The higher a student's heart beat increases during an examination, the more likely they are to achieve better result, according to new research.

The survey, undertaken by AQA exam board, found that on average the most successful pupils' heart beat reached a level that was 23.9 beats per minute (bpm) faster than normal.

And those who performed at the bottom end of the class were found to have a minimal increase in heart beat - only around 3.9bpm more than their normal rate.

One of the leaders of the research, Suzanne Chamberlain, said: "This increase in heart rate is a sign that arousal encourages them (the students) to be more alert. It encourages them to work to the best of their ability, it sets the scene for better performance."

The students were fitted with heart monitors in the hours before the exam. For the highest performers, their heart rate increased from 79.8 beats a minute to 103.7 while sitting the exam. And the pulses of those who did not fare as well - their rate only went up slightly, from 78.5 to 82.4.

But the study does not recommend that those taking exams use stimulants to boost their heart rate.

研究发现，学生考试时心跳速度越快，考试成绩就越好。

这项由英国资格评估与认证联合会考试局发起的调查表明，最为的学生每分钟心搏平均23.9次，高出正常水平。而表现垫底的学生心搏却不见起色——只比正常数值大约多出3.9次。

苏珊妮张伯伦是该研究的带头人之一，她说道：“心率加速是因学生受到激励从而更加敏锐的特征。它促使他们发挥水平，给更好的考试表现奠定了基础。”

考试前几小时学生们身上被安装了心脏监测器。在测试中，成绩的学生的心率可从每分钟79.8次上升为至少103.7次。而那些表现不佳者的心搏次数也不怎样——他们的心率鲜有加速，只是从每分钟78.5次上升至82.4次。

但研究并不建议应考学生饮用兴奋剂饮料来增加心率。