On average researchers found teachers were setting around 70 minutes of homework a day for their pupils.

While evidence suggests homework should be banned for children during their early school years, high school students aren't as lucky, with experts saying there are some benefits as you get older.

New research has found this to be true – to some extent.

Published in the journal of Educational Psychology researchers at the University of Oviedo in Spain found 60 minutes of homework a night is "reasonable" - any more and the benefits start to decrease.

Around 7,000 study participants from 148 schools were asked to answer a questionnaire, which contained multiple choice questions to determine their total daily time spent doing homework.

Students were also asked if they had help with their homework and how often.

Afterwards they completed a maths and science test.

On average researchers found teachers were setting around 70 minutes of homework a day for their pupils. However, some assigned between 90 – 100 minutes, at which point researchers said they noticed a decline in results.

Javier Suarez-Alvarez, PhD, co-lead author with Ruben Fernandez-Alonso, PhD says: "Our data indicates that it is not necessary to assign huge quantities of homework, but it is important that assignment is systematic and regular, with the aim of instilling work habits and promoting autonomous, self-regulated learning."

"Spending 60 minutes a day doing homework is a reasonable and effective time," he said.

Interestingly, students who did their math homework unassisted scored higher than those who asked for frequent help.

Suarez-Alvarez explained: "One possible explanation of this result is that self-regulated learning is strongly connected to academic performance and success."

"The conclusion is that when it comes to homework, how is more important than how much," said Suarez-Alvarez.

"Once individual effort and autonomous working is considered, the time spent becomes irrelevant."

 - essentialkids.com.au

Next Tweens to Teens story:

Teenagers can be really gross – and not just the boys

life style Homepage