Doing homework is an integral part of every student’s academic career. It not only reinforces the knowledge acquired through classroom learning but also helps develop analytical and problem-solving capabilities.
Additionally, it provides students with extra practice ahead of tests and exams. With the amount of homework assigned to students, often it can be too much for them to handle leading them to ask questions like – “How long should homework take?”.
We will go through the various elements that influence the time a student needs to spend on homework and get advice on how to best manage it.
This article will cover the factors that can help determine how much time is necessary and offer tips for better managing homework.
How long should homework take?
The amount of time necessary to finish homework can differ depending on different factors.
Generally, children in elementary school should only dedicate 10-20 minutes a day to their homework while those in middle and high schools should cap it at 1-2 hours each night.
This is an optimal amount of time to spend on assignments without overburdening the student. While the time spent on homework can vary based on an individual student’s aptitude, the subject, and the difficulty of the task, these are only rough estimates. The actual completion time will ultimately depend on one’s proficiency.
These are the various factors that play a role in determining the amount of time it takes to complete homework:
1. Grade-level
Homework loads differ amongst students depending on their grade level – some get more, while others get less.
Elementary school students are generally assigned less homework than their middle and high school counterparts.
This is due to the shorter attention span of young children and their lack of well-honed study habits for tackling large amounts of homework.
2. Subject
Assignments are subject-specific when it comes to the amount of time needed for their completion.
Tasks from Math and Science usually require more critical thinking and problem-solving skills, thus resulting in a longer timespan than English and Social Studies.
3. Assignment complexity
The level of complexity of any task affects how long it will take to finish. So, something like a short essay can be completed in a shorter amount of time as compared to a research paper that requires more effort and comprehensive analysis.
Certain hands-on tasks such as constructing a model or experimenting may require more time to finish than written jobs.
4. Student ability
The amount of time taken to finish homework can differ from student to student, depending on their capability.
Those familiar with the topic at hand can often finish their assignments more quickly compared to those who have difficulties understanding the subject matter.
Tips for managing homework effectively
1. Create a schedule
A homework schedule can be incredibly useful for students looking to make the best use of their time. This entails allocating a certain period of the day when you will focus exclusively on completing your assignments.
It’s essential to select your most energetic and concentrated hours, such as right after school or in the early evening.
2. Break down assignments
Breaking assignments into smaller tasks can make them easier to tackle. This process includes splitting large assignments into more manageable chunks and tackling these ones by one.
Students can also prioritize their workload based on the due dates or difficulty of the tasks.
3. Eliminate distractions
Anything from television to mobile phones can distract students and hinder their productivity. To ensure that their homework is done to the best of their abilities, it’s important for them to reduce or even eliminate these distractions. To create a productive study environment, it’s necessary to make sure you have no distractions.
This involves unplugging any electronic devices and selecting a quiet spot that’s free from noise and disruptions.
4. Take breaks
Taking regular breaks during study sessions is recommended to ensure students stay focused and don’t experience burnout. It’s suggested to take a short break every 20-30 minutes of studying, during which they can stretch, go out for a walk or do whatever helps them relax and refresh themselves.
5. Seek help when needed
If a student is facing difficulty in completing any assignment, it is essential to get some help.
This could mean discussing the issue with a teacher or guidance counselor, hiring a tutor, or taking assistance from another student.
Not looking into issues can lead to irritation and cause a lack of enthusiasm, which in turn makes it harder to achieve success with your schoolwork.
Closing Thoughts
All in all, doing homework is essential for student success.
However, it should never be a burden to the point of preventing them from achieving their goals.
Adopting effective study plans and learning the factors that can impact the time it takes to complete homework can help students become more efficient with their assignments. This, in turn, will inevitably lead to better academic performance.
