New report ... The amount of homework teens are doing could be widening socio-economic inequalities. Picture: Thinkstock Source: News Limited

New research by the Programme for International Student Assessment has found in most OECD countries, including Australia, teenagers from wealthy socio-economic backgrounds are doing significantly more homework than kids from poorer backgrounds.

Worsening socio-economic inequalities ... Wealthier kids across the OECD are doing about 1.6 hours more homework a week on average. Picture: Supplied. Source: Supplied

The research also revealed 15-year-olds in Kazakhstan are spending about one hour more on homework each week compared to Australian high school students, who on average do about six hours a week.

Students in Russia, Romania, Singapore and Italy are also spending more time on after school work than Australian teenagers, while 15-year-olds in Shanghai are the most studious — spending on average 14 hours a week on homework.

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Studious ... 15-year-olds in Kazakhstan are doing more homework than 15-year-olds in Australia. Picture: Supplied. Source: Supplied

The PISA report found the amount of homework high school students do may “have the unintended consequences of widening the performance gap between students from different socio-economic backgrounds”.

The report said in every OECD country surveyed, teens from wealthier backgrounds were doing more homework than their disadvantaged peers, spending an extra 1.6 hours a week on after-hours school work.

PISA warns homework could be having the unintended consequence of widening inequalities. Picture: Supplied. Source: Supplied

Australian kids from disadvantaged backgrounds spend just less than five hours completing their homework each week, the research found, while their classmates from more socio-economically advantaged backgrounds are spending closer to 7.5 hours on homework.

The PISA report warns homework can be “particularly burdensome” for disadvantaged students.

“They may not have a quiet place to study at home or as much time to do homework due to family and work responsibilities,” it suggests.

Lagging behind but does it matter ... A tired Australian teenage student. Thinkstock. Picture: Thinkstock Source: News Limited

“Their parents may not feel as capable of guiding, motivating and supporting their children as they do their homework because of work obligations, a lack of resources and other factors.”