Title:

Cramming of

Students

Background :
It will probably not shock any instructor to learn that students cram for exams. What
may be a bit surprising is the percentage of students who do: somewhere between 25 percent
and 50 percent, depending on the study. In a research conducted and reported by McIntyre,
S.H. and Munson, J.M. (2008) in Exploring Cramming: Student Behaviors, Beliefs, and
Learning Retention in the Principles of Marketing Course, approximately 45 percent of
students

admitted

to

cramming.

(http://www.facultyfocus.com/articles/teaching-and-

learning/why-students-cram-for-exams/ McIntyre, S.H. and Munson, J.M. (2008). Exploring

cramming: Student behaviors, beliefs, and learning retention in the Principles of Marketing
course. Journal of Marketing, 30 (3), 226-243.)
Cramming becomes a routine for themstaying up late during the
night until the dawn studying. Some of the reason why majority of
students

cram

before

the

examination

is

because

of

the

numerous

subjects to be studied in too little time, because of trouble with

their schedules and there are some cases, that students mind work
really well and absorb information faster when they are under great
pressure.
In a study conducted by UCLA Professor of Psychiatry Andrew J. Fuligni, Cari
Gillen-O'Neel, a UCLA graduate student, together with his colleagues report that
sacrificing sleep for extra study time, whether it's cramming for a test or plowing
through a pile of homework, is actually counterproductive. Regardless of how much
a student generally studies each day, if that student sacrifices sleep time in order to
study more than usual, he or she is likely to have more academic problems, not

less, on the following day. (http://newsroom.ucla.edu/releases/cramming-for-atest-don-t-do-it-237733 taken from UCLA News Room)
According to W.G. Sommer, students in a university system often adapt to the timeconstraints that are placed upon them in college, and often use cramming to perform well on
tests. In his article, Procrastination and Cramming: How Adept Students Ace the System, he
states Many students outwardly adapt to this system, however, engage in an intense and
private ritual that comprises five aspects: calculated procrastination, preparatory anxiety,
climactic cramming, nick-of-time deadline-making, and a secret, if often uncelebrated, victory.
These adept students often find it difficult to admit others into their efficient program of
academic survival. (http://www.eaglenews.ph/avoid-cramming/ )
There are students who are after getting home, starts to study
their lessons to avoid information overload and to have much time to
review and study the other subjects, while there are other students
who

prefer

to

study

and

have

the

habit

of

cramming

before

the

examination. But whatever the reasons might be, these late night study
sessions have its effects to the performance of students especially in
their examination. What are the positive and negative effects brought
about by cramming? How can students avoid this habit?
Statement of the Problem:
Generally, this study aims to find out the negative and/ or
positive effect of cramming to students performance especially during
examinations.
This problem aims to answer the following:

1. What

is/are

the

positive

effect/s

of

cramming

to

students

performance during examinations?

2. What is/are the negative effect/s

of

cramming

to

students

performance during examinations?

3. What is/are the possible solution/s to this late night study
sessions of students?
Data Gathering:
In order to extract the necessary data which is aimed in the
conduct

of

this

study,

the

researchers

prepared

written

questionnaire composed of five questions which were given to fifty

respondents who were asked to answer the same. The respondents were
students from Filamer Christian University currently enrolled in the
College

of

Teacher

Education-

Bachelor

of

Secondary

Education

and

Bachelor of Elementary Education. They were randomly selected from

second to fourth year levels wherein they answered the questionnaires
under the presence of the researchers. After which, the answer sheets
were collected for interpretation.
Findings:
After the written interview was conducted, the following data and
findings were gathered: out of fifty students who were asked if they
have ever crammed for a test, all fifty students answered yes. On the
other hand, 70% of the students said that the prior problem that they
have encountered was time management. Time management has made them
cram because of the limited or too little time that they have in order
to accomplish other task and even study. The study also revealed that

20% of the students admitted that their laziness caused them to cram.
They have had actually lots of time to study, but they didnt because
of doing other unimportant tasks. They were confused of what needs to
done first and what needs to be on the top priority. The remaining 10%
of the students answered that prior problem that they have encountered
that caused them to cram is their lack of focus.
When asked to name a specific instance wherein they cram, 80% of
the students revealed that they cram are during their examinations and
tests. They cram because they know that they have not studied very
well, thus make them unprepared in getting and answering the test.
They also cited that surprise quizzes make them cram because they were
not able to study. They cant answer and dont have any answer because
they

were

not

even

able

to

open

their

notes

and

study

it.

The

remaining 20% of the students have cited that projects and output
deadlines made them cram. They cram because projects and outputs were
simultaneously given and make them confused what needs to be done
first and even more confusing when deadlines are also on the same date
of their examinations.
When

asked

on

the

reason

why

students

cram,

90%

of

the

respondents admitted that it is due to their inability to use their

time wisely. They term it as lack of time because they use all their
time on other things instead of using it in studying for the tests or
doing

their

projects

or

outputs.

The

remaining

10%

said

that

the

reason why they cram are because of anxiety, nervousness and panic
that is caused by the thought that of failing or getting low scores.

The results further revealed that 80% of the students got low
scores for their tests as the major effect of their cramming. Other
10% have said that their cramming has caused them stress and regrets.
Since their cramming have brought negative effects, they have come up
with a solution to it. The majority said that preparation is the key
to

avoid

cramming.

Taking

time

to

study

ahead

of

the

scheduled

examination and scheduled deadline of outputs and projects would help

them avoiding cramming and would also help them become confident and
ready in taking the test. Focus and concentration while studying would
also of great help. Setting priorities was also one of the solution
that they have in order to avoid cramming.
Solutions:
(insert solution taken from the findings)