LIFE

All you want to wear during a test is your fave pair of sweats and a giant sweatshirt—but according to a recent study from researchers at Columbia University and California State University, Northridge, your go-to comfy clothes could actually be hurting your grades.

According to Racked, the study asked 60 undergrads to rate how nicely they were dressed in comparison to other students. Then, participants were asked to fill out a multiple-choice 10-question quiz where the answers were categorized as either "abstract" or "concrete."

"On [the survey], participants answered questions like 'voting is best described as'...the abstract option...'influencing the election' [or] the concrete option...'marking a ballot.' There were no 'right' or 'wrong' answers, and the questions generally concerned broad everyday subjects, so as not to favor certain academic majors or students with specialized skills," explains Nautilus.

Turns out, fancier dressed students tended to give more "abstract" answers while the more casually outfited participants went with "concrete" answers. While abstract thinking isn't necessarily better, it is different—and can be more helpful for the outside-of-the-box, creative thinking that can help you ace that English essay. On a math test, you might want to tap into that concrete thought key for finding exact answers.

So what does this mean for you? Well, you definitely shouldn't trade in your textbooks for a smooth, sophisticated outfit—but next time you have a test, consider dressing for your school of thoughts. After all, every little bit counts when you're going for good grades!

What do you usually wear when you're taking a test? Have any other study skills to share?

by Caitlin Callihan | 3/15/2016