"Microsoft certainly does support employees who wish to study for an MBA by giving them time off for study, exams and some financial support, " he told CNN.

CNN: Rapid rise beckons mobile workers

Today students pay thousands of dollars to study for their bar exams, even after they have finished law school.

ECONOMIST: Barriers to entry in the legal profession

They seemed genuinely happy for their boss, who, as if she were not busy enough, helps them study for civil service promotion exams on her own time.

WSJ: Urban Gardner: Rewarding New York City's Public-Service Stars

Several years ago, Wrigley and The Princeton Review surveyed American and Canadian college students about their study habits and found that of the students who chew gum while studying for exams, 41% do so to combat stress while 23% do so to increase concentration.

WSJ: Wrigley, Other Gum Makers Seek to Stimulate Gum Sales

Last month the Advisory Committee on Mathematics Education (Acme), which has been consulted about the new exams, registered its own concerns that GCSE1 would not provide the proper foundation for further study at A-level.

BBC: NEWS | UK | Education | Advisers sound maths GCSE warning

There's more reason than ever to eat porridge for breakfast, especially if you have young children -- a new study reports that kids score higher on exams if they follow a regular diet of the high energy breakfast cereal before the age of three.

CNN: Vital Signs health tips