Chums are fine, but say no to music

IN THESE days of music streaming, who hasn’t come across their child nodding along to their favourite song while claiming to be revising? But learning psychologist Bradley Busch, author of Release Your Inner Drive, says this is a common mistake. ‘While music may boost motivation, it has a negative impact on revision,’ he says. ‘Researchers found those who revise in silence remember 60 per cent more than those who revise while listening to music.’ But while you may be sceptical of your child’s claim to learn better with friends, if they’re hard workers too, this could be true. Bradley says: ‘Another study found people work harder if the person next to them is working hard, too.’