, 22% listen ‘sometimes’, and only 8% never listen. Of the 92%, the top genres listened to include classical music (37%), rock/metal/alternative (35%), indie/folk (33%), instrumental (33%), and jazz (27%). The dominance of instrumental and classical was notable, as these were also the top two choices for the genres students thought were the best for studying, according to science. This perhaps suggests that students are trying to make the right decisions when it comes to selecting study music, listening to the genres with proven benefits. 

An association-based placebo effect is at work, with students studying well to classical music because they associate it with studying

The question, therefore, becomes – are they right? Reassuringly, yes, students were correct with their assumptions. Instrumental music is repeatedly recommended in articles and research papers, since lyrics can be distracting. Classical music is a notorious choice and has been highly researched since the ’90s ‘Mozart Effect’ phenomenon. A more recent 2007 study proved that the transitions in long classical pieces peaked brain focus. The genre is very good at stimulating the brain, so, unsurprisingly, it’s highly recommended for studying. It’s also possible that an association-based placebo effect is at work, with students studying well to classical music because they associate it with studying. 

Instrumental genres like lo-fi and film scores were other popular choices. Both genres have no distracting lyrics and a usually mellow vibe, so as not to be over-stimulating. With lo-fi, much like classical, a level of association is likely at play, with the popular YouTube stream ‘lo-fi hip hop radio beats to relax/study to’ having around 11,000 people watching live at any given time. This impressive statistic has undoubtedly helped to cement lo-fi as a ‘study genre’, thus having a similar effect on the mind to classical music. As for film scores, since it is intended that you would be focusing on the film rather than the music, the genre is a sensible choice for listening to while studying. It is literally designed to enhance focus on the activity rather than be a source of distraction.  

If you want to listen to music while studying, opt for instrumental music

One thing the science is very clear about is that you should always choose instrumental music over music with lyrics. According to The Guardian, a study by Cardiff Metropolitan University found that: “students who revised while listening to music without lyrics did better than those who had revised to music with lyrics”, so if you want to listen to music while studying, opt for instrumental music. 

So, why do Warwick students have these preferences? They argued it helps them focus, calms them, prevents boredom and burnout, motivates them, and blocks out background noise. But, does music have the benefits everyone thinks it does?

The science does seem to back up these claims. Studies have shown that listening to music has a positive impact on mood and stress levels. A 2013 study showed that listening to calming music impacts on how people’s bodies behave under stress (i.e. their hormone response). Another study in 2019 suggested that music can activate the reward centres in the brain, providing motivation and boosting mood. Therefore, even if listening to music while studying isn’t your thing, try rewarding yourself with your favourite tunes during study breaks, as the science suggests it will improve your motivation. When it comes to focus and memory, according to Dr Masha Godkin, a professor at National University, San Diego: “Music activates both the left and right brain at the same time, and the activation of both hemispheres can maximise learning and improve memory.” Overall, there are plenty of studies which seem to suggest that – at least for some – studying with music has positive effects. 

Some Warwick students stated that they didn’t listen to music. Those who didn’t listen to music said they chose not to because they found music distracting, and/or preferred silence or ambience. Both academic studies and responses to the survey show that the benefits of music depend on the individual, so while music improves focus for some, it can be a distraction for others. Listening to instrumental music minimises its distracting quality, but some opt for no music at all. A study carried out by Cardiff Metropolitan University found that: “students who revised in quiet environments performed more than 60% better in an exam than their peers who revised while listening to music that had lyrics.”

15/16 participants who said they had a condition like ADHD chose to listen to music

Another factor to explore in this investigation was the impact of conditions such as ADHD, where the brain is usually ‘under-aroused’, requiring more external stimulus to reach the interest level needed for focused performance. This is why many people with ADHD find silence under-stimulating, so they opt to study with music. This desire for higher stimulation also means that people with ADHD tend to favour more intense and stimulating tracks. In a 2024 study which tested music scientifically designed for studying, participants with higher ADHD symptom scores showed greater improvements than neurotypical people, suggesting that the condition does indeed have an impact on whether music improves academic performance. Warwick data seemed to match this, as 15/16 participants who said they had a condition like ADHD chose to listen to music, with four of these confident that it had improved their academic performance. The one participant who said they did not listen to music claimed they found it ‘distracting’, aligning with these findings.

Overall, Warwick survey data was inconclusive, 20% of students claiming they had seen an improvement in grades, while 28% saw either no improvement or worsening grades when revision was accompanied by music.

Scientific studies suggest that listening to music while studying improves focus, concentration and memory retention, with these factors demonstrating that music has a positive impact for most. Warwick students were correct in saying it ‘depends on the person’ – whether or not you should listen to music while studying is a highly personal choice. Both the science and student testimonials show that while music helps some, it hinders others. So get studying, and see what works for you!