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THE ITALIAN SCHOOL SYSTEM: how does education work in Italy?

A question that is often asked on our pages is about how the school system is organized in Italy! In fact, every school system is different depending on the country you live in and for many foreigners it’s difficult to understand the subdivision and the functioning of the Italian system. Therefore, in the following lesson we’re going to clear up any confusion about this topic!

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The structure of the Italian school system

Before we begin, you need to know that Italian schools can be:

– public : State-funded

– private : funded through school fees, namely the sums of money paid by the students

The academic programs of both of these types of school follow the regulations from the MIUR (Ministry of Education, University and Research)

Now let’s see the various steps:

1) Infant school

The attending of this school is not obligatory (parents can decide to register their children in accordance with the needs), and it’s divided into:

– asilo nido (kindergarten) : attended by 0-to-3 years old children

– scuola materna (preschool) : attended by 3-to-6 years old children

From 6 to 16 years of age, attending school becomes obligatory, as established by the law, and we enter the so-called  scuola dell’obbligo (compulsory education) , that starts with:

2) primary or elementary school

This school is attended by 6 to 11 years old students: thus the attending lasts 5 years. During those years, boys and girls learn to write and read and they apprehend the first notions of History, Geography, Mathematics, Italian Grammar, Science, Music and Physical Education and, for a few years now, also English and Computer Science while Religion classes are optional.

3) 1st grade secondary or middle school 

This step lasts 3 years and involves students from 11 to 13 years of age. During this period, the students deepen the various subjects studied in elementary school, and at the end of it, they must take the esame di terza media (middle school exam) , composed by:

• Italian written test
• written Math test
• written language test
• oral which consists in the presentation of a work on a specific topic including all the studied subjects.

4) upper secondary school or high school

This step lasts 5 years and involves 14 to 19 years old students, but from the age of 16 boys and girls have the possibility to abandon their studies.

The students can choose among 3 types of di high schools, depending on their goals:

Liceo : it offers a more theoretical education and more oriented to further education at the University and, depending on the subjects studied, they can be of different types:

– classico (grammar) (Latin, Greek and Italian)

– scientifico (scientific) (Mathematics, Physics and Science)

– linguistico (language) (English and foreign languages)

– tecnologico (technology) (Computer Science)

– artistico (artistic) (art),

– musicale (music).

Professional Technical High School : in this type of school in addition to common subjects, students can acquire practical-technical skills, suited to the entry into employment, in sectors like:

– economy

– tourism

– technology

– agricolture

– healthcare professions

ITF (Vocational education and training) : in this type of school, students acquire practical and professional skills. The studies in these schools focus on jobs like:

– plumber

– electrician

– hairdresser

– beautician …

At the end of high school student must take another exam, the feared esame di maturità (graduation exam) which is composed by 3 written tests and 1 oral examination, and if you pass it, you’ll receive a degree of maturity, that will allow you to have access to University .

5) University

It’s divided into:

First cycle : also known as “laurea triennale” and, as its name suggest, it lasts 3 years. There’s a wide and diverse selection of Italian universities like:

– scientific departments  (Mathematics, Physics, Astrophysics, Chemistry…),

– humanities faculty  (Literatures, Philosophy, Foreign Languages, Cultural Heritage…)

– technical faculties (Architecture, Engineering, Economy…).

Second cycle : also known as “laurea magistrale” or “specialistica” (second level degree), it usually lasts 2 years and it’s the continuation of the first cycle to ensure the students a higher level of specialization. However, there are some courses (Faculty of law, Faculty of Pharmacy, Construction Engineering, Architecture etc) that last 5 years (6 years as regards Med School) and take the name of “ Corsi di Laurea a ciclo unico ” (Single Cycle Degree Course)

Third cycle: it’s devoted to the most ambitious students and it includes:

– master : they’re usually short courses of study that offer the opportunity (to those who are interested) to deepen some specific aspects of the subject studied during the first two cycles.

– doctoral degrees : they’re theoretical courses, that are perfect for those who desire a career in the academic field or in the field of research.

Well, this is the Italian school system. Let us know how the school systems in your countries work! If you want to speak Italian like a true native speaker, don’t miss the promo  2×1  that includes our course Italiano in Contesto and a digital copy of our book Italiano Colloquiale , at the price of 69 euros .

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One thought to “THE ITALIAN SCHOOL SYSTEM: how does education work in Italy?”

Just a clarification: It’s not specified really well in the text, but Lyceum students do not ONLY study the subjects that are specific to their learning goal. Scientific Lyceum, Classical Lyceum, and so on, we have up to 10-11 subjects for five consecutive years. All of these subjects are usually done as rigorously as the others, and (I’m a Liceo Scientifico student) we often have the same amount of class hours for things such as Mathematics and Literature, or English Lit. and Physics. The objective of this school is to have a very broad and quite detailed program for the main subjects.

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Back to School: 10 Things You Should Know About the Italian School System

September marks the end of the summer holiday season in Italy, most people are back to work, everyone has new end-of-summer resolutions, and kids are finally back to school... or almost back to school!

I recently mentioned to a British friend that my daughter is not back in school yet, she looked very surprised and asked:

'But when did their summer holidays start?' When I explained that school closed in early June, she looked even more puzzled and added, 'What do you mean? They had three full months off?' - 'Yes!'

School terms are not the only difference between the Italian educational system and those of other Western countries.

So we thought it would be useful to know more about it if you are considering or planning to move to Italy with your children. You can find below a list of ten useful things you should know before enrolling your child in an Italian school. 

GENERAL INFORMATION

Regardless of nationality, education in Italy is compulsory from 6 to 16 years of age, and is divided into five stages: kindergarten (scuola dell'infanzia), primary school (scuola primaria or scuola elementare), lower secondary school (scuola secondaria di primo grado or scuola media), upper secondary school (scuola secondaria di secondo grado or scuola superiore).

Asilo (Kindergarten) 

From the age of three to the age of  six, children are sent to nursery school. This is non-compulsory, but most Italian families do send their kids ' all'asilo '. Children are looked after by two teachers per class, they play, start socialising and learn to recognize letters and numbers.  

Scuola Primaria (Primary School)

Also known as 'scuola elementare, primary school lasts five years. The educational curriculum is the same for all students who are given a basic education in Italian, English, mathematics, natural sciences, history, geography, social studies, physical education, visual and musical arts. 

There are three main teachers per class, plus an English language teacher who works with children across several classes. 

Scuola secondaria (Secondary school)

Secondary education in Italy lasts 8 years and is divided into two phases: Scuola secondaria di primo grado (Lower secondary school), also broadly known as Scuola media, which corresponds to the Middle School grades, and Scuola secondaria di secondo grado (Upper secondary school), also broadly known as Scuola superiore or less formally as Le Superiori, which corresponds to the high-school level.

The scuola secondaria di primo grado follows primary school and lasts three years (roughly from age 11 to 14). The scuola secondaria di secondo grado lasts five years (roughly from age 14 to 19). There are three types of scuola secondaria di secondo grado:

Liceo (lyceum)  - the education received in a Liceo is mostly theoretical, with a specialization in a field of studies, for example humanities, science, or art; less attention is devoted to technical-practical education. Currently, most of the curricula have a similar structure and some subjects in common (such as Italian literature, history and mathematics), while some subjects are peculiar to a particular type of course (for example ancient Greek in the Liceo Classico, or scenography in the Liceo Artistico). 

Istituto tecnico  - offering both a theoretical education and a specialization in a particular field of studies (for example economy, humanities, administration, law, technology, tourism.)

Istituto professionale  - this refers to vocational schools preparing people for specific trades, crafts and careers. Some schools offer a diploma after 3 years instead of 5.

Any type of secondary school that lasts 5 years grants access to the final exam, called esame di maturità or esame di stato which takes place every year between June and July and is necessary to be able to apply for admission to any university. 

According to the Programme for International Student Assessment, coordinated in 2013 by the OECD, Italian secondary education ranks as the 21st in the world.

TIME FOR SCHOOL: SCHOOL TERM, SCHOOL HOURS AND DAILY SCHEDULE

Lessons usually start around the second week of September and finish around the second week of June. 

There are small regional differences, with the school term starting earlier in the Northern regions, and later in the South, but it is usually just a matter of days. As more autonomy has been recently given to individual schools, it might also be the case that a school decides to make some minor changes to the yearly calendar.

There are school breaks only for Christmas and Easter, with most holidays being concentrated in the summer, and schools are closed on national holidays. 

The school year is divided into two terms, 'quadrimestri'. The autumn term starts in September and runs until the middle of January. Spring term begins in the middle of January and runs until the beginning of June. At the end of each term, students receive a 'pagella', a report card with their grades which may vary from 10 (excellent) to 1 (impossible to assess), with passing being 6. Today, report cards are frequently issued in automated form and may be mailed to parents/students or made accessible on a special section of the school website. 

The majority of schools in Italy run morning lessons starting at 8.00am/8.30 am which usually last 5 hours, from Monday to Saturday. This means most kids come back home for lunch, therefore, there is no canteen in most Italian schools.  Kindergarten and schools with special afternoon projects and activities are an exception though, as they are usually open till 4.00/4.30pm and can provide lunch for the kids. 

The daily schedule is usually divided into five periods with some double-blocked classes lasting two periods.Over the past few years, more and more schools are introducing the so called 'settimana corta' (literally short week), which means that students attend classes from Monday to Friday for more than five hours a day and have Saturday free. 

ISCRIZIONE - REGISTRATION

The Iscrizione (registration) for all schools occurs January through February of the previous school year, however, each school may be different  so you should contact the school to know more about their specific enrollment period. 

Enrollment in an Italian state school doesn’t depend on your living within its catchment area, as is the case, for example, in France and the UK. You can enroll your child in the school of your choice regardless of the area you live in. If a place is available, your child will be admitted; if places are limited, those who live in the local area will have priority. 

PARENTS-SCHOOL RELATIONSHIP

The parents’ relationship with the school and the teachers follows both official and unofficial routes.

Every year, in each class, parents elect a representative who acts as the main intermediary between parents and the school, handling various tasks including favouring the dialogue between teachers and parents,  reporting specific complaints, coordinating parents to help the school with special events and initiatives like school trips and fundraising. 

Parents are also represented in the Consiglio d'Istituto (Similar to a School Board),  which has the duty to promote good relationships between the school, the students’ parents and the community and takes important decisions regarding the school, including the budget. 

They comprise the 'dirigente scolastico/preside'(the headmaster), parents, teachers, members of the administrative staff and, in the case of 'scuola superiore', also students. Members hold office for three years. 

Teachers have the so-called 'ora di ricevimento' (office hour), one hour a week set on their calendar where they are available to meet parents and listen to their concerns.

There are usually two official days every year, towards the end of each 'quadrimestre', when teachers meet parents to talk about how their kids are doing.  These are usually very busy afternoon meetings where each teacher stands in a different corner of the classroom and parents queue to talk to each of them.

Keep in mind that most teachers are quite approachable on a daily basis and understand if working parents have problems to take time off for official school meetings. 

Many schools offer free after school activities, but these varies from school to school, so it is better to ask before registering. 

Primary schools usually offer afternoon lessons to help children with their homework, secondary schools might offer music lessons, art or photography lessons and many other extracurricular activities. 

UNIFORM, WHAT'S A UNIFORM?

Italian schools do not require uniforms.

Children in kindergarten and primary schools wear a 'grembiule', a school smock. Boys at the 'asilo' usually wear a blue and white checked  grembiule, while girls wear a pink/red and white checked one. In Primary schools, the colour of the smock is deep blue. They  are available in clothing shops and big supermarkets, and can be personalised with special decors. Students in secondary school can wear whatever they want, even though it always turns into a non compulsory 'jeans and a T-shirt' voluntary uniform. 

THE SCHOOL KIT

With the exception of young children attending kindergarten who just need a small bag with a bottle of water and some tissues, a school kit for everyone else includes a school bag, Textbooks, Notebooks and Stationery.

Lo zaino scolastico - The school bag

Believe me when I say that Italian school bags are among the biggest I have ever seen and they always seem too small. With students going back home for the afternoon, there is a big emphasis on homework with books carried back and forth every day. If you care about your children's back, get a trolley, 'zaino scolastico con le ruote'. 

Usually, you book your kids' textbooks in a bookshop which should have a list of approved texts from his/her teachers. It is advisable to book them in early summer, so that you will have them ready to be collected in September. In primary school, they used to be completely refundable, but the system keeps changing, so ask the bookshop manager what to expect. 

Stationery and Notebooks

In primary school, buy the essential and wait for the teacher to explain what the kids need. First and second year notebooks are ruled in a special way, so are the ones for the third year, so you might end up buying the wrong ones. Moreover, m any teachers prefer children on the first year of primary school to use  erasable pens . 

The long list of textbooks for secondary schools can end up costing you a small fortune; look for second-hand books by contacting older students, there are also dedicated websites indicating who is selling second-hand books in your area. 

The best part of the school kit for children and teenagers alike is the 'diario', the school planner, which is supposed to be used to write down the homework, but has represented a form of 'prehistorical social network' for many generations. They use it to exchange messages with friends, add pictures, write poems and jokes. They come in various sizes and colours with themes, from Disney Princesses to One Direction, from Winnie the Pooh to F1 Grand Prix. 

CORSIVO - CURSIVE

Italy is one of the few Western countries where you are still taught to write 'in corsivo', in cursive also known as longhand, script, joined-up writing.

While many countries around the world have already dropped cursive from their curricula, the issue is still currently debated among educators in Italy; in the meantime, teachers in the classrooms continue to teach children how to write using both Corsivo and Stampato (Print). 

RELIGION CLASSES

It is customary for all schools to include a class on Catholic religion one hour per week. When you register, you are asked to fill a form that identifies whether you wish for your child to attend these lessons or not. As an alternative to religion class, you can choose other educational activities or ask to allow your child to enter or leave the school premises  later or earlier. 

RICREAZIONE - MID-MORNING BREAK

There is no other word that makes students happier than 'ricreazione'. This is the small 10/15 minutes break they usually have between 10.30 and 11.30, when they are allowed to eat something, chat and play. For children in kindergarten and primary school, parents usually prepare a small box with something to eat and drink. In high school, it is quite common for students to buy food and drinks in the school from local vendors. 

If you think we have missed something important, leave us a comment and we will be happy to update the info. If you have a specific question or want to share your experience, join our  COMMUNITY .

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Italian School System – Important Things To Know

Schooling in Italy is mandatory up to the age of 16; so if you’re a resident of the country then no matter where you are from, and this includes Expats and other foreigners, you will have to send your children to school.

Education in Italy is completely free for all children between the ages of 6 to 16, regardless of the child’s nationality. There are also private schools in Italy where fees can be quite hefty, however there is an excellent provision of free schools throughout the country.

The Italian state run schooling system was first founded in 1859 in order to raise the rate of literacy, which at that time stood at only 20%. The education system has been very successful in raising literacy rates among its population with the schools being rated by the OECD as 34th in the world for literacy, reading and math. There is a fair amount of variation between the quality of schools around the country, but there are still very good schools in the country, particularly the private ones, where children receive a superb education in all subjects.

An Overview of The Schooling System – The 5 Stages.

• Scuola dell’infanzia (kindergarden).

Scuola primaria/elementare (primary school).

• Scuola secondaria di primo grado/scuola media (lower secondary school).
• Scuola secondaria di secondo grado/scuola superiore (upper secondary school).
• Universita (university).

Schooling is freely available to all children up to the ages of 16 provided that they are registered as living in the country – so this includes Expats and Immigrants as well.

The Italian Schooling System in More Detail.

The 5 stages of the Italian schooling system progress in difficulty as the children advance through their education with students usually beginning university at the age of 19 although this is not mandatory.

Scuola dell’infanzia (kindergarten).

Children in Italy begin school very young, at the age of 3, when they are sent to kindergarten. This part of Italian schooling is not mandatory although the vast majority of Italian families do send their children to attend the Scuola dell’infanzia. It is seen as a valuable part of the child’s upbringing as they learn to socialize with their peers at a young age while beginning to recognize letters and numbers in classes.

The emphasis of these schools is play time and having fun. Each class has two full time teachers who oversee the children and make sure they are safe and happy. Kindergarten can be attended until the children are 6, when they move on to the next stage of their education.

Students start their mandatory education at the age of 6 when they start primary school. Students spend a total of 5 years in primary school and finish at the age of 11.

All students learn the same basic curriculum throughout the country which includes classes in Italian as well as English, math, science, geography, history, social studies, music, visual art and physical education.

Primary school education is very broad and gives students the chance to find out which subjects they excel in and enjoy. Each class has 3 main teachers who cover a variety of subjects. As well as the 3 main class teachers there is also an English language teacher who works with many classes at the same time who only focuses on teaching the students English.

Scuola secondaria (secondary school).

The secondary school in Italy begins for students when they are 11 and is also mandatory. Secondary school is divided into two parts; scuola secondaria di primo (lower secondary school) and scuola superiore (upper secondary school).

Usually simply referred to as Le Superiori, the later phase of secondary school is the rough equivalent of American High School. The students continue to study a broad range of subjects but they start to have more choice as to what subjects they drop as they go on. The lower secondary school is roughly from ages 11-14 while the secondary second school is from ages 14-19.

Upper secondary school, from ages 14-19, is more specialized and divided into 3 different types of school options for students :

• Liceo : at the Liceo students specialize in more theoretical subjects such as the humanities, sciences and art. Many of the courses have several subjects in common, such as Italian literature, math and history; however students can also elect to do more specialist subjects like ancient Greek or Latin.
• Istituto tecnico : at the Instituto tecnico the students learn a mixture of basic theoretical subjects but they also specialize more in a particular field, such as humanities, administration, law, technology, economics or tourism.
• Istituto professionale : these are vocational schools where students learn specific skills that are geared towards a career. For instance, students learn about career trades like carpentry, plumbing and construction. The Istituto professionale provides a 3 year diploma rather than the 5 years in other upper secondary schools and so students finish at age 17, ready for the world of work.

At the end of their secondary schooling the students must take a final exam which is called the ‘esame di maturità’ or the ‘esame di stato’. These tests are taken by all students across the country at the same time each year between June and July of their final year. These exams are a requirement for students who want to apply for further education at university.

Italian secondary education is ranked much better than the overall education in the country and is ranked by the OECD as 21st in the world. Secondary education provides a good range of options to suit different students and their career ambitions; and whether they are more academically or practically inclined they can study at an appropriate school to bring out their full potential.

School Terms and Schedules in Italy.

Term times across the country are synchronized and usually begin, for all levels, in the second week of September, with the school year finishing in mid June. As with everything in Italy, there are some small regional variations with schools in the Northern regions where they begin slightly earlier than those in the South! However, the difference is usually just a matter of a few days. In recent years the schools have been given more autonomy and this has led to more minor differences in the annual calendars of the schools.

School holidays come twice in the academic year – once for Christmas and once for Easter; with the main break being during the summer months when students get almost 3 months off. Schools also close for national bank holidays.

The two terms of the school year are known as ‘quadrimestre’; an autumn term which is from September until January, with a Christmas break, and then a spring term which runs from the end of January until June, when schools break up for the summer.

At the end of each school term the students receive a personal report card, known as a ‘pagella’. This assesses how well they have done during the term, with subjects being graded on a scale of 1 to 10. The standard pass mark for students is 6 out of 10, where 10 is excellent and 1 is very poor. The students’ pagellas are usually mailed to the parents but in the digital age they are also posted on a password secured part of the school’s website.

Daily School Schedules in Italy.

Lessons in Italian schools start at either 8 or 8.30am and last 5 hours, from Monday through til Saturday. After their classes the students return home for lunch and consequently there are no canteens or food facilities in schools. Kindergartens are different though where the children stay until 4 or 4.30pm doing special projects and other fun activities in the afternoon; they also provide the children at kindergarten with food at lunchtime.

Most schools’ 5 hour day is divided into 5 classes, with some classes taking a double period of 2 hours. As schools have been gaining more autonomy from central authorities some have opted to change their week to a shorter 5 day week with students spending longer hours at school from Monday to Friday but then get Saturday off.

All schools have a daily mid morning break, or ‘ricreazione’, of 15 minutes between 10.30 and 11.30, depending on the individual school timetable. The students are allowed to go outside, eat some food and chat with each other before they resume their classes.

Registering For School in Italy.

Known as ‘Iscrizone’, students must register for the following school year between January and February. This may vary from school to school but to find out the exact details in your region you should contact the local school and they’ll explain their enrollment program.

Unlike in other parts of the European Union where students must go to a school in their catchment area, you can enroll your children into any school that you like regardless of where you are based. If you apply to a school and there are spaces available then your child will be admitted however you should be aware that if places are limited then students who live closer to the school will get priority over those who live further away.

After School Activities (Doposcuola).

Most schools in Italy offer free activities, known as ‘Doposcuola’, for their students after the mandatory school day is finished. There’s a wide range of activities that are offered which include music lessons, photography classes, art and other extra curricular subjects. Many primary schools in Italy also offer free afternoon classes where they help the students with their homework before they go home.

Do Students Need To Wear A Uniform?

Secondary schools in Italy do not require their students to wear uniforms. The younger children however, at the kindergarten, usually wear a blue and white checked uniform for boys and a red and white checked uniform for girls. Primary school students usually wear deep blue smocks as uniforms.

What Do Students Need To Take To School?

The younger kindergarten children just take a small bag with water, tissues and a few snacks to school with them but the older students must take their own bag of textbooks, school books and any stationary they need.

Religion At Italian Schools.

It is traditional for all students in Italy to spend an hour a week learning about the Catholic religion. Catholicism plays a major role in the culture and society of the country and so it is felt to be important that students have a good grasp of its history and tenants. However, if you are a parent who does not wish their children to attend these lessons you can opt for your child to take an alternative educational class or else leave the school and come home early.

The Relationship Between Parents and the School.

The relationship between parents and the teachers at the schools in Italy have official and unofficial elements. Every year, for each class the parents choose one parent who acts as the official representative of their interests. This parent takes a more active role in communicating with the school teachers when disputes arise but they also help to arrange special events like school trips and other one off initiatives.

Parents also take an active role in the ‘Consiglio di Istituto’, which is the equivalent of a school board. This helps to promote a good relationship between the school, its teachers and the parents but it also makes important decisions on how the school budget should be spent.

As well as the school board, teachers also have an official ‘ora di ricevimento’, or office hours, each week during which parents can discuss any concerns or questions they have in regards to the school. Schools also arrange two days each year, one for each term, when parents can come in and talk to the teachers about how their children are doing in general at school. However, teachers are very friendly and you can usually drop in any day after school to have an informal talk with them if you have any worries or questions.

Italian Schooling – Mix of Academic Rigor and Character Building Activities.

Education in Italy is taken very seriously by the state authorities and parents alike and so children usually have a very positive experience. There are many opportunities for students to do extra curricular activities as well as their official studies; and in general parents have a great relationship with the schools and teachers.

Schooling is free for all students who are registered in the country, which includes Expats. Of course, you can choose to send your child to a private school but in many parts of the country the free state schools are of a very high standard, particularly at Secondary school level.

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33 Italy Education Facts (all about Italian schools)

Did you know that Italians graduate quite late compared to other countries? Or that Italian kids don’t wear uniforms? 

Learn more through these 33 Italy education facts! 🎓 🇮🇹

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The Best Facts About School in Italy

More facts about schools in italy, italy school hours, general facts about schooling in italy, more education facts, the full list of 33 italian school facts.

Italy is a country located in South-Central Europe. It has an extremely important heritage and a singular culture, and its capital city is Rome, which has a bit more than 2,860,000 inhabitants.

An interesting part of the country that I wanted to tackle is its education. In light of that, I have listed my 33 best facts about school in Italy, and I hope you will love them:

1. Saturday is a normal day for education in Italy

Believe it or not, Saturday is a regular day in Italy: not only do people go to work like any other day… but children need to go to school as well!

Unfortunately for them, they do not have less homework than students in other countries, which could have justified this choice.

2. Teachers in Italy are not friendly at all, at least not in class

Don’t get me wrong, teachers in Italy are regular human beings!

However, the relationship between teachers and students is very, very formal and distant. You will never see a student asking for extra help during lunch or chatting about what happened on their weekend with the teacher.

3. Italian students need to be very disciplined if they want to succeed in their studies

Because the relationship between teachers and students is so formal, it means that students really need to be careful about what they are doing.

An Italian lesson is basically the teacher sitting and talking, and students taking notes. They have to stay disciplined and follow along even if the teacher is not very friendly.

4. Italian teachers will… or will not answer questions, depending on the day

Italian schools are very organized, and to be honest very strict as well when it comes to studies.

For instance, depending on the day, students may or may not ask questions to the teacher (mostly depending on their mood).

5. No one is late in Italian schools

Students show up on time for their classes in Italy.

But that is not what I am talking about here. When it comes to homework, if anyone submits it later than the day it is due, they will automatically get a 4, which is similar to 0 (in any case, anything below 6 is a fail).

6. The Italian grade system ranges from 0 to 30 in universities

Strangely, the Italian grade system depends on which level you are at.

When it comes to universities, it ranges from 0 to 30. Any grade below 18 out of 30 is considered a failure. To get the equivalent of an A+, students need to get at least a 29.

7. Secondary school students in Italy are graded from 0 to 10

As I just told you, the Italian grade system is not the same depending on the level of the student.

For secondary school, it ranges from 0 to 10. Anything below 6 out of 10 is considered a failure, while A+ is for students getting at least a 9.

8. There is also a 100-point grade system as well as an ECTS system

Finally, the last two grade systems I will talk about are the 100-point grade system and the ECTS system.

The latter uses letters, from F to A, F being anything below 50%, while the first one ranges from 0 to 100, with anything below 60 considered insufficient.

9. Italian students generally eat at home

The typical school day in Italy starts at 8 AM and ends at 1 or 2 PM. Because of this, students have to wait for the end of the day to go back home and eat there.

There are no cafeterias in most Italian schools.

10. Parents need to go shopping almost every day in Italy

The average journey from school to home is around half an hour for most Italian students.

So, they will generally come back home at 2:30 PM without having eaten anything! Parents thus need to do groceries quite often, as their children devour everything in the fridge when they come home.

11. Italian students know each other very, very well

Freshman year is a unique time in an Italian student’s education. It is at this time that they meet the people that are going to be with them for the next five years… every day.

Indeed, classes stay exactly the same for five years, so students know each other perfectly.

12. Students do not move around the school in Italy, but teachers do

I have always found it peculiar that, in most schools, students need to run around the buildings just to be on time for their next lesson: this is a huge time loss!

Italy has found the solution though: students stay in the same class all day long, it is teachers who move around instead.

13. Monotony is the name of the game in Italian schools

Unfortunately for students in Italy, going to school can be very, very monotonous.

And I am not talking about doing the same journey every day just to sit and listen, but about the fact that they stay with the exact same people for five years… and in the same classroom as well!

14. Some teachers humiliate their students in Italy

Even though any grade below 6 out of 10 is considered a failure, some teachers like to humiliate their students by giving them a 1 or a 2.

This is a way to say to unfortunate students they are very stupid, and shouldn’t even be here.

15. Failing more than three subjects means you have to repeat a year in Italy

When it comes to graduating every year, students in Italy are allowed to fail three or less subjects.

In case they fail more than that, they will have no choice but to repeat the whole year, graduating from secondary school a year later.

16. Italian students graduate very late compared to that from other countries

Students in Italy should avoid repeating a grade at any cost.

Of course, this is general advice that everyone should follow, but it is even worse in Italy, because students finish secondary school at age 19, which is already very late compared to other countries!

17. Education in Italy is compulsory from ages 6 to 16

Just like in France , Italian education is compulsory for children aged 6 to 16.

Before that, kindergarten exists, and while it is not mandatory, most Italian families choose to send their kids there. They will start to interact with each other and learn to recognize letters and numbers.

18. There are 5 stages in the Italian education system

Out of the 10 years of mandatory school attendance, there are 3 stages: primary school, lower secondary school and upper secondary school.

On top of that, there are two other levels: pre school (or “asilo”) and tertiary education, which are both non-mandatory.

19. Primary school in Italy lasts for 5 years

The first step of compulsory education in Italy is primary school, and it consists of 5 years.

During this time, children will follow a national educational curriculum, which is the basic education for anyone all around the country. This curriculum is set by the Italian Ministry of Education .

20. Lower secondary school in Italy lasts for 3 years

Right after primary school, Italian students attend lower secondary school, or “scuola media”.

Lower secondary school is equivalent to middle school, and it is for children aged 11 to 14, roughly. After these three years comes a big step for students: upper secondary school.

21. Upper secondary school in Italy lasts for 5 years

Upper secondary school, or “scuola superiore”, is where things start to get serious for Italian students.

It also consists of 5 years, just like primary school. At the end of it is the “esame di maturità”, a national examination that students need to take if they want to attend university.

And that is it for the best 21 education in Italy facts…. Wait, did I say 21? Oh yes, because there are 12 more of them, coming right up. 

There are so many things to say about the education system in Italy that I just could not stop after only 21 facts.

Here, have 12 more facts about schools in Italy. 

22. There are three types of upper secondary schools in Italy

Upper secondary school is the time where students need to make their first choice.

After years and years of following the national curriculum with the same people in the classroom for at least 5 years, they have to leave their comfort zone and choose between one of the three upper secondary school types.

23. The first and most popular secondary school option is high school

The option that most Italian students choose is high school, or “liceo”.

The education there is still academic, with a specialization on top: humanities, science or art, it’s up to the students. Most courses are the same in every high school in Italy, but some offer specific ones, like ancient Greek or scenography.

24. The second and third secondary school options are technical and professional institutes

For students that want a vocationally-oriented path, there are both technical and professional institutes.

Technical institutes are both theoretical and vocational, with a specialization in a particular field of studies. Professional institutes are vocational schools, dedicated to preparing students to specific trades, crafts and careers.

25. The Italian school year is divided into two terms

While some countries opt to divide the school year into three terms, there are only two terms in the Italian education system.

These are called “quadrimestri”, which basically means “4 months”. The Autumn term runs from September to January, while the Spring term starts in January and ends in June.

26. Report cards are issued to parents at the end of each term

The way the Italian education system chose to assess their students and to keep parents informed is report cards, or “pagella”.

Nowadays, these are mostly digital and are accessible on the school website, and they summarize the student’s grades for the term. An overall grade, from 1 to 10, is given.

27. Child can attend any school their parents enroll them into

In the United Kingdom and in France, children have to enroll into the closest school, or at least the one that is dedicated to their residential area.

This is not the case in Italy: parents can enroll their children into any school. Most of the time, they will be admitted, but if places are limited, priority is given to children living in the local area.

28. For every class in Italy, there is a parents informal association

There are both official and unofficial ways for parents to interact with Italian schools.

The unofficial way is having an informal parents association for every class, where parents elect a representative, acting as an intermediary between the school and all parents.

29. Parents are officially represented in a school board in Italy

The official way for parents to be represented in Italian schools is the “Consiglio d’Istituto”, which is basically a school board.

Its mission is to promote a healthy relationship between the school, the parents and the rest of the community. It has to take important decisions like budget expenses.

30. There are several after-school activities in Italy

Because children are done with school at around 2 PM every day in Italy, the education system needed to have a solution to keep them busy during the afternoon, for those that wanted to stay.

For that, there are many free after-school activities, like helping children with their homework or even music and art lessons .

31. There are no uniforms in Italian schools

Opposite to many countries, Italy does not require its students to wear uniforms.

However, in kindergarten, there are school smocks , usually blue and white for boys and pink and white for girls. These can be bought by parents in most supermarkets and clothing shops.

32. Cursive writing is still in use in Italian schools

Cursive writing is subject to debate in many countries, and it is the same in Italy.

Nevertheless, it is still being taught to kids in the meantime. In many classrooms, children learn to write using both cursive (joined-up writing) and print (separated letters).

33. The best time of the day for Italian kids is the break

“Ricreazione” is sacred for Italian children. It is a 10 to 15 minutes break in the middle of the morning, where they can eat a bit, chat and play outside.

Usually, parents prepare a small box with something to eat and drink for their kids.

So there you have them, these were all my 33 school in Italy facts. I hope you enjoyed them and that you learned something new today.

In case you want to learn more about the rest of the country’s education system, feel free to keep reading, as I still have lots of things to tell you about. 

Let’s keep going with our next part, dedicated to school hours in Italy. The typical school schedule in one country can often be very different from your own, and it’s always interesting to have more details on how students go on about their day.

➡️ Italy Primary School Schedule

After kindergarten, or “asilo”, comes primary school in Italy.

It consists of five years, and the curriculum is the same for all students: Italian, English, mathematics, natural sciences, history, geography, social studies, physical education, and visual and musical arts are all on the menu.

Each class has three main teachers as well as an English language teacher.

The Italian school year runs from September to June, even though there are small discrepancies depending on regions.

Each school day starts at around 8 or 8:30 AM, for 5 hours, from Monday to Saturday.

➡️ Italian High School Schedule

Secondary school in Italy lasts 8 years, and it is divided into two phases: lower secondary level and upper secondary level.

The first one consists of 3 years, from age 11 to 14, while the second one is for children aged 14 to 19.

There are three types of secondary schools: high schools, technical institutes and professional institutes.

At the end of 5 years of upper secondary school is the famous “esame di maturità”, which is necessary to apply for university.

This last part is dedicated to Italy education statistics and general facts. More specifically, we’ll check 2 key figures that will give you a better understanding of the education level in Italy.

➡️ Enrollment in tertiary education for Italy: 63.46%

(Average for regions: Sub-Saharan Africa: 8.6% | South Asia: 20.8% | Arab States: 36.4% | East Asia: 36.5% | Latin America: 43.3% | Europe and Central Asia: 62% | North America: 84%)

Data from World Bank EdStats/UNESCO

➡️ Italy literacy rate: 99%

(Average for regions: Sub-Saharan Africa: 65.3% | South Asia: 72.9% | Arab States: 79.4% | Latin America: 93.7% | East Asia: 95.8% | Europe and Central Asia: 98.5%)

Do you want even more education facts about other countries?

Check out these facts:

• Facts about school in France
• Facts about school in Netherlands
• Facts about school in Norway

Or click here to see ALL the education facts up on the blog!

• Saturday is a normal day for education in Italy
• Teachers in Italy are not friendly at all, at least not in class
• Italian students need to be very disciplined if they want to succeed in their studies
• Italian teachers will… or will not answer questions, depending on the day
• No one is late in Italian schools
• The Italian grade system ranges from 0 to 30 in universities
• Secondary school students in Italy are graded from 0 to 10
• There is also a 100-point grade system as well as an ECTS system
• Italian students generally eat at home
• Parents need to go shopping almost every day in Italy
• Italian students know each other very, very well
• Students do not move around the school in Italy, but teachers do
• Monotony is the name of the game in Italian schools
• Some teachers humiliate their students in Italy
• Failing more than three subjects means you have to repeat a year in Italy
• Italian students graduate very late compared to that from other countries
• Education in Italy is compulsory from ages 6 to 16
• There are 5 stages in the Italian education system
• Primary school in Italy lasts for 5 years
• Lower secondary school in Italy lasts for 3 years
• Upper secondary school in Italy lasts for 5 years
• There are three types of upper secondary schools in Italy
• The first and most popular secondary school option is high school
• The second and third secondary school options are technical and professional institutes
• The Italian school year is divided into two terms
• Report cards are issued to parents at the end of each term
• Child can attend any school their parents enroll them into
• For every class in Italy, there is a parents informal association
• Parents are officially represented in a school board in Italy
• There are several after-school activities in Italy
• There are no uniforms in Italian schools
• Cursive writing is still in use in Italian schools
• The best time of the day for Italian kids is the break
• Enrollment in tertiary education for Italy: 63.46%
• Italy literacy rate: 99%

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• Classifieds

Italian Schools

An overview.

Cambridge online education

Italy - Education

Whether you wish your children to follow the Italian system of education or go to an international school is a very personal choice and depends on the age of the child, how long you plan to stay in Italy, where the child will study next and on your view as to the benefit of learning Italian in the local system.

Scuola Materna (kindegarten)

Scuola elementare officially called “scuola primaria” (primary school).

• Children have personal achievement cards ( schede ) which records academic as well as personal development. Children who do not reach a given standard repeat the year though this is very rare. Many schools are open on Saturday mornings as well as during the week.
• Recent legislation has made English and computer studies compulsory for all students and children may now go to scuola elementare younger than previously (5 and a half instead of 6). This is to bring Italians in line with European school leaving ages.
• Generally speaking the teachers (often 2 + part time English and Religion) follow the children from first class until fifth class after which the children move to scuola media. This means that if you are happy with the teachers - that’s great as you have them for 5 years. On the other hand if you are not – the difficulties could persist for 5 years.
• Registration for your child is very simple. You fill out a simple form usually in the January before he attends. This can be done at a local scuola elementare or at the comune.. To find out the date for registering ( iscrizione ) phone the comune.
• Any questions or queries about registration or classes should be directed to the head ( la directrice ). Usually you phone and make an appointment.

Scuola Media

International schools.

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Further reading

• How to choose an online school: Tips for getting the best for your children
• Online schooling: How does it help expat families?
• Apprenticeships in Italy: Getting practical experience
• Choosing a Private School: Things you need to consider
• Private Schools in Italy: Standards, learning methods and prices
• State Schools in Italy: Organization and education policies

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Five interesting facts about the Italian education system

 ROME - It’s no secret that education systems vary from country to country; governments authorise specific systems based on what they perceive to be effective for their citizens. So if you’ve never studied in Italy, you're unlikely to know how their education system works. But thankfully, despite the differences, students in different learning institutions across the globe can  buy assignments online from professionals .

 It’s hard to imagine how different other countries’ education systems could be if you’ve never studied abroad. So if you’ve studied in the United States all your life, you wouldn’t believe that September is back to school season in Italy.

 If you’re planning on transferring to a school in Italy, you should consider finding out the structure of their academic year. This way, you’ll be able to identify a suitable time to transition so you don’t waste too much time waiting for the next academic year to begin.

 Since Italy is such a culturally rich country, choosing to study here allows you to have a more diverse perspective of life. Experiencing people with different cultural practices stretches your conversational bandwidth and enables you to have more compassion for foreigners.

 And even if you have no plan of studying in Italy, continue reading to learn five surprising facts about their education system.

Students Have School on Saturday

 Unlike in the United States where weekends are considered a day off for students, in Italy, Saturday is just another ordinary school day. In fact, even individuals with employment are required to report for work on Saturdays.

 That means that when you relocate to Italy for further studies, you can say goodbye to partying on Friday nights. As a school night, you might as well use your time to look for reliable online resources you can use to improve your performance. If you struggle to find suitable topics for your essays, you could use your Friday nights to explore  Topics Base  for topic ideations.

 And since weekends are not considered time to rest in Italy, this is the time most students do their homework. In fact, teachers intentionally give students more homework as the week ends so they have something to keep them busy before another week begins.

Students Tend to Revere Teachers

 If you’ve studied in the United States all your life, you probably consider consulting your teachers as yet another thing that just is. Well, in Italy, you’ve got to have a good reason to approach your teachers. Most students would rather consult their peers if they’re having trouble understanding a given concept.

 The teachers, on the other hand, stick to teaching and only make informal conversations with their fellow teachers. It’s almost as if there’s a line drawn on the ground to separate teachers from students. Logically, this is to ensure that students respect their teachers because they’re more superior than them.

 That said, there are obviously exceptions to the rule because you will always find those friendly teachers who want to know what’s going on in their students’ personal lives. It’s obviously a delight to interact with teachers with a softer side who treat you as human before identifying you as their student.

Students Have Their Lunch at Home

 Unlike American schools that have cafeterias where students have their lunch before resuming class, Italian students get done with school at around one or two and head home until the next day. So parents in Italy have to ensure that they prepare some food for their kids’ lunch every day.

 As an American, you probably imagine that this must be so overwhelming for parents. But if you’ve always done something for your kids, you probably don’t give it much thought.

College is Five Years

 In most parts of the world, most undergraduate courses take four years to complete. But in Italy, the standard is actually five years. On September 15 th  every year, a new group of freshman students start their five-year college journey towards graduation.

The Grading Ranges from One to Ten

 If you’re a student in Italy, scoring an average grade of ten is excellent performance while one is the poorest you could ever perform. Actually, anything below six is considered a failure and a four is basically a zero. If a teacher gives you anything below a four, they are simply doing it to run your failure in your face. If you fail more than three subjects, you’re required to repeat that class to polish your performance.

Wrapping Up

 Now that you know these interesting facts about the Italian Education system, you can decide if you’re willing to go study in this country.

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Here's how homework differs around the world

The INSIDER Summary:

• The infographic below shows how education systems around the world differ. • It compares the amount of homework given per week, how much is spent on education, and how many days of school there is per week in countries around the world. • South Korea's education system was ranked number one.

More homework doesn't necessarily mean a better education.

According to the infographic below, created by Ozicare Insurance, the countries that offer the best education systems around the world don't always dole out piles of homework to students.

Students in Italy — whose education system ranked relatively low on the 2014 Pearson review — complete about 8.1 hours of homework per week, while students in South Korea — whose education system ranked number one in the world on the 2014 Pearson review— only spend 2.9 hours on homework weekly.

Keep scrolling to find out more about education across the globe.

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Watch: 3 reasons why North and South Korean reunification is unlikely

• Main content

• Countries Who Spend the Most Time Doing Homework

Homework is an important aspect of the education system and is often dreaded by the majority of students all over the world. Although many teachers and educational scholars believe homework improves education performance, many critics and students disagree and believe there is no correlation between homework and improving test scores.

The Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD) is an intergovernmental organization. With headquarters in Paris, the organization was formed for the purpose of stimulating global trade and economic progress among member states. In 2009, the OECD conducted a detailed study to establish the number of hours allocated for doing homework by students around the world and conducted the research in 38 member countries. The test subjects for the study were 15 year old high school students in countries that used PISA exams in their education systems. The results showed that in Shanghai, China the students had the highest number of hours of homework with 13.8 hours per week. Russia followed, where students had an average of 9.7 hours of homework per week. Finland had the least amount of homework hours with 2.8 hours per week, followed closely by South Korea with 2.9 hours. Among all the countries tested, the average homework time was 4.9 hours per week.

Interpretation of the data

Although students from Finland spent the least amount of hours on their homework per week, they performed relatively well on tests which discredits the notion of correlation between the number of hours spent on homework with exam performance. Shanghai teenagers who spent the highest number of hours doing their homework also produced excellent performances in the school tests, while students from some regions such as Macao, Japan, and Singapore increased the score by 17 points per additional hour of homework. The data showed a close relation between the economic backgrounds of students and the number of hours they invested in their homework. Students from affluent backgrounds spent fewer hours doing homework when compared to their less privileged counterparts, most likely due to access to private tutors and homeschooling. In some countries such as Singapore, students from wealthy families invested more time doing their homework than less privileged students and received better results in exams.

Decline in number of hours

Subsequent studies conducted by the OECD in 2012 showed a decrease in the average number hours per week spent by students. Slovakia displayed a drop of four hours per week while Russia declined three hours per week. A few countries including the United States showed no change. The dramatic decline of hours spent doing homework has been attributed to teenager’s increased use of the internet and social media platforms.

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This Is What Life Is Like For A Typical Teenager In Italy

Are you curious about what life is like for a typical teenager in Italy? The life of Italian teenagers is different in many ways to the life of teenagers in the US or UK.

As well as drawing on my own experience of growing up in Italy, I interviewed an Italian lady in her early twenties to get more insight into her experience during her teen years.

In this article, we will discuss different aspects of the life of Italian teenagers, from education, to hobbies and entertainment, to employment. Keep reading to find out more!

What is life like for teenagers in Italy?

Education in Italy is highly valued, and Italian families prefer their teenagers to be totally focused on their studies. For this reason, and because of the difficult Italian job market, it is very rare for an Italian teenager to have a job. Although Italian teenagers study very hard, the summer school break is three months, and most teenagers aren’t very busy during this time, and spend it resting and having fun.

How the week is structured for Italian teenagers

In the vast majority of cases, the school week in Italy runs from Monday to Saturday, with a finish time of 12:30 to 1pm.

Although Italian school days are shorter than in the US or UK, Italian students spend a lot of the afternoon doing homework or preparing for tests, mostly for the next day and, sometimes, for the following days of that week.

The structure of the Italian school week means that Italian teenagers only have Saturday afternoon and Sunday to rest. If a lot of homework is assigned before the weekend, teenagers may spend at least half a day on a Sunday to prepare for the week ahead.

The main Italian school holidays during the school year are over the Christmas and Easter periods. The school year then finishes in early June and a new school year begins in September.

This means that the summer holidays are quite long for Italian teenagers, who have much more time to rest during the summer.

Aside from doing homework, many Italian teenagers spend at least some time in the afternoons and evenings doing activities such as:

• Going out for casual walks with their friends
• Going round friends’ houses
• Taking part in sport activities
• Taking part in other hobbies or activities such as playing an instrument
• Playing video games, watching TV or other entertainment indoors

Do teenagers work in Italy?

It is relatively rare for Italian teenagers to be employed, for three main reasons:

• Because they spend a lot of time studying
• Because having a job is often perceived to be detrimental for teenagers, in that it distracts them from their studies
• Because there is low demand in the Italian job market

Let’s look at each of these reasons in more detail…

Italian teenagers spend a lot of time studying

The Italian school system is divided into:

• Pre-school (depending on family necessity 0 to 5 years). This is called Asilo in Italian.
• Elementary school – five years (6 to 13 years). This is called Scuola Elementare in Italian.
• High School – five years (13 to 18 years). This is called Scuola Superiore in Italian.

Compulsory education in Italy ends at the age of sixteen, however, only a very small minority of Italian teenagers leave school for employment at the age of sixteen.

Even those students who are in a type of high school called Istituto Tecnico (which is a technical college) tend to continue to study all the way until the age of eighteen, so it is extremely rare to find Italian teenagers under eighteen in full-time work.

In essence, the structure of the week for Italian teenagers leaves no room for weekend work, paid or unpaid.

During the summer school holidays, less than 50% of Italian teenagers have a part-time job. Most of them spend this time to do their school work, which is often substantial, and they tend to do this regularly during the summer. The rest of the time, they tend to rest and do enjoyable activities.

A paid job is seen by many families as distracting teenagers from their studies

Studying is seen as a full-time job for Italian teenagers, and there is a perception, both implicit and explicit, that teenagers having a job is not necessarily a good thing, because it distracts them from their most important activity, which is studying.

In the great majority of cases Italian families do all they can to support their teenagers financially through all stages of their education, often into university, and until their studies are fully completed.

Italian families tend to be protective of teenagers and there tends to be an assumption, and sometimes almost an expectation, that your family will help you financially, and so Italian teenagers aren’t under much pressure to get a job. .

As a general rule, teenagers in Italy ask their parents for money if they need or want something.

Those teenagers who do some weekend or part-time work during the summer holidays, who usually belong to less wealthy families, use this money to pay for leisurely things they might want, such as clothes and food when they go out with friends, rather than use it for rent, tuition fees, or other necessities.

There isn’t much demand in the Italian job market

Part of the reason why Italian teenagers are not expected to earn their own money is that there isn’t much demand for them on the job market. In fact, it is very hard for teenagers to find work in Italy.

In Italy there are fewer opportunities for teenagers to get involved in voluntary or paid work than in other countries.

The challenging Italian job market means that teenagers usually live with their families until they are financially ready to move out. Many times this readiness doesn’t come until a young person is well into their twenties or even later, depending on their location within Italy.

Many Italian companies prefer to only hire slightly older individuals, because they are the ones with more experience, but this makes it very hard for teenagers, and young Italian people in general, to support themselves while they study.

One of the most popular jobs for teenagers in Italy is waitressing in bars and restaurants along the coast. This work, however, is seasonal and only available during the summer months (June through to mid-September).

Finding suitable work for a teenager, such as stacking shelves or administrative support, is very hard in Italy. People who are in jobs tend to stay in those jobs for a long time, and so there isn’t much mobility in the job market, which makes it very difficult for a young person who has not had time to build up their experience.

Teenagers in Italy are also often employed informally, which means that they aren’t given a contract or paid for the work. This is known as “lavoro in nero”, and it’s very common across the country. Internships and work experience opportunities do exist (these are called “tirocinio”) but they are totally unpaid in the vast majority of cases.

Internships in Italy are not remunerated […] but they go on your CV because they are classed, for all intents and purposes, as work experience.

The Italian school system

Education in Italy is highly valued. Italian families prefer their teenagers to spend all their time studying, and resting when they are not studying, because education is considered to be their full time job.

The Italian education system is considered one of the best in Europe. Teenagers in Italy attend high school for five years, instead of the four years that is common in the United States.

Most Italian teenagers attend high school from the age of 14 until they turn 18, and during these four years, the students are required to take a range of compulsory subjects, as well as choosing two or three electives.

There is a lot of pressure on Italian teenagers to do well in their studies, and I remember studying a lot as a teenager in Italy, often well into the night and early morning.

One shortcoming of the Italian school system is that it is not very effective at preparing teenagers for the professional world. Teenagers in Italy are rarely asked what their career goals might be, and there isn’t a lot of career guidance or support in place to guide them through the steps they need to take to achieve those career goals.

The majority of Italian teenagers are pushed towards university, regardless of their interests or talents and there is often an implicit assumption that trades, starting up a business, or doing more practical work are a second choice reserved for those students who aren’t very academically talented.

What do Italian teenagers do in their free time?

As a general rule, Italian teenagers are very independent and manage their own time. It is common for teenagers in Italy to spend more time round friends’ houses, to study and spend time together, rather than at home.

Italian towns and cities are mostly safe , which means that there isn’t such a worry about teenagers being out and about and organising their own time how they want. They are often out all day as they may study with a friend after school and then go for a walk and not come back home until the evening.

Italian teenagers normally go to bed quite late , either because they are studying or spending time with friends, even on a school night. In Italy there is a strong culture of spending time together with peers and Italian families are very inclusive, so it’s not uncommon for a family to welcome their child’s friends as their own.

For Italian teenagers “going out” means leaving the house and taking a walk with friends, mostly spending time outdoors in parks, squares and other public places, as the Italian weather allows this most of the time.

Italy is not a drinking culture and so there is less prevalence of teenagers drinking or using drugs, compared to some other countries. Italian teenagers simply prefer to hang around together and, although they can be noisy at times, they are usually not up to anything bad or dangerous.

For leisure, Italian teenagers usually like to:

• Hang around with friends, walking and talking
• Meeting for ice-cream or food, mostly pizza
• Playing sports
• Going to clubs and beach bars (although this is reserved for older teenagers)

What is life like for Italian teenagers? Some concluding thoughts.

Italian teenagers, in general, have a good social life, and a good balance of cultivating friendships, family relationships, and focusing on their studies.

They generally lead a healthy lifestyle , which is characteristic of Italians of all ages, and drinking and drugs are relatively unpopular amongst Italian teenagers, compared to other countries.

A growing number of young Italian people eventually choose to move abroad , due to the challenges presented by the Italian job market and economy in general. Having grown up and spent their teenage years in Italy, however, gives them a very good start in life and normally sets them up to be balanced and successful individuals.

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The Countries Where Kids Do The Most Homework

Does your kid complain about endless hours of homework? If you live in Italy , those complaints could reach fever-pitch! According to research conducted by the OECD, 15-year old children in Italy have to contend with nearly 9 hours of homework per week - more than anywhere else in the world. Irish children have the second highest after-school workload - just over 7 hours each week. In the United States , about 6.1 hours of a 15-year old's week are sacrificed for the sake of homework. In Asia, children have very little to complain about. Japanese students have to deal with 3.8 hours of homework per week on average while in South Korea, it's just 2.9 hours.

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The Italian Higher Education System Explained

Confused about how Italian universities work? Read on to find out everything you need to know...

Italy's higher education system is one of the oldest in the world! It's likely that it's different to the set-up you're used to in your home country. Read our article below to find out all you need to know about the culture and logistics of the Italian university system.

Quick facts about the Italian higher education system:

• Adult literacy in Italy is around 95%
• Around 32,000 international students study in Italy (including study abroad and independent students)
• Italy was one of the first four countries to begin a higher education reform in Europe, called the “Bologna Process”
• More Italian women are choosing to attend higher education than men, and the gap is slowly increasing since 2000

Types of Institutions

• Universities (including Polytechnics)
• High level art, music, and dance education (Alta formazione artistica e musicale – AFAM)
• Higher technical institutes

Universities

Universities offer a range of undergraduate, graduate, and postgraduate degrees to those that gain entrance. These institutions can be either private or public, and usually require an application process before admitting students. Universities can be specialised, but often offer classes in a number of fields in order to prepare students for future careers.

This category is comprised of schools that specialise in music and the arts. These institutions teach students interested in dance, design, music performance, theatre, cinema, visual arts, and more. These institutions are similar to universities, but their coursework is more specialised. AFAM institutions usually offer courses that are completed in a number of years, like universities, and accept students upon application.

Higher Technical Institutes

These institutions offer specialised coursework to students attempting to learn for a specific job or career. The programmes are usually shorter, and are used by working professionals to further their careers.

Types of degrees

Higher education degrees at universities and AFAM institutions are recognized in three cycles.

• The first cycle is similar to an undergraduate degree. Students complete this cycle in 3 years.
• The second cycle is similar to a graduate or master’s degree. Students complete this cycle in 2 years.
• The third cycle is similar to a postgraduate, PhD, or research based degree. Completion of this degree depends on what programme you are in.

There are also courses available for those looking to get a specialised degree, which usually take six months to one year to complete. These specialised courses also vary depending on what you are studying. 

How to apply to an Italian university

The first step in applying to an Italian university is finding a programme that interests you!   After you have found a programme, contact the international office of your chosen universities in order to make sure you are eligible to study in Italy and are aware of the necessary requirements.   Questions for your Institution’s International Office What date is my application due? What documents do I need? Do my

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Your Guide to Attending College in Italy

One of the greatest perks of dual Italian citizenship is the opportunity to attend college in Italy. In fact, with an Italian passport, you can attend university anywhere in the EU, if you meet their admission requirements. And even if you don’t yet have legal Italian nationality, attending uni in Italy is accessible for many Americans.

Are you dreaming of life in Italy, with access to affordable healthcare and education? The team at Get Italian Citizenship can help make your dream a reality. Reach out today to see if you are eligible for Italian dual citizenship.

Get Ready for Something Totally Different

If you’ve grown up in the American school system, you likely have many habits and expectations in place for college. If you decide to go to an Italian university, you can let go of many of those. You will find a very different culture when you start studying in Italy.

There are significant differences between American and European attitudes toward just about every major life event. From raising children to politics to healthcare, the contrasts can be enormous. 

And life as a university student in Italy is no different. You can set aside much of what you believe about college life when you choose an Italian school. 

The Money Factor

Americans are well aware that college in the US carries a hefty price tag. Private schools average more than $40,000 per year in tuition and fees. State colleges and universities are less expensive but still can be cost-prohibitive for many students.

In contrast, Italian colleges charge about 1500 Euros per academic year. With current 2020 exchange rates, that is about $1750. Notice the difference? It’s staggering.

The low tuition costs can apply to international students, as well. But they certainly kick in for those who carry dual citizenship with Italy. 

A Loose Schedule

When you’re attending college in Italy, you will notice that the class schedule is more of a suggestion. It’s rare for students or professors to be in class at the appointed time. Instead, they tend to abide by the tradition of quarto d’ora accademico, arriving 15 minutes after the stated start time. 

This habit goes way back for European universities and stems from the church bell ringing on the hour. The bell signified that it was time for students to make their way to class to be there by the quarter-hour.

For students arriving from America, this can feel like a drastic change in expectations. Just be sure to verify your schedule to make sure you arrive at the right time.

Get Ready for Lectures

US colleges tend to utilize discussion-style classes. Students and teachers have conversations and rely on plenty of question-and-answer time.

However, at an Italian university, you can expect your classes to be almost exclusively in lecture format. There is very little back-and-forth between professors and their students.

Go to Class or Don’t

Attendance at most Italian university classes is optional. You read that right! Students often can choose to enroll frequentante or non-frequentante. 

If you enroll frequentante, then you agree to attend your class in-person most of the time. This arrangement generally means that you will have an easier exam at the end of the term.

Non-frequentante means that you do not have to attend in-person. However, you may have to do extra reading and studying on your own because your final exam will likely be more challenging.

Don’t Expect a Lot of Help

American universities have excellent systems and support in place for their students. Academic advisors, counselors, and professors all work to help college students succeed and stay on track for graduation. If you have a problem with a class or are unsure what to take, you likely can get help within a day.

This situation is not the case in most colleges in Italy. You are unlikely to have an academic advisor assigned to you. And if you do connect with someone, they may or may not help you figure out what you need.

If you’re eager to attend college in Italy, be sure you are a self-motivated problem solver. Or connect with another student who is and who is willing to help. 

Forget the Enormous Textbook Cost

Italian uni students often forgo purchasing their course books. Instead, they check out the necessary books from the library and pay for a copy at their local copy shop. 

US college students can pay as much in one term for textbooks as their Italian counterparts pay for an entire university year. So this textbook workaround offers another incredible source of savings.

College in Italy May Require a Language Test

Surprising no one, most Italian universities teach their classes in Italian. To enroll in courses, you probably will need to prove a certain level of competency in the language. Consider taking some Italian language classes right away if you want to apply to attend college there.

Understand the Exam and Grading Protocols

Finals week at US colleges carries an air of myth and legend. Stories of all-night study sessions or nightmares of oversleeping for a big exam are everywhere. And when finals week is over, students notoriously let loose for their vacation.

In most colleges in Italy, however, exams take place over three months. And the student decides which month to take the tests. They also can retake their exams as often as they like to improve their grades.

This ability to retake a test is crucial since, in most cases, your entire course grade comes from the final exam in Italian colleges. American students who are used to using good homework and participation scores to boost their grades need to get ready to study.

And speaking of grades, schools in Italy do not use the American system of A through F letter grades. Instead, students there receive scores on a 30-point scale, with 18 being a passing grade. 

Claim Your Italian Citizenship

Going to university in Italy is just one of the benefits of having dual Italian citizenship . If you’re eager to take advantage of this opportunity, connect with the experts at Get Italian Citizenship.

Our team offers full-service citizenship assistance. From genealogical research to translation to representation in the Italian courts, we have you covered. Soon you can be on your way to enjoying all the perks of holding an Italian passport.

Author: Get Italian Citizenship

Get Italian Citizenship, Inc. is a consulting company offering Italian heritage services worldwide.

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What’s the Right Amount of Homework?

Decades of research show that homework has some benefits, especially for students in middle and high school—but there are risks to assigning too much.

Many teachers and parents believe that homework helps students build study skills and review concepts learned in class. Others see homework as disruptive and unnecessary, leading to burnout and turning kids off to school. Decades of research show that the issue is more nuanced and complex than most people think: Homework is beneficial, but only to a degree. Students in high school gain the most, while younger kids benefit much less.

The National PTA and the National Education Association support the “ 10-minute homework guideline ”—a nightly 10 minutes of homework per grade level. But many teachers and parents are quick to point out that what matters is the quality of the homework assigned and how well it meets students’ needs, not the amount of time spent on it.

The guideline doesn’t account for students who may need to spend more—or less—time on assignments. In class, teachers can make adjustments to support struggling students, but at home, an assignment that takes one student 30 minutes to complete may take another twice as much time—often for reasons beyond their control. And homework can widen the achievement gap, putting students from low-income households and students with learning disabilities at a disadvantage.

However, the 10-minute guideline is useful in setting a limit: When kids spend too much time on homework, there are real consequences to consider.

Small Benefits for Elementary Students

As young children begin school, the focus should be on cultivating a love of learning, and assigning too much homework can undermine that goal. And young students often don’t have the study skills to benefit fully from homework, so it may be a poor use of time (Cooper, 1989 ; Cooper et al., 2006 ; Marzano & Pickering, 2007 ). A more effective activity may be nightly reading, especially if parents are involved. The benefits of reading are clear: If students aren’t proficient readers by the end of third grade, they’re less likely to succeed academically and graduate from high school (Fiester, 2013 ).

For second-grade teacher Jacqueline Fiorentino, the minor benefits of homework did not outweigh the potential drawback of turning young children against school at an early age, so she experimented with dropping mandatory homework. “Something surprising happened: They started doing more work at home,” Fiorentino writes . “This inspiring group of 8-year-olds used their newfound free time to explore subjects and topics of interest to them.” She encouraged her students to read at home and offered optional homework to extend classroom lessons and help them review material.

Moderate Benefits for Middle School Students

As students mature and develop the study skills necessary to delve deeply into a topic—and to retain what they learn—they also benefit more from homework. Nightly assignments can help prepare them for scholarly work, and research shows that homework can have moderate benefits for middle school students (Cooper et al., 2006 ). Recent research also shows that online math homework, which can be designed to adapt to students’ levels of understanding, can significantly boost test scores (Roschelle et al., 2016 ).

There are risks to assigning too much, however: A 2015 study found that when middle school students were assigned more than 90 to 100 minutes of daily homework, their math and science test scores began to decline (Fernández-Alonso, Suárez-Álvarez, & Muñiz, 2015 ). Crossing that upper limit can drain student motivation and focus. The researchers recommend that “homework should present a certain level of challenge or difficulty, without being so challenging that it discourages effort.” Teachers should avoid low-effort, repetitive assignments, and assign homework “with the aim of instilling work habits and promoting autonomous, self-directed learning.”

In other words, it’s the quality of homework that matters, not the quantity. Brian Sztabnik, a veteran middle and high school English teacher, suggests that teachers take a step back and ask themselves these five questions :

• How long will it take to complete?
• Have all learners been considered?
• Will an assignment encourage future success?
• Will an assignment place material in a context the classroom cannot?
• Does an assignment offer support when a teacher is not there?

More Benefits for High School Students, but Risks as Well

By the time they reach high school, students should be well on their way to becoming independent learners, so homework does provide a boost to learning at this age, as long as it isn’t overwhelming (Cooper et al., 2006 ; Marzano & Pickering, 2007 ). When students spend too much time on homework—more than two hours each night—it takes up valuable time to rest and spend time with family and friends. A 2013 study found that high school students can experience serious mental and physical health problems, from higher stress levels to sleep deprivation, when assigned too much homework (Galloway, Conner, & Pope, 2013 ).

Homework in high school should always relate to the lesson and be doable without any assistance, and feedback should be clear and explicit.

Teachers should also keep in mind that not all students have equal opportunities to finish their homework at home, so incomplete homework may not be a true reflection of their learning—it may be more a result of issues they face outside of school. They may be hindered by issues such as lack of a quiet space at home, resources such as a computer or broadband connectivity, or parental support (OECD, 2014 ). In such cases, giving low homework scores may be unfair.

Since the quantities of time discussed here are totals, teachers in middle and high school should be aware of how much homework other teachers are assigning. It may seem reasonable to assign 30 minutes of daily homework, but across six subjects, that’s three hours—far above a reasonable amount even for a high school senior. Psychologist Maurice Elias sees this as a common mistake: Individual teachers create homework policies that in aggregate can overwhelm students. He suggests that teachers work together to develop a school-wide homework policy and make it a key topic of back-to-school night and the first parent-teacher conferences of the school year.

Parents Play a Key Role

Homework can be a powerful tool to help parents become more involved in their child’s learning (Walker et al., 2004 ). It can provide insights into a child’s strengths and interests, and can also encourage conversations about a child’s life at school. If a parent has positive attitudes toward homework, their children are more likely to share those same values, promoting academic success.

But it’s also possible for parents to be overbearing, putting too much emphasis on test scores or grades, which can be disruptive for children (Madjar, Shklar, & Moshe, 2015 ). Parents should avoid being overly intrusive or controlling—students report feeling less motivated to learn when they don’t have enough space and autonomy to do their homework (Orkin, May, & Wolf, 2017 ; Patall, Cooper, & Robinson, 2008 ; Silinskas & Kikas, 2017 ). So while homework can encourage parents to be more involved with their kids, it’s important to not make it a source of conflict.

How Much Homework Is Too Much for Our Teens?

Here's what educators and parents can do to help kids find the right balance between school and home.

Does Your Teen Have Too Much Homework?

Today’s teens are under a lot of pressure.

They're under pressure to succeed, to win, to be the best and to get into the top colleges. With so much pressure, is it any wonder today’s youth report being under as much stress as their parents? In fact, during the school year, teens say they experience stress levels higher than those reported by adults, according to a previous American Psychological Association "Stress in America" survey.

Odds are if you ask a teen what's got them so worked up, the subject of school will come up. School can cause a lot of stress, which can lead to other serious problems, like sleep deprivation . According to the National Sleep Foundation, teens need between eight and 10 hours of sleep each night, but only 15 percent are even getting close to that amount. During the school week, most teens only get about six hours of zzz’s a night, and some of that sleep deficit may be attributed to homework.

When it comes to school, many adults would rather not trade places with a teen. Think about it. They get up at the crack of dawn and get on the bus when it’s pitch dark outside. They put in a full day sitting in hours of classes (sometimes four to seven different classes daily), only to get more work dumped on them to do at home. To top it off, many kids have after-school obligations, such as extracurricular activities including clubs and sports , and some have to work. After a long day, they finally get home to do even more work – schoolwork.

[Read: What Parents Should Know About Teen Depression .]

Homework is not only a source of stress for students, but it can also be a hassle for parents. If you are the parent of a kid who strives to be “perfect," then you know all too well how much time your child spends making sure every bit of homework is complete, even if it means pulling an all-nighter. On the flip side, if you’re the parent of a child who decided that school ends when the last bell rings, then you know how exhausting that homework tug-of-war can be. And heaven forbid if you’re that parent who is at their wit's end because your child excels on tests and quizzes but fails to turn in assignments. The woes of academics can go well beyond the confines of the school building and right into the home.

This is the time of year when many students and parents feel the burden of the academic load. Following spring break, many schools across the nation head into the final stretch of the year. As a result, some teachers increase the amount of homework they give. The assignments aren’t punishment, although to students and parents who are having to constantly stay on top of their kids' schoolwork, they can sure seem that way.

From a teacher’s perspective, the assignments are meant to help students better understand the course content and prepare for upcoming exams. Some schools have state-mandated end of grade or final tests. In those states these tests can account for 20 percent of a student’s final grade. So teachers want to make sure that they cover the entire curriculum before that exam. Aside from state-mandated tests, some high school students are enrolled in advanced placement or international baccalaureate college-level courses that have final tests given a month or more before the end of the term. In order to cover all of the content, teachers must maintain an accelerated pace. All of this means more out of class assignments.

Given the challenges kids face, there are a few questions parents and educators should consider:

Is homework necessary?

Many teens may give a quick "no" to this question, but the verdict is still out. Research supports both sides of the argument. Personally, I would say, yes, some homework is necessary, but it must be purposeful. If it’s busy work, then it’s a waste of time. Homework should be a supplemental teaching tool. Too often, some youth go home completely lost as they haven’t grasped concepts covered in class and they may become frustrated and overwhelmed.

For a parent who has been in this situation, you know how frustrating this can be, especially if it’s a subject that you haven’t encountered in a while. Homework can serve a purpose such as improving grades, increasing test scores and instilling a good work ethic. Purposeful homework can come in the form of individualizing assignments based on students’ needs or helping students practice newly acquired skills.

Homework should not be used to extend class time to cover more material. If your child is constantly coming home having to learn the material before doing the assignments, then it’s time to contact the teacher and set up a conference. Listen when kids express their concerns (like if they say they're expected to know concepts not taught in class) as they will provide clues about what’s happening or not happening in the classroom. Plus, getting to the root of the problem can help with keeping the peace at home too, as an irritable and grumpy teen can disrupt harmonious family dynamics .

[Read: What Makes Teens 'Most Likely to Succeed?' ]

How much is too much?

According to the National PTA and the National Education Association, students should only be doing about 10 minutes of homework per night per grade level. But teens are doing a lot more than that, according to a poll of high school students by the organization Statistic Brain . In that poll teens reported spending, on average, more than three hours on homework each school night, with 11th graders spending more time on homework than any other grade level. By contrast, some polls have shown that U.S. high school students report doing about seven hours of homework per week.

Much of a student's workload boils down to the courses they take (such as advanced or college prep classes), the teaching philosophy of educators and the student’s commitment to doing the work. Regardless, research has shown that doing more than two hours of homework per night does not benefit high school students. Having lots of homework to do every day makes it difficult for teens to have any downtime , let alone family time .

How do we respond to students' needs?

As an educator and parent, I can honestly say that oftentimes there is a mismatch in what teachers perceive as only taking 15 minutes and what really takes 45 minutes to complete. If you too find this to be the case, then reach out to your child's teacher and find out why the assignments are taking longer than anticipated for your child to complete.

Also, ask the teacher about whether faculty communicate regularly with one another about large upcoming assignments. Whether it’s setting up a shared school-wide assignment calendar or collaborating across curriculums during faculty meetings, educators need to discuss upcoming tests and projects, so students don’t end up with lots of assignments all competing for their attention and time at once. Inevitably, a student is going to get slammed occasionally, but if they have good rapport with their teachers, they will feel comfortable enough to reach out and see if alternative options are available. And as a parent, you can encourage your kid to have that dialogue with the teacher.

Often teens would rather blend into the class than stand out. That’s unfortunate because research has shown time and time again that positive teacher-student relationships are strong predictors of student engagement and achievement. By and large, most teachers appreciate students advocating for themselves and will go the extra mile to help them out.

Can there be a balance between home and school?

Students can strike a balance between school and home, but parents will have to help them find it. They need your guidance to learn how to better manage their time, get organized and prioritize tasks, which are all important life skills. Equally important is developing good study habits. Some students may need tutoring or coaching to help them learn new material or how to take notes and study. Also, don’t forget the importance of parent-teacher communication. Most educators want nothing more than for their students to succeed in their courses.

Learning should be fun, not mundane and cumbersome. Homework should only be given if its purposeful and in moderation. Equally important to homework is engaging in activities, socializing with friends and spending time with the family.

[See: 10 Concerns Parents Have About Their Kids' Health .]

Most adults don’t work a full-time job and then go home and do three more hours of work, and neither should your child. It's not easy learning to balance everything, especially if you're a teen. If your child is spending several hours on homework each night, don't hesitate to reach out to teachers and, if need be, school officials. Collectively, we can all work together to help our children de-stress and find the right balance between school and home.

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• March 18 Eight a day
• March 14 ‘Upping our game’
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• March 5 Falling short in the postseason
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Three Penny Press

Students spend three times longer on homework than average, survey reveals

Sonya Kulkarni and Pallavi Gorantla | Jan 9, 2022

Graphic by Sonya Kulkarni

The National Education Association and the National Parent Teacher Association have suggested that a healthy number of hours that students should be spending can be determined by the “10-minute rule.” This means that each grade level should have a maximum homework time incrementing by 10 minutes depending on their grade level (for instance, ninth-graders would have 90 minutes of homework, 10th-graders should have 100 minutes, and so on).

As ‘finals week’ rapidly approaches, students not only devote effort to attaining their desired exam scores but make a last attempt to keep or change the grade they have for semester one by making up homework assignments.

High schoolers reported doing an average of 2.7 hours of homework per weeknight, according to a study by the Washington Post from 2018 to 2020 of over 50,000 individuals. A survey of approximately 200 Bellaire High School students revealed that some students spend over three times this number.

The demographics of this survey included 34 freshmen, 43 sophomores, 54 juniors and 54 seniors on average.

When asked how many hours students spent on homework in a day on average, answers ranged from zero to more than nine with an average of about four hours. In contrast, polled students said that about one hour of homework would constitute a healthy number of hours.

Junior Claire Zhang said she feels academically pressured in her AP schedule, but not necessarily by the classes.

“The class environment in AP classes can feel pressuring because everyone is always working hard and it makes it difficult to keep up sometimes.” Zhang said.

A total of 93 students reported that the minimum grade they would be satisfied with receiving in a class would be an A. This was followed by 81 students, who responded that a B would be the minimum acceptable grade. 19 students responded with a C and four responded with a D.

“I am happy with the classes I take, but sometimes it can be very stressful to try to keep up,” freshman Allyson Nguyen said. “I feel academically pressured to keep an A in my classes.”

Up to 152 students said that grades are extremely important to them, while 32 said they generally are more apathetic about their academic performance.

Last year, nine valedictorians graduated from Bellaire. They each achieved a grade point average of 5.0. HISD has never seen this amount of valedictorians in one school, and as of now there are 14 valedictorians.

“I feel that it does degrade the title of valedictorian because as long as a student knows how to plan their schedule accordingly and make good grades in the classes, then anyone can be valedictorian,” Zhang said.

Bellaire offers classes like physical education and health in the summer. These summer classes allow students to skip the 4.0 class and not put it on their transcript. Some electives also have a 5.0 grade point average like debate.

Close to 200 students were polled about Bellaire having multiple valedictorians. They primarily answered that they were in favor of Bellaire having multiple valedictorians, which has recently attracted significant acclaim .

Senior Katherine Chen is one of the 14 valedictorians graduating this year and said that she views the class of 2022 as having an extraordinary amount of extremely hardworking individuals.

“I think it was expected since freshman year since most of us knew about the others and were just focused on doing our personal best,” Chen said.

Chen said that each valedictorian achieved the honor on their own and deserves it.

“I’m honestly very happy for the other valedictorians and happy that Bellaire is such a good school,” Chen said. “I don’t feel any less special with 13 other valedictorians.”

Nguyen said that having multiple valedictorians shows just how competitive the school is.

“It’s impressive, yet scary to think about competing against my classmates,” Nguyen said.

Offering 30 AP classes and boasting a significant number of merit-based scholars Bellaire can be considered a competitive school.

“I feel academically challenged but not pressured,” Chen said. “Every class I take helps push me beyond my comfort zone but is not too much to handle.”

Students have the opportunity to have off-periods if they’ve met all their credits and are able to maintain a high level of academic performance. But for freshmen like Nguyen, off periods are considered a privilege. Nguyen said she usually has an hour to five hours worth of work everyday.

“Depending on the day, there can be a lot of work, especially with extra curriculars,” Nguyen said. “Although, I am a freshman, so I feel like it’s not as bad in comparison to higher grades.”

According to the survey of Bellaire students, when asked to evaluate their agreement with the statement “students who get better grades tend to be smarter overall than students who get worse grades,” responders largely disagreed.

Zhang said that for students on the cusp of applying to college, it can sometimes be hard to ignore the mental pressure to attain good grades.

“As a junior, it’s really easy to get extremely anxious about your GPA,” Zhang said. “It’s also a very common but toxic practice to determine your self-worth through your grades but I think that we just need to remember that our mental health should also come first. Sometimes, it’s just not the right day for everyone and one test doesn’t determine our smartness.”

Welcome to Houston

A passion for performing

Nature’s wildheart: Teen naturalist kindles love for the environment

Parental influence

HUMANS OF BELLAIRE – Andy Shen

Eight a day

‘Upping our game’

Senior Joshua Percy wins Mr. Bellaire

Falling short in the postseason

Cardinals continue magical playoff run

Humans of Bellaire

‘Running since day one’

Finding sparks in concerts

HUMANS OF BELLAIRE – Zachary Foust

HUMANS OF BELLAIRE – Veda Manikonda

‘All of these beautiful things’

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Anonymous • Nov 21, 2023 at 10:32 am

It’s not really helping me understand how much.

josh • May 9, 2023 at 9:58 am

Kassie • May 6, 2022 at 12:29 pm

Im using this for an English report. This is great because on of my sources needed to be from another student. Homework drives me insane. Im glad this is very updated too!!

Kaylee Swaim • Jan 25, 2023 at 9:21 pm

I am also using this for an English report. I have to do an argumentative essay about banning homework in schools and this helps sooo much!

Izzy McAvaney • Mar 15, 2023 at 6:43 pm

I am ALSO using this for an English report on cutting down school days, homework drives me insane!!

E. Elliott • Apr 25, 2022 at 6:42 pm

I’m from Louisiana and am actually using this for an English Essay thanks for the information it was very informative.

Nabila Wilson • Jan 10, 2022 at 6:56 pm

Interesting with the polls! I didn’t realize about 14 valedictorians, that’s crazy.

School Life Balance , Tips for Online Students

The Pros and Cons of Homework

Updated: December 7, 2023

Published: January 23, 2020

Homework is a word that most students dread hearing. After hours upon hours of sitting in class , the last thing we want is more schoolwork over our precious weekends. While it’s known to be a staple of traditional schooling, homework has also become a rather divise topic. Some feel as though homework is a necessary part of school, while others believe that the time could be better invested. Should students have homework? Have a closer look into the arguments on both sides to decide for yourself.

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Why should students have homework, 1. homework encourages practice.

Many people believe that one of the positive effects of homework is that it encourages the discipline of practice. While it may be time consuming and boring compared to other activities, repetition is needed to get better at skills. Homework helps make concepts more clear, and gives students more opportunities when starting their career .

2. Homework Gets Parents Involved

Homework can be something that gets parents involved in their children’s lives if the environment is a healthy one. A parent helping their child with homework makes them take part in their academic success, and allows for the parent to keep up with what the child is doing in school. It can also be a chance to connect together.

3. Homework Teaches Time Management

Homework is much more than just completing the assigned tasks. Homework can develop time management skills , forcing students to plan their time and make sure that all of their homework assignments are done on time. By learning to manage their time, students also practice their problem-solving skills and independent thinking. One of the positive effects of homework is that it forces decision making and compromises to be made.

4. Homework Opens A Bridge Of Communication

Homework creates a connection between the student, the teacher, the school, and the parents. It allows everyone to get to know each other better, and parents can see where their children are struggling. In the same sense, parents can also see where their children are excelling. Homework in turn can allow for a better, more targeted educational plan for the student.

5. Homework Allows For More Learning Time

Homework allows for more time to complete the learning process. School hours are not always enough time for students to really understand core concepts, and homework can counter the effects of time shortages, benefiting students in the long run, even if they can’t see it in the moment.

6. Homework Reduces Screen Time

Many students in North America spend far too many hours watching TV. If they weren’t in school, these numbers would likely increase even more. Although homework is usually undesired, it encourages better study habits and discourages spending time in front of the TV. Homework can be seen as another extracurricular activity, and many families already invest a lot of time and money in different clubs and lessons to fill up their children’s extra time. Just like extracurricular activities, homework can be fit into one’s schedule.

The Other Side: Why Homework Is Bad

1. homework encourages a sedentary lifestyle.

Should students have homework? Well, that depends on where you stand. There are arguments both for the advantages and the disadvantages of homework.

While classroom time is important, playground time is just as important. If children are given too much homework, they won’t have enough playtime, which can impact their social development and learning. Studies have found that those who get more play get better grades in school , as it can help them pay closer attention in the classroom.

Children are already sitting long hours in the classroom, and homework assignments only add to these hours. Sedentary lifestyles can be dangerous and can cause health problems such as obesity. Homework takes away from time that could be spent investing in physical activity.

2. Homework Isn’t Healthy In Every Home

While many people that think homes are a beneficial environment for children to learn, not all homes provide a healthy environment, and there may be very little investment from parents. Some parents do not provide any kind of support or homework help, and even if they would like to, due to personal barriers, they sometimes cannot. Homework can create friction between children and their parents, which is one of the reasons why homework is bad .

3. Homework Adds To An Already Full-Time Job

School is already a full-time job for students, as they generally spend over 6 hours each day in class. Students also often have extracurricular activities such as sports, music, or art that are just as important as their traditional courses. Adding on extra hours to all of these demands is a lot for children to manage, and prevents students from having extra time to themselves for a variety of creative endeavors. Homework prevents self discovery and having the time to learn new skills outside of the school system. This is one of the main disadvantages of homework.

4. Homework Has Not Been Proven To Provide Results

Endless surveys have found that homework creates a negative attitude towards school, and homework has not been found to be linked to a higher level of academic success.

The positive effects of homework have not been backed up enough. While homework may help some students improve in specific subjects, if they have outside help there is no real proof that homework makes for improvements.

It can be a challenge to really enforce the completion of homework, and students can still get decent grades without doing their homework. Extra school time does not necessarily mean better grades — quality must always come before quantity.

Accurate practice when it comes to homework simply isn’t reliable. Homework could even cause opposite effects if misunderstood, especially since the reliance is placed on the student and their parents — one of the major reasons as to why homework is bad. Many students would rather cheat in class to avoid doing their homework at home, and children often just copy off of each other or from what they read on the internet.

5. Homework Assignments Are Overdone

The general agreement is that students should not be given more than 10 minutes a day per grade level. What this means is that a first grader should be given a maximum of 10 minutes of homework, while a second grader receives 20 minutes, etc. Many students are given a lot more homework than the recommended amount, however.

On average, college students spend as much as 3 hours per night on homework . By giving too much homework, it can increase stress levels and lead to burn out. This in turn provides an opposite effect when it comes to academic success.

The pros and cons of homework are both valid, and it seems as though the question of ‘‘should students have homework?’ is not a simple, straightforward one. Parents and teachers often are found to be clashing heads, while the student is left in the middle without much say.

It’s important to understand all the advantages and disadvantages of homework, taking both perspectives into conversation to find a common ground. At the end of the day, everyone’s goal is the success of the student.

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