Abstract: Adopted 3×3 mixed design, used computer to show all the stimuli and to record Ss’ reaction, with different related pair-words, by cue-recall means, this study investigated the development of elementary school students on allocation of study time under three different time limits. The results as follow: (1) All children allocated different time for different item under three different time limits. (2) The time difference among different items is getting larger with age. (3) For the easy item, the time children allocated on the short time limit is longest, and the time is getting shorter with age; for the harder item, the relative time children allocated on three time limits are almost same, and there is no change with age; for the most hard item, the relative time children allocated on the mid-time limit and without time limit is much longer than short time limit, and the tendency is getting larger with age. It implicates that children chose different standards for different tasks, and had different time allocations. The result supports the theory “norm-affects-allocation”. (4) The accuracy of children’s retrieving is getting better and better with the age, and time limit (time longer , accuracy is better)

Key words: allocation of study time, development, short time limit, mid-time limit, without time limit