How Much Homework Do Teenagers Do Around the World?

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1. 01How Much Homework Do Teenagers Do?

   Good morning, everyone. Every student has complained about homework at some point. But how much homework do teenagers actually do, and does it help? Today, I'll look at international data from the OECD.

2. 02Where the Data Comes From

   The numbers come from PISA, an international study by the OECD that tests fifteen-year-old students. In 2012, students were also asked how many hours they spend on homework each week.

   Source: OECD, PISA 2012 results, reported in "Trouble with homework" (OECD Education and Skills Today)

3. 03The Average

   Across OECD countries, fifteen-year-olds reported spending almost five hours a week on homework. Interestingly, that was about one hour less than the average in 2003.

   Source: OECD, PISA 2012 results, reported in "Trouble with homework" (OECD Education and Skills Today)

4. 04Big Differences

   But the differences between places were huge. Students in Shanghai reported about thirteen point eight hours a week, nearly three times the OECD average.

   Source: OECD, PISA 2012 results, reported in "Trouble with homework" (OECD Education and Skills Today)

5. 05A Gap Between Rich and Poor

   The data also shows a gap by family background. Advantaged students spent about five point seven hours a week on homework, while disadvantaged students spent about four point one. That gap appeared in every country and economy in the study.

   Source: OECD, PISA 2012 results, reported in "Trouble with homework" (OECD Education and Skills Today)

6. 06Does More Homework Help?

   Does more homework lead to better results? The OECD found that students who spend more time on homework tend to score higher. But we should be careful: this shows a connection, not proof that homework causes the higher scores.

   Source: OECD, PISA 2012 results, reported in "Trouble with homework" (OECD Education and Skills Today)

7. 07What This Means for Schools

   In my view, the lesson for schools is quality over quantity. Homework should be meaningful, and schools could offer quiet study spaces for students who don't have support or a calm place at home.

8. 08Conclusion

   To sum up, teenagers around the world spend very different amounts of time on homework, and background matters. Numbers like these can't tell us everything, but they're a good place to start the conversation. Thank you.