Snacks are the secret of success in exams

I read in an article published at the beginning of this month that the new education secretary, Nadhim Zahawi, is considering a series of sweeping reforms, including reconstituting Sats at 14 and removing the cap on teaching hours (DfE considering return of Sats at 14 and axing teaching hours limits, 1 October). I would like to add another crucial measure to the list.

I found while sitting A-levels at Highgate Wood school in 2017 that I could not finish an exam without a snack. Hunger pangs struck during a three-hour exam on Othello. My last answer was gibberish. I’ve since brought bananas, apples, chocolate, pasties and much more into my remaining A-levels and exams at university, munching clandestinely when the invigilator was not looking.

Speaking from personal experience, therefore, I think that eating during exams should be encouraged for students to better their grades, and that sufficient snacks should be provided by the state for students on free school meals. Teenagers have fast metabolisms, and no one thinks well when they’re hangry.

One word of warning, though. As for many of the class of 2020, Covid meant I wrote my final university exams on my living room table in my parents’ house. Three exams on consecutive days started at 9am and ended at 2pm.

I had got myself into a habit of eating a jacket potato with tuna mayonnaise at about 12.30pm each day so, being superstitious, I also thought to eat one during each exam. Trying to type and slice potato skin, flinging greasy tuna on the keyboard, scalding my tongue with boiling potato – this was a mistake. So, Nadhim Zahawi, hear this: snacks are in, but jacket potatoes are out.
Patrick Morrish
London

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