Background: The growing interest among researchers concerning how to use assessment to enhance students' learning as well as to improve instruction provided the impetus for this review of teachers' assessment activities related to homework. Purpose and method: The purpose was to bring together and critically examine the evidence in a way that illuminates research findings firstly on homework related to formative assessment, and secondly to relate research findings on homework to teachers' classroom work to formative assessment, and finally to complement existing international research by examining findings from Sweden. International peer-reviewed articles as well as doctoral theses, reviewed anthologies, encyclopaedias, international reports, and handbooks were used. Findings and conclusions: Findings show a gap in the research field of homework, especially in relation to formative assessment. Various research findings point to the importance of exploring the quality of homework. Research on how to assign and assess homework must consider the problems and conflicts that homework causes students, parents and teachers. Research is also needed to illuminate issues related to conditions for equity in relation to homework and feedback.