An unprecedented number of second-level students are now taking grinds, according to newly released figures. They show that some 70 per cent of Leaving Cert students are receiving grinds.
Remarkably, they also indicate that one-quarter of all first and second year students are taking grinds.
The figures confirm the boom in grinds schools which are now extending out of Dublin into all the main provincial towns.
Earlier this year, the largest grind school in the State, the Institute of Education in Dublin, acquired its main rival, Bruce College, in a multi-million euro deal.
The latest survey figures are seen as a reliable indicator of trends in the sector. Over 1,000 second-level students were polled by Student Enrichment Services, which provide study skills courses in schools across the State.
At Leaving Cert level, about three-quarters of girls take grinds while two-thirds of boys also opt for additional support.
In recent years girls have been outperforming boys in all the main Leaving Cert subjects.
The subjects most popular for extra tuition are maths, French, English and Irish, in that order.
Student responses revealed that 10 per cent of students availing of extra tuition do so in three or more subjects.
Among the Junior Cert class, almost two-thirds are supplementing their school work with private grinds. Almost three out of every four Junior Cert girls take extra tuition and just under half of Junior Cert boys.
The survey also tracked the number of hours spent doing homework. Rural and female students tended to be more studious than their urban and male counterparts.
Girls in rural areas spend over 14 hours per week on homework. On average, girls spent about 12 hours per week on homework compared to nine hours for boys.
Aside from grinds and homework, the average Leaving Cert student will spend another seven and a half hours studying every week. The most studious girls reside in Galway, while the most studious boys live in Dublin.
The average time spent on study was two and a half hours per week for first years; four hours for second years and over six hours for Junior Cert students.
The survey indicted that just fewer than 20 per cent of all Leaving Certificate students hold a part-time job and that they work approximately eight hours per week. Over 35 per cent of fifth years have a part-time job and they work 10 hours per week on average.
