* Student's learning style: Some students learn best through independent practice reinforced by homework, while others may find homework repetitive or counterproductive. For the latter group, eliminating homework might improve grades.
* Quality of homework assignments: Meaningless or busywork assignments can detract from learning and lead to frustration, potentially lowering grades. High-quality, engaging homework can be beneficial.
* Classroom instruction: If classroom instruction is thorough and engaging, homework might be less crucial for reinforcing learning. Conversely, inadequate classroom instruction might necessitate homework to fill in gaps.
* Student's time management and self-discipline: Students who struggle with time management or procrastination might actually benefit from the structure homework provides. Eliminating homework might lead to less study overall and thus worse grades.
* Subject matter: Some subjects lend themselves to independent practice better than others. Math, for example, often benefits from practice problems, while creative writing might be stifled by assigned homework.
In short, the impact of homework on grades is highly individual and depends on many interacting factors. The absence of homework doesn't automatically guarantee better grades, and it might even hurt grades for some students.