The final exam season has started! Just a few more weeks of hard work and then you can thoroughly enjoy the summer. In order to set you up for success, here are some playlists - recommended by and for students after we asked them about their favourite go-to study playlists on Instagram - that are perfect for studying. Try them out! :)

Study Lo-Fi

A favourite playlist of many students: Study Lo-fi! Lo-fi music, or low fidelity music, is music made out of simple, minimal sounds that are “imperfect”. You’ll hear, for example, rain against a window or the sounds of birds chirping in combination with a calming beat. Apparently, lo-fi music can reduce stress and enhance focus because the music is so calm and relaxing, which results in higher quality study sessions! It also improves your mood because listening to this type of music increases your serotonin and dopamine levels.There are many different types of lo-fi playlists, so you’ll have no trouble finding one that’s perfect for you!

Concentration Beats

The playlist Concentration Beats on Spotify contains music with a little bit more of a beat, but it still works quite calming. Just like lo-fi, the music doesn’t contain vocals which makes it perfect for concentrating. If you get distracted when listening to music with lyrics because you want to understand what they’re saying like me, this is a great option for when you want some more stimulating music while concentrating.

Chill rap music playlists

Another recommendation was listening to chill rap music playlists, for instance, the J. Cole 1 Hour Chill Songs playlist on YouTube. J. Cole’s music contains beautiful lyrics and, according to listeners, he has a calming voice which is nice to listen to. If you don’t get distracted by vocals and you generally like to listen to rap music then try out this playlist during your next study session!

Soundtracks of your favourite films

Another popular suggestion were playlists of soundtracks of films, for example, the Lord of the Rings soundtrack or the Succession theme song. Listening to songs you enjoy definitely helps make studying fun and gives you motivation. I personally love to listen to Harry Potter ambient music - preferably with rain - which gets me into a cosy study mood. So, put on your favourite soundtrack and go study!

Are these suggested playlists not really your thing? Here are some other playlists you can check out that I like to listen to, or have heard other students like to listen to!

Vivaldi - The Four Seasons

The Four seasons by Vivaldi is my go-to when I have to read articles for an essay. Believe it or not, but I’m literally jamming at my desk when the Summer part is playing. It’s been proven that classical music helps with learning new information as it puts you in a heightened emotional state. It also helps to lower your stress levels. So, definitely try out listening to Vivaldi, or other classical songs, while studying for your exams!

Heavy metal

A music genre that definitely does not help me focus, but maybe it does for you, is heavy metal or death metal. I cannot concentrate at all when listening to such a playlist, but one of my friends can and swears by it. The grunts and growls of an angry-sounding band can help process and express the anger and frustration you might feel while studying. A good choice if you want to switch things up or have to power through an essay.

Techno Mix

Lastly, a playlist with techno music might also be a nice one for studying. Techno music often emphasises rhythm and uses repetitive loops of sounds that last up until a few minutes. The upbeat songs normally don’t have vocals, which is nice for concentrating, but if songs with lyrics are your cup of tea then that’s also possible to find within the genre.

Hopefully, with this blog post, you’ve found a playlist that works for you. Let us know in the comments if you have other recommendations - we’re very curious. For now, good luck with studying for your last exams! You will smash it! :)