Researchers from the Washington University recently performed a study that suggests that teenagers who have poor performances in school might simply need more sleep.

In order to come to this conclusion, researchers analyzed 102 college students who had never taken an economics class before. All participants watched a virtual lecture on the topic either at night or in the morning. Some of these students were assessed on what they learned directly after the lecture, while others were tested after a 12-hour period that included sleep, after a 12-hour period without sleep or after one week.

The study's results show that after a period that included sleep, students were better able to complete questions on the test, particularly those that were more complex. Participants who stepped away from the subject matter for 12 hours without sleeping did significantly worse on the exam.

Parents who are concerned about their teens' academic performance may want to encourage them to get a good night’s rest and take an IQ test.