How Game-Based Learning Can Improve Test Scores And Mental Health (2025)

As a former admissions officer and college consultant, I’ve witnessed firsthand how standardized testing creates immense pressure for college applicants. The recent Kahoot study finding that two-thirds of college students report mental health challenges affecting their academic performance confirms that traditional approaches to test preparation can undermine both performance and wellbeing.

The stakes feel impossibly high for today's students. With each correct answer potentially determining college options and future opportunities, it's no wonder that test anxiety has become epidemic. But what if our approach to test preparation itself is part of the problem?

This research suggests that integrating game-based learning and micro-learning techniques into standardized test preparation can simultaneously improve performance and reduce anxiety. This is also called the spacing effect, which demonstrates that distributing learning over time enhances memory retention compared to massed practice. Here’s how students can leverage these findings to master the SAT, ACT, and other standardized tests while protecting their mental health.

Embrace Micro-Learning Sessions Over Marathon Study

The traditional approach of multi-hour study sessions runs counter to how our brains optimally process and retain information. Sean D’Arcy, Chief Solutions Officer at Kahoot, notes that their research shows students retain more when working in five to ten minute sessions with breaks in between. A study published in BMC Medical Education found that spaced learning significantly improved learning outcomes and retention.

"For Gen Z and students who are used to spending time on their devices, smaller bite-sized micro-learning is actually more in line with consumption patterns," D’Arcy explains.

Rather than forcing students through exhausting three-hour practice tests, consider breaking content into focused 10-minute modules that target specific concepts or question types. This approach allows for natural breaks where information can consolidate in memory. Implementing spaced repetition techniques—revisiting challenging concepts at strategic intervals—further enhances retention without overwhelming your cognitive resources.

In addition, setting clear, achievable daily goals helps maintain momentum while providing frequent opportunities to experience success. This constant positive reinforcement creates a virtuous cycle where small wins build confidence for the next challenge.

Transform Passive Studying Into Active Creation

The study also revealed a surprising insight: students who create study materials rather than merely consuming them demonstrate significantly better retention and understanding.

"The pedagogy around creation is quite important," notes D'Arcy. "If you're actually creating a study set which you or your peers will use, that's as good as it gets in terms of retention."

This aligns with what cognitive scientists call the generation effect—the phenomenon where actively producing information leads to stronger memory formation than passive review.

For standardized test preparation, this means transforming yourself from a consumer of prep materials into a producer. Creating your own flashcards forces you to distill concepts to their essence, reinforcing understanding in ways that simply reviewing pre-made cards cannot match. When you develop your own practice questions for challenging concepts, you're essentially thinking like the test makers, giving you insight into how questions are constructed.

Teaching difficult material to peers or family members is particularly powerful, as it requires students to organize information coherently and anticipate questions—precisely the skills tested in standardized exams. Building visual models or mind maps to organize complex information engages different neural pathways, creating multiple routes to recall information during high-pressure testing situations.

Leverage Social Learning To Combat Isolation

Perhaps most compelling is the finding that collaborative studying serves dual purposes: enhancing learning outcomes while simultaneously supporting mental health.

"The combination of studying together has a double benefit," D'Arcy explains. "You can actually learn together, but it's also great for mental health in general because you're socializing and feeling like you're part of something bigger."

This insight is particularly valuable given the isolation many students feel during intensive test preparation. Forming small study groups focused on specific test sections creates accountability while distributing the cognitive load of mastering difficult material. Using collaborative platforms to share resources and insights leverages collective intelligence—often someone else's explanation clicks in ways that textbooks or videos haven't.

Scheduling regular check-ins with peers provides not just accountability but also normalized conversation about the challenges of test preparation. Creating friendly competitions transforms rote practice into engaging social experiences while maintaining the motivational benefits of gentle competition.

The X-Factor Approach: Focus On The Right Things

One of the core principles I teach in my X-Factor methodology is that successful applicants don't try to master everything—they strategically focus their efforts where improvement will yield the greatest results.

Modern learning platforms now offer sophisticated analytics that can identify precisely where students should concentrate their efforts. Rather than reviewing all material equally, these tools can identify specific question types causing difficulty, allowing for targeted intervention precisely where it's needed most. They track improvement over time, providing concrete evidence of progress that builds confidence during the inevitable plateaus in test preparation.

The most sophisticated platforms suggest customized practice based on individual performance patterns, creating a personalized curriculum that maximizes efficiency. This approach reduces cognitive overload by eliminating unnecessary review of already-mastered content, freeing mental resources for the concepts that truly need attention.

Bring Back The Joy Of Learning

Perhaps most importantly, game-based approaches to test preparation can reintroduce an element that’s often lost in the stress of college admissions: the joy of learning itself. A study published in Smart Learning Environments found that gamification approaches could improve engagement and motivation by integrating game-based learning strategies.

By transforming study sessions into interactive and enjoyable activities, students may experience reduced anxiety and an increased willingness to engage with the material. This state of relaxed alertness is precisely what cognitive scientists identify as optimal for information processing and retention.

Gamification can help students to transform what feels like drudgery into engaging challenges. Competitive elements with friends tap into natural social motivation while keeping stakes lower than the actual exam. Achievement systems that reward progress provide constant positive reinforcement rather than the delayed gratification of test day. Other platforms such as Quizlet, Quizziz, and Bamboozle also use gamification strategies to support students learning.

Immediate feedback during practice creates tight learning loops that accelerate mastery, while varied approaches prevent the monotony that leads to disengagement. When learning feels enjoyable rather than obligatory, students naturally spend more time engaged with material, leading to deeper understanding and better retention.

The college admissions process will likely remain competitive, and standardized tests will continue to play a role for many institutions. However, how students prepare for these assessments doesn't need to come at the expense of their mental health.

By embracing these evidence-based approaches to test preparation, students can potentially improve their scores while simultaneously protecting their wellbeing—a combination that represents true alignment in today's challenging admissions landscape.

As we navigate this post-pandemic educational environment, it's time to recognize that the most effective preparation isn't about working harder but working smarter—with approaches that honor how our brains actually learn and the very real emotional needs of today's students.