What subject do you worry about the most at school? Many students worry about math. Some students can't sleep well the day before a math exam. Others may feel very nervous during the exam itself. But there might be a way to make the subject less stressful.

"For people who are anxious about math, posture (姿势) makes a big difference," Erik Peper from San Francisco State University told the Daily Mail. That's right – sitting up straight can help you do better on math exams.

Scientists tested 125 college students. They asked them to do a simple math quiz while sitting in a slumped-over (趴倒的) position, or sitting up straight. After the test, 56 percent of students said the exam was easier to do if they were sitting up straight. 

Slumping over is a defensive posture. It can trigger (激发) negative (消极的) memories in the body and brain. This can stop you from thinking clearly, Peper said. 

Students who were not nervous about taking the math exam did not necessarily benefit from better posture. But they did find that doing math while slumped over was more difficult, Science Daily reported. 

Good posture isn't just helpful for taking math exams. Athletes, musicians and public speakers can all benefit from better posture. When you feel stressed out, you can also try to sit up straight or stand tall. It can help you feel more positive and focus better.