There is a somewhat widespread public belief, probably begun with the publication of news articles in respected periodicals regarding suggestive research, that listening to classical music aids in learning and improves academic performance. The effects of music on non-music related activities has received some attention from the scientific research community, however it has never been widely studied. The central idea is to determine the effect classical music has on people, specifically college undergrads, and whether it acts to distract or enhance academic performance, or do nothing at all.
Available research has produced mixed results. Most research in this area of study has been in the area of psychological testing and IQ test scores. The effect of music on academic testing or study has been largely overlooked. Studies in the early 1980's by Dr's M.O Cox and L.E. Moller revealed no significant effect on math test scores when participants were exposed to classical music. A study lead by Mike Manthei and Steven M. Kelly of University of Nebraska, Omaha, at University of South Florida, sought to determine classical musics ability to affect undergraduate math test scores, but found no statistically significant effect.
The procedure for the Manthei/Kelly study, the most recent study available as of early 2011, investigated the effect of classical music on college test scores. It consisted of 72 undergrad students taking a music appreciation class. The study was designed to ensure academic and socioeconomic diversity, equal gender representation and the average age was between 18 and 22 years. Students were exposed to different types of background music during each class, for three sessions, and took a test of standardized math questions each session. The first session exposed to students to classical music while testing, the second class exposed them to rock music and the the third session was silent.
As of 2011, the current cumulative verdict of all academic research to determine classical musics ability to raise test scores is that it has no effect on test outcomes. The Manthei/Kelly study found that test grades achieved while listening to no music were adequate predictors of test scores earned while listening to classical music. This leads to the conclusion that students listening to classical music in the background while testing will score no differently than if they take the test in silence.