by Ethel Smith

Created on: May 20, 2007   Last Updated: June 30, 2010

Personal experience has taught me that homework can improve academic achievement. It would seem though that CAN is the important word in this sentence, as nothing is ever entirely certain.

For homework to improve academic achievement it needs to be taken seriously. Such homework should be given the attention it needs and deserves, in order to have the desired effect. For example, some subjects benefit more from intense revising than others. Studying a foreign language will need time spent practising pronunciation and learning actual words.

As a youngster I did my fair share of homework and studying for my examinations. Overall this definitely helped me to achieve good results and grades. The trouble with class work is that there are only so many hours in a school day and so many distractions. Ideally the home needs to have at least somewhere that is conducive to studying. Many homes these days have small home offices. This environment can be much better than school or college. The right atmosphere, temperature and levels of light will be easier to achieve. Perhaps playing relaxing music will help the homework task flow better. All of this will not be possible in a classroom full of other students with their own needs.

Subjects such as History, which require you to learn a lot of facts and practically memorize these facts parrot fashion, really benefit from homework. As a more mature student  I recently  found that I had to complete homework again, as part of a business course. It was hard getting back into the habit but the homework was essential. There were so many medical names and terminology to learn that it was the only way. It would have been impossible for the lecturer to cover the course work fully in each two hour weekly session. Those students who applied themselves well to studying and completing their homework achieved much better results than those who did not bother.

Learning is not always quick and easy. Sometimes we need to read something through many times before we understand and remember it. Homework enables you to do this. Good homework will be designed with the individual in mind. If the homework is tailored to suit the student's educational needs it can help address their weaknesses.

It is fair to say that appropriate homework is a great support for any schoolwork, courses or study. It can definitely make the difference between failing, just passing or exceeding everyone's expectations. You may not learn a lot more but it will do the trick as far as your examinations and their results are concerned.

Learn more about this author, Ethel Smith.
Click here to send this author comments or questions.