Italy's 2026 Maturità candidates urged to prioritize sleep over all‑night study
Around 527,000 Italian students preparing for the oral component of the 2026 Maturità exams, which begin on 22 June, have been advised by sleep specialist Luigi Ferini‑Strambi to focus on adequate rest rather than cramming through the night. Ferini‑Strambi, director of the Sleep Medicine Centre at San Raffaele Hospital in Milan, explains that a typical seven‑hour sleep window supports memory consolidation and cognitive performance.
He notes that individual sleep needs vary, but most people benefit from about seven hours. Respecting one's chronotype, maintaining a comfortable bedroom temperature, minimizing noise, and avoiding alcohol, tobacco and unprescribed sleep aids are also recommended. “If you study the day before and then sleep at least seven hours, you will recall the material better the next day,” he said.
The guidance aims to help students achieve better exam results by treating sleep as a critical component of study preparation, rather than sacrificing it for late‑night reading.