i hope when i come back you finish your homework

The Best Comebacks When Asked If You’ve Done Your Homework

We’ve all been there. It’s the end of the day and your parent or teacher asks the question: “Did you finish your homework?” You freeze up, scrambling for a response. Maybe you actually did forget to do it amidst the chaos of after-school activities and hanging out with friends. Or maybe you just don’t feel like doing homework right now. Either way, you need a solid comeback, stat!

As an author focused on lifestyle topics for teens and young adults, I often get questions from readers about dealing with the dreaded homework inquiry. So I decided to put together this definitive guide on funny, clever, and even sassy responses you can use when asked this ubiquitous question. Keep reading for some amazing ideas you can try out next time, separated by theme for easy reference.

Funny Excuses About Forgetting Homework

We all forget things sometimes. Play these excuses for laughs or just to buy yourself a bit more time.

• “I sent it to the printer but the paper tray was empty!”
• “It’s still in my locker from yesterday. Oops!”
• “My dog ate it, I swear! He must have grabbed it off my desk when I wasn’t looking.”
• “Funny story…I grabbed all my books but left my completed homework on my bed. My bad!”
• “I finished it! I just…can’t actually find it right now. Minor technical difficulty!”
• “It was in my backpack earlier, but I think the homework goblins took it when I wasn’t looking!”

Snarky, Sassy Responses

Feeling bold? Try one of these snarky comebacks. Use sparingly and proceed with caution!

• “I plead the fifth.”
• “Do you think I would be smart enough to get into Harvard without doing my homework?”
• “Well, I would have finished it if someone hadn’t talked my ear off about their weekend for 20 minutes.”
• “The dog ate my homework and my ability to care.”
• “Funny that you assume I had time to do homework in between my many extracurriculars, social obligations, and micronaps.”
• “I guess you’ll just have to ground me from doing more homework, huh?”

Totally Honest Answers

If you just want to tell it like it is, these super honest responses could work. Pair it with an apology for best results!

• “I just didn’t feel like doing it. My bad.”
• “I kept putting it off last night and ran out of time. I know that was irresponsible.”
• “I forgot it was due today! I’m sorry, I should have written down the due date.”
• “I was so exhausted after soccer practice that I fell asleep doing it. I didn’t mean to not finish it.”
• “You’re right, I got distracted hanging out with friends and didn’t make homework a priority like I should have.”
• “I really have no good excuse. I procrastinated and didn’t manage my time properly. I’ll do better next time.”

Cheeky Punchlines

If you’re feeling punchy, try out one of these unexpected yet funny kickers. Make sure to keep it lighthearted!

• “Did YOU finish MY homework?”
• “I plead the fifth…grade!”
• “Does ‘no’ count as finishing it?”
• “Well, I wrote my name at the top. So technically I started it!”
• “Define ‘finish.’ Like half? A third???”
• “Fun fact: ‘No’ contains 75% of the letters needed to spell ‘finished!'”

Using Humor to Deflect

Rather than lying about your homework habits, injecting some harmless humor into your response is often the best route. Humor humanizes the situation and makes it harder for the other person to stay upset. After all, who can keep scolding someone after they make a joke so ridiculous you can’t help but laugh?

Even just an exaggerated “Uhhhhhh” or “Funny story…” can be enough to crack a smile before you launch into your excuse or apology. And dropping in a playful punchline at the end leaves the conversation on a lighter note.

So don’t be afraid to test out a funny response next time you’re asked the homework question! As long as you keep it respectful and lighthearted, using humor and a cheeky comeback could get you out of a tough spot.

Also Read: Funny Responses to “Do you like ice cream?”

When Is It Okay to Joke About Not Doing Homework?

However, there are some caveats around using humor when asked if you finished your homework. You do need to consider factors like:

• The situation
• Who is asking
• Your relationship with them
• Their sense of humor

It’s generally fine to joke around with friends about homework woes. But how do you know when it’s okay to give a funny response versus when you should be more straightforward?

Here are a few key things to think about first.

Consider the Asker’s Position

• Friends/classmates: Totally fine to joke around! Use humor freely.
• Teachers: Proceed with caution, gauge their sense of humor first. Apologize too.
• Parents: Usually okay to use light humor, especially if you have an easygoing relationship. But don’t be too glib.
• Bosses/mentors: Avoid making jokes and excuses. Take responsibility for not finishing work and apologize.

Gauge the Mood of the Interaction

• Casual chat: Humor is almost always welcome!
• Tense situation: Read the room first. Jokes could make things worse if the other person is angry/frustrated.
• Time crunch: If the asker needs that homework right now, skip the comedy and be direct.

Consider How Often You Use Humor/Excuses

• Rarely forget homework: A joke here and there is no big deal.
• Frequently don’t do homework: Making excuses often instead of taking responsibility looks irresponsible. Dial back the humor.

So in summary—read the situation first, and only pull out the funny homework responses occasionally when appropriate!

Clever Homework Humor You Haven’t Heard Before

Part of landing a solid homework joke is finding unexpected and clever humor. After all, classic excuses like “my dog ate it” get old fast.

To help you get creative, here are some humor techniques to try that add a unique twist:

Exaggerations and Hyperbole

Exaggerate an excuse to ridiculous proportions for silly humor:

“I was kidnapped by homework ninjas before I could finish it!”

Unexpected ‘Facts’

Sound super convincing by stating fake facts and statistics:

“Actually, scientists say 50% of homework gets spontaneously destroyed by homework gremlins. I’m just the unlucky victim this week!”

Candy Theme

Compare homework woes to candy/dessert fails for delicious humor:

“Trying to finish last night was like trying to eat a whole carton of ice cream in one sitting. I hit a wall pretty fast!”

Cheesy wordplay always leaves ’em laughing:

“I penciled it in to do it tonight. But don’t worry, you can essay-ly give me another chance!”

Over-the-top Methods

Explain ridiculously complex plans to remember homework that inevitably failed:

“I tied string around all 10 fingers to remind me about tonight’s assignment, hired a backup friend to text me hourly, AND posted sticky note alerts everywhere. But somehow, I still managed to not finish it!”

IT Troubleshooting

Blame tech using silly IT lingo for an academic spin:

“Well, I tried to open my homework file, but it looks like there was a RAM overload that led to an CPU failure. I think my hard drive crashed? Ugh technology!”

Homework Horror Movie

Set the “tragic” scene by framing homework time like a scary movie:

“I was almost done with question 10 when I sliced my finger open on the paper! Then a giant swarm of math bees flew in through my bedroom window. Eventually I just had to surrender and make a run for it—barely escaping with my life. Man, what a night!”

Also Read: Witty Comebacks for “Is it Raining Today?”

When in Doubt, Apologize Sincerely

At the end of the day, even if you have a clever excuse or witty comeback primed and ready to go, there are still times when you should ditch the jokes completely.

If you legitimately forgot or chose not to make homework a priority, then apologies, accountability, and honesty are better than humor.

Here are some key times when you’re better off apologizing sincerely:

• You use excuses about missing/forgotten homework frequently
• It’s clear the asker is truly frustrated or disappointed
• Your grade is suffering because you consistently don’t do homework
• You’re dealing with someone like a teacher, parent, or boss (instead of a friend)

When you do apologize, make sure you:

• Sincerely say “I’m sorry”
• Admit you should have done things differently
• Recognize how your actions impact others
• Commit to fixing the behavior

Owning up shows maturity, responsibility, and that you genuinely feel remorse.

Then later on, once things have cooled down, you can gently reopen the dialogue about struggles with homework. Is it too challenging, are you overloaded with commitments, or are you just really not a homework person? Communicating about root causes will go a lot better if you take time to sincerely apologize first.

I hope this guide gave you plenty of funny, clever, and creative excuses to try next time someone asks if you finished your latest homework assignment!

Use humor and snark occasionally when appropriate, but make sure you’re also balancing it out by fessing up with sincerity and accountability when needed.

Let me know in the comments below what your favorite homework excuse is! I could use some new material for next time I “forget” an assignment (whoops).

I’m Sarah Koch, and I work as a Relationship Coach in Austin, Texas. I’ve been doing this job for more than 9 years. I studied Sociology and Counseling Psychology at the University of Texas at Austin. My main goal is to help people create strong and happy relationships. I also wrote a book called “Irresistible Texting” to share my ideas on how to have better relationships through texting.

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Mrs & The Misc is a passion project from life coach and mom Sarah Koch. With a background in psychology and years of empowering personal growth, Sarah shares bite-sized wisdom and practical tools for fostering healthy relationships, achieving goals, elevating well-being, and living with intention.

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English Test Present Perfect Simple – Present Perfect Progressive

Test your knowledge on Present Perfect Simple – Present Perfect Progressive. After submitting your answers, you will see how well you have done in the test.

Fill in the correct form (pronoun + verb).

When to use which tense?

• If we want to emphasise the duration of an action, we use ... Present Perfect Simple Present Perfect Progressive
• If we want to tell, how often something has happened so far, we use ... Present Perfect Simple Present Perfect Progressive
• If we want to emphasise the result of an action, we use ... Present Perfect Simple Present Perfect Progressive
• If we want to emphasise that an action is completed now, we use ... Present Perfect Simple Present Perfect Progressive
• If we want to emphasise how we have spent our time, we use ... Present Perfect Simple Present Perfect Progressive

Positive Sentences

Fill in the correct form (Present Perfect Simple or Present Perfect Progressive).

• Sandy (cook) dinner four times this week.
• We (travel) around Scotland for 8 days.
• Why are your hands so dirty? - I (repair) my bike.
• I (read) the book, you can have it back.
• Paul (believe) in God since he was a child.

Negative Sentences

• Sorry for being late. I hope you (wait / not) long.
• My grandparents are coming to see us next weekend. They (visit / not) us for two years.
• She (be / not) on holiday for 3 years.
• I don't want you to drive my car. You (drive / not) a car for ages.
• He (watch / not) TV all afternoon, he only switched the telly on 10 minutes ago.
• How much money (Jack / spend) in the casino?
• How long (she / sit) there?
• How many short messages (send / you) this month?
• (you / empty) the bin yet?
• Lucy, (you / bathe) your dolls? The bathroom floor is absolutely wet.
• Daughter: Mum, Jane (phone / just) to ask if I will go to the cinema with her. May I?
• Mother: (you / do) your homework yet?
• Daughter: Well, I (do) it for about 2 hours now, but I (finish / not) it yet.
• Mother: If you (complete / not) your homework, you cannot go. School comes first. Remember, you (promise) me to study harder this year.
• Daughter: But mum, I (work) really hard this year and I (improve / already) in Maths and Chemistry.
• Mother: But that's only because I (push / always) you to do something.
• Daughter: But I also need a break some time. Look, I (be / not) to the cinema for two months. May I go? Just this once.

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Future Perfect and Future Perfect Continuous

The future continuous and the future perfect belong to the basic grammar group with the most frequency in English. Let's learn about these 2 tenses with English tivi .

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Table of Contents

Definition of Future Perfect and Future Perfect Continuous

The Future Continuous is used to talk about an action in progress at a specified time in the future.

The Future Perfect is used to describe an action that will be completed by a specified time in the future.

Structure of Future Perfect vs Future Perfect Continuous

See More: Future Perfect Tense – English Grammar Tenses

How to use Future Perfect and Future Perfect Continuous

Signal words for the future perfect and future perfect continuous.

See More: Future Perfect Continuous Tense – English Grammar Tenses

Future Perfect and Future Perfect Continuous Exercises

1: I hope it………………..(stop) working by 5 o’clock this afternoon.

2: By next month I………………..(leave) for India.

3: The film………………..(end) by the time we get there.

4: They………………..(build) a house by June next year.

5: I’m sure they………………..(complete) the new road by September.

6: In two years from now, the contract………………..(come) to an end.

7: By the end of December, John………………..(work) as a reporter for ten years.

8: By the time you arrive, I………………..(finish) writing an essay.

9: He certainly………………..(not/do) all his homework by ten tonight.

10: By November I………………..(work) for this company for 6 years.

11: By March 15, I………………..(be) here for one year.

12: By this time next week, he………………..(write) his novel for 6 months.

13: You………………..(finish) your work by 9 tonight?

14: By 2016 we………………..(live) in London for 14 years.

16: He ……………….. (write) this book for 3 months by the end of this week.

17 : ……………….. (finish/you) this project by next week?

18 : ……………….. (be/she) pregnant for 5 months this week?

19: An hour from now I hope I ……………….. (do) all these exercises. We will go to the beach then.

20: When I get my diploma in 2017, I ……………….. (to live) in Hanoi for 2 years.

Read more:   English Grammar

1:  I hope it will have stopped (stop) working by 5 o’clock this afternoon.

2:  By next month I will have left (leave) for India.

3:  The film will have ended (end) by the time we get there.

4:  They will have built (build) a house by June next year.

5:  I’m sure they will have completed (complete) the new road by September.

6:  In two years from now, the contract will have come (come) to an end.

7:  By the end of December, John will have been working (work) as a reporter for ten years.

8:  By the time you arrive, I will have finished (finish) writing an essay.

9:  He certainly won’t have done (not/do) all his homework by ten tonight.

10:  By November I will have been working (work) for this company for 6 years.

11:  By March 15, I will have been (be) here for one year.

12:  By this time next week, he will have been writing (write) his novel for 6 months.

13:  You will have you finished (finish) your work by 9 tonight?

14:  By 2016 we will have been living (live) in London for 14 years.

15:  He will have written (write) a book by the end of the week.

16:  He will have been writing (write) this book for 3 months by the end of this week.

17: Will you have finished (finish/you) this project by next week?

18: Will she have been (be/she) pregnant for 5 months this week?

19:  An hour from now I hope I will have don e (do) all these exercises. We will go to the beach then.

20:  When I get my diploma in 2017, I will have been living (to live) in Hanoi for 2 years.

Future Perfect vs Future Perfect Continuous Exercises PDF

Above are all her sharing about Future Perfect Continuous & Future Perfect Tense . Hope it helps you to understand these 2 tenses and learn effectively!

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Past Continuous Tense | Formula, Signs, Uses, Examples & Exercises

Past Perfect Tense | Formula, Signs, Uses, Examples & Exercises

Present Perfect Continuous Tense | Formula, Signs, Uses, Examples & Exercises 2024

Perfect English Grammar

• I hope that you have a great time.
• I hope that she passed the exam.
• I hope to pass the exam.
• I hope to get there early.
• I hope (that) it's sunny where you are.
• I hope (that) she's having a wonderful time.
• I hope that she comes to the party tomorrow.
• I hope that she'll come to the party tomorrow.
• I hope you can come to the party tomorrow.
• I hope to come to the party tomorrow. (=I hope I can come to the party tomorrow.)
• I hope to run a marathon this year.
• I hope she passed the exam.
• I hope John hasn't got lost.
• I hope Amanda found her keys.
• I hoped you would pass the exam. (But you didn't pass).
• I hoped I'd see Lucy at the meeting. (But I didn't see her.)
• I was hoping you would pass the exam.
• I had hoped you would pass the exam.
• I was hoping to pass the exam, and I would have passed it if I hadn't got sick.
• She always hoped that her son would go to university.
• I got lost in the middle of London and I hoped that I would be able to find my way back to my hotel. (We don't know if the person found the hotel or not.)
• I hope your hair falls out and you lose all your money!

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First Conditional: Examples, Sentences, Exercises

Download free lesson PDF

When do we use the first conditional?

We use the first conditional to talk about results of possible future conditions. Here are some example sentences:

• If it’s sunny tomorrow, I’ll go to the beach.
• If it rains tomorrow, I’ll stay home.
• If she studies hard, she will pass the exam.
• If you finish your chores, you can watch TV.
• If we don’t get to the airport on time, we’ll miss our flight.
• If he doesn’t call me soon, I’ll send him a text message.
• If you save money, you’ll be able to afford that new phone.
• If the restaurant isn’t too crowded, we’ll have dinner there tonight.

Download this lesson

Parts of a first conditional sentence

There are two parts to a first conditional sentence:

• the condition (sometimes called the “if clause”)
• the result  (sometimes called the “main clause”)

It is possible to reverse the condition and the result, with no change in meaning:

• If you don’t study, you’ll fail.
• = You’ll fail if you don’t study.
• If I wake up early enough tomorrow, I’m going to make a big breakfast.
• = I’m going to make a big breakfast if I wake up early enough tomorrow.

Note that when the “if clause” (condition) comes first in the sentence, we use a comma after it. However, when the result comes first in the sentence, then we don’t use a comma between the two clauses.

How to form the first conditional

Pay close attention to the correct verb forms in the condition and result:

CONDITION:  if + subject + present simple

• If we go to the party tomorrow,
• If you don’t leave work soon,
• If she gets promoted,
• If he doesn’t read the textbook,

RESULT:  subject + simple future (will / won’t, going to / not going to)

• we’ll have a good time.
• you’ll get stuck in rush hour traffic.
• she’s going to earn more money.
• he won’t understand the class.

Even though BOTH events are in the future, we always use the simple present  in the condition (“if-clause”).

Avoid the common error of using the simple future in the condition:

• If we will go to the party tomorrow, we’ll have a good time.
• If we  go  to the party tomorrow, we’ll have a good time.
• If it won’t rain tonight, I’ll go for a walk.
• If it doesn’t rain tonight, I’ll go for a walk.

Both the condition and the result can be positive or negative (with “not”):

• If you take the train, you ‘ll get there faster. (positive condition – positive result)
• If you don’t take the train, you ‘ll have to drive. (negative condition – positive result)
• If you take the train, you won’t get stuck in traffic. (positive condition – negative result)
• If you don’t take the train, you won’t need to buy a train ticket. (negative condition – negative result)

First Conditional Quiz

Variations in first conditional sentences, alternative words to “if” in the condition.

It is possible to use other words instead of  if  in the “condition” part of first conditional sentences:

Let’s study each case separately.

WHEN: When the “condition” will definitely happen in the future.

Look at the difference between these two sentences:

• If I see Sam, I’ll give him your message. (I’m not sure if I will see him or not)
• When I see Sam, I’ll give him your message. (I will definitely see Sam)

AS SOON AS: To emphasize immediacy.

• My feet hurt! As soon as I get home, I’m going to take off these high heels.
• As soon as we have enough money saved, we’ll take a vacation to Costa Rica. We can’t wait!
• I’ll respond to your e-mail as soon as I can.

UNLESS: Substitute for “if not.”

• You won’t lose any weight unless you start eating healthier food. = You won’t lose any weight if  you  don’t start eating healthier food.
• I’m not going to dance unless somebody invites me. = I’m not going to dance if somebody doesn’t invite me.
• Unless there’s an emergency at work, I’ll be home on time. = If there’s not an emergency at work, I’ll be home on time.

Alternative words to will / going to in the result

Instead of will / going to, we can use modal verbs like can, might, could, or  should . Compare these two sentences:

• If you go out in the rain, you  will  get wet. (100% certain)
• If you apply for that university, you might/could be accepted. (not 100% certain)

Use  can  in the result of first conditional sentences to give permission / prohibition:

• If you finish your homework, you can watch TV for an hour.
• If you don’t have a ticket, you can’t get into the theater.

Use might/ could  to express a possibility that is not a certainty:

• If he gets home from work early, we could go for a walk before dinner.
• If you try to lift that heavy weight, you  might  hurt yourself.

Use  should  to give advice if the condition happens:

• If your toothache doesn’t get better soon, you should  see a dentist.
• If they go to New York next week, they  should visit the Statue of Liberty.

First Conditional vs. Other Conditionals

First conditional vs. zero conditional.

The zero conditional describes GENERAL truths and facts. Both the condition and result are in the simple present:

• When it rains, the ground gets wet. (it is a general fact/truth)
• If I’m late to school, the teacher always yells at me. (this ALWAYS happens)

The first conditional describes a specific event that will/might happen in the future IF a future condition happens. The condition is in the simple present tense, and the result is in the simple future tense:

• If it rains tomorrow, I’m going to stay home.
• If I’m late to school today, I’ll miss an important test.

First Conditional vs. Second Conditional and Third Conditional

Both the second conditional and third conditional describe IMAGINARY situations.

In the second conditional , we are imagining the result if the present were different:

• If I were a millionaire, I would buy a sports car. (but the reality is that I AM NOT a millionaire, so I’m not buying that car)

In the third conditional, we are imagining the result if the past had been different:

• If I had taken the earlier train, I would have gotten to work on time. (but the reality is that I DID NOT take the earlier train, so I did not get to work on time)

The first conditional describes REAL future results/possibilities that will happen if the condition happens. Compare these conditional sentences:

• First conditional: If I have some free time this weekend, I will read a book. (it’s a real possibility that I’ll have some free time and read a book)
• Second conditional:  If I had more free time, I would take dance classes. (this is just imaginary – the reality is that I don’t have much free time, so I’m not taking dance classes)
• Third conditional:  If I ‘d had more free time yesterday, I would have cleaned the house. (imaginary – the reality is that I didn’t have free time yesterday, so I didn’t clean the house)

Learn more about the first conditional with this tutorial

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Shayna Oliveira is the founder of Espresso English, where you can improve your English fast - even if you don’t have much time to study. Millions of students are learning English from her clear, friendly, and practical lessons! Shayna is a CELTA-certified teacher with 10+ years of experience helping English learners become more fluent in her English courses.

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Sat / act prep online guides and tips, how to do homework: 15 expert tips and tricks.

Coursework/GPA

Everyone struggles with homework sometimes, but if getting your homework done has become a chronic issue for you, then you may need a little extra help. That’s why we’ve written this article all about how to do homework. Once you’re finished reading it, you’ll know how to do homework (and have tons of new ways to motivate yourself to do homework)!

We’ve broken this article down into a few major sections. You’ll find:

• A diagnostic test to help you figure out why you’re struggling with homework
• A discussion of the four major homework problems students face, along with expert tips for addressing them
• A bonus section with tips for how to do homework fast

By the end of this article, you’ll be prepared to tackle whatever homework assignments your teachers throw at you .

So let’s get started!

How to Do Homework: Figure Out Your Struggles 

Sometimes it feels like everything is standing between you and getting your homework done. But the truth is, most people only have one or two major roadblocks that are keeping them from getting their homework done well and on time. 

The best way to figure out how to get motivated to do homework starts with pinpointing the issues that are affecting your ability to get your assignments done. That’s why we’ve developed a short quiz to help you identify the areas where you’re struggling. 

Take the quiz below and record your answers on your phone or on a scrap piece of paper. Keep in mind there are no wrong answers! 

1. You’ve just been assigned an essay in your English class that’s due at the end of the week. What’s the first thing you do?

A. Keep it in mind, even though you won’t start it until the day before it’s due  B. Open up your planner. You’ve got to figure out when you’ll write your paper since you have band practice, a speech tournament, and your little sister’s dance recital this week, too.  C. Groan out loud. Another essay? You could barely get yourself to write the last one!  D. Start thinking about your essay topic, which makes you think about your art project that’s due the same day, which reminds you that your favorite artist might have just posted to Instagram...so you better check your feed right now. 

2. Your mom asked you to pick up your room before she gets home from work. You’ve just gotten home from school. You decide you’ll tackle your chores: 

A. Five minutes before your mom walks through the front door. As long as it gets done, who cares when you start?  B. As soon as you get home from your shift at the local grocery store.  C. After you give yourself a 15-minute pep talk about how you need to get to work.  D. You won’t get it done. Between texts from your friends, trying to watch your favorite Netflix show, and playing with your dog, you just lost track of time! 

3. You’ve signed up to wash dogs at the Humane Society to help earn money for your senior class trip. You: 

A. Show up ten minutes late. You put off leaving your house until the last minute, then got stuck in unexpected traffic on the way to the shelter.  B. Have to call and cancel at the last minute. You forgot you’d already agreed to babysit your cousin and bake cupcakes for tomorrow’s bake sale.  C. Actually arrive fifteen minutes early with extra brushes and bandanas you picked up at the store. You’re passionate about animals, so you’re excited to help out! D. Show up on time, but only get three dogs washed. You couldn’t help it: you just kept getting distracted by how cute they were!

4. You have an hour of downtime, so you decide you’re going to watch an episode of The Great British Baking Show. You: 

A. Scroll through your social media feeds for twenty minutes before hitting play, which means you’re not able to finish the whole episode. Ugh! You really wanted to see who was sent home!  B. Watch fifteen minutes until you remember you’re supposed to pick up your sister from band practice before heading to your part-time job. No GBBO for you!  C. You finish one episode, then decide to watch another even though you’ve got SAT studying to do. It’s just more fun to watch people make scones.  D. Start the episode, but only catch bits and pieces of it because you’re reading Twitter, cleaning out your backpack, and eating a snack at the same time.

5. Your teacher asks you to stay after class because you’ve missed turning in two homework assignments in a row. When she asks you what’s wrong, you say: 

A. You planned to do your assignments during lunch, but you ran out of time. You decided it would be better to turn in nothing at all than submit unfinished work.  B. You really wanted to get the assignments done, but between your extracurriculars, family commitments, and your part-time job, your homework fell through the cracks.  C. You have a hard time psyching yourself to tackle the assignments. You just can’t seem to find the motivation to work on them once you get home.  D. You tried to do them, but you had a hard time focusing. By the time you realized you hadn’t gotten anything done, it was already time to turn them in. 

Like we said earlier, there are no right or wrong answers to this quiz (though your results will be better if you answered as honestly as possible). Here’s how your answers break down: 

• If your answers were mostly As, then your biggest struggle with doing homework is procrastination. 
• If your answers were mostly Bs, then your biggest struggle with doing homework is time management. 
• If your answers were mostly Cs, then your biggest struggle with doing homework is motivation. 
• If your answers were mostly Ds, then your biggest struggle with doing homework is getting distracted. 

Now that you’ve identified why you’re having a hard time getting your homework done, we can help you figure out how to fix it! Scroll down to find your core problem area to learn more about how you can start to address it. 

And one more thing: you’re really struggling with homework, it’s a good idea to read through every section below. You may find some additional tips that will help make homework less intimidating. 

How to Do Homework When You’re a Procrastinator  

Merriam Webster defines “procrastinate” as “to put off intentionally and habitually.” In other words, procrastination is when you choose to do something at the last minute on a regular basis. If you’ve ever found yourself pulling an all-nighter, trying to finish an assignment between periods, or sprinting to turn in a paper minutes before a deadline, you’ve experienced the effects of procrastination. 

If you’re a chronic procrastinator, you’re in good company. In fact, one study found that 70% to 95% of undergraduate students procrastinate when it comes to doing their homework. Unfortunately, procrastination can negatively impact your grades. Researchers have found that procrastination can lower your grade on an assignment by as much as five points ...which might not sound serious until you realize that can mean the difference between a B- and a C+. 

Procrastination can also negatively affect your health by increasing your stress levels , which can lead to other health conditions like insomnia, a weakened immune system, and even heart conditions. Getting a handle on procrastination can not only improve your grades, it can make you feel better, too! 

The big thing to understand about procrastination is that it’s not the result of laziness. Laziness is defined as being “disinclined to activity or exertion.” In other words, being lazy is all about doing nothing. But a s this Psychology Today article explains , procrastinators don’t put things off because they don’t want to work. Instead, procrastinators tend to postpone tasks they don’t want to do in favor of tasks that they perceive as either more important or more fun. Put another way, procrastinators want to do things...as long as it’s not their homework! 

3 Tips f or Conquering Procrastination 

Because putting off doing homework is a common problem, there are lots of good tactics for addressing procrastination. Keep reading for our three expert tips that will get your homework habits back on track in no time. 

#1: Create a Reward System

Like we mentioned earlier, procrastination happens when you prioritize other activities over getting your homework done. Many times, this happens because homework...well, just isn’t enjoyable. But you can add some fun back into the process by rewarding yourself for getting your work done. 

Here’s what we mean: let’s say you decide that every time you get your homework done before the day it’s due, you’ll give yourself a point. For every five points you earn, you’ll treat yourself to your favorite dessert: a chocolate cupcake! Now you have an extra (delicious!) incentive to motivate you to leave procrastination in the dust. 

If you’re not into cupcakes, don’t worry. Your reward can be anything that motivates you . Maybe it’s hanging out with your best friend or an extra ten minutes of video game time. As long as you’re choosing something that makes homework worth doing, you’ll be successful. 

#2: Have a Homework Accountability Partner 

If you’re having trouble getting yourself to start your homework ahead of time, it may be a good idea to call in reinforcements . Find a friend or classmate you can trust and explain to them that you’re trying to change your homework habits. Ask them if they’d be willing to text you to make sure you’re doing your homework and check in with you once a week to see if you’re meeting your anti-procrastination goals. 

Sharing your goals can make them feel more real, and an accountability partner can help hold you responsible for your decisions. For example, let’s say you’re tempted to put off your science lab write-up until the morning before it’s due. But you know that your accountability partner is going to text you about it tomorrow...and you don’t want to fess up that you haven’t started your assignment. A homework accountability partner can give you the extra support and incentive you need to keep your homework habits on track. 

#3: Create Your Own Due Dates 

If you’re a life-long procrastinator, you might find that changing the habit is harder than you expected. In that case, you might try using procrastination to your advantage! If you just can’t seem to stop doing your work at the last minute, try setting your own due dates for assignments that range from a day to a week before the assignment is actually due. 

Here’s what we mean. Let’s say you have a math worksheet that’s been assigned on Tuesday and is due on Friday. In your planner, you can write down the due date as Thursday instead. You may still put off your homework assignment until the last minute...but in this case, the “last minute” is a day before the assignment’s real due date . This little hack can trick your procrastination-addicted brain into planning ahead! 

If you feel like Kevin Hart in this meme, then our tips for doing homework when you're busy are for you. 

How to Do Homework When You’re too Busy

If you’re aiming to go to a top-tier college , you’re going to have a full plate. Because college admissions is getting more competitive, it’s important that you’re maintaining your grades , studying hard for your standardized tests , and participating in extracurriculars so your application stands out. A packed schedule can get even more hectic once you add family obligations or a part-time job to the mix. 

If you feel like you’re being pulled in a million directions at once, you’re not alone. Recent research has found that stress—and more severe stress-related conditions like anxiety and depression— are a major problem for high school students . In fact, one study from the American Psychological Association found that during the school year, students’ stress levels are higher than those of the adults around them. 

For students, homework is a major contributor to their overall stress levels . Many high schoolers have multiple hours of homework every night , and figuring out how to fit it into an already-packed schedule can seem impossible. 

3 Tips for Fitting Homework Into Your Busy Schedule

While it might feel like you have literally no time left in your schedule, there are still ways to make sure you’re able to get your homework done and meet your other commitments. Here are our expert homework tips for even the busiest of students. 

#1: Make a Prioritized To-Do List 

You probably already have a to-do list to keep yourself on track. The next step is to prioritize the items on your to-do list so you can see what items need your attention right away. 

Here’s how it works: at the beginning of each day, sit down and make a list of all the items you need to get done before you go to bed. This includes your homework, but it should also take into account any practices, chores, events, or job shifts you may have. Once you get everything listed out, it’s time to prioritize them using the labels A, B, and C. Here’s what those labels mean:

• A Tasks : tasks that have to get done—like showing up at work or turning in an assignment—get an A. 
• B Tasks : these are tasks that you would like to get done by the end of the day but aren’t as time sensitive. For example, studying for a test you have next week could be a B-level task. It’s still important, but it doesn’t have to be done right away.
• C Tasks: these are tasks that aren’t very important and/or have no real consequences if you don’t get them done immediately. For instance, if you’re hoping to clean out your closet but it’s not an assigned chore from your parents, you could label that to-do item with a C.

Prioritizing your to-do list helps you visualize which items need your immediate attention, and which items you can leave for later. A prioritized to-do list ensures that you’re spending your time efficiently and effectively, which helps you make room in your schedule for homework. So even though you might really want to start making decorations for Homecoming (a B task), you’ll know that finishing your reading log (an A task) is more important. 

#2: Use a Planner With Time Labels

Your planner is probably packed with notes, events, and assignments already. (And if you’re not using a planner, it’s time to start!) But planners can do more for you than just remind you when an assignment is due. If you’re using a planner with time labels, it can help you visualize how you need to spend your day.

A planner with time labels breaks your day down into chunks, and you assign tasks to each chunk of time. For example, you can make a note of your class schedule with assignments, block out time to study, and make sure you know when you need to be at practice. Once you know which tasks take priority, you can add them to any empty spaces in your day. 

Planning out how you spend your time not only helps you use it wisely, it can help you feel less overwhelmed, too . We’re big fans of planners that include a task list ( like this one ) or have room for notes ( like this one ). 

#3: Set Reminders on Your Phone 

If you need a little extra nudge to make sure you’re getting your homework done on time, it’s a good idea to set some reminders on your phone. You don’t need a fancy app, either. You can use your alarm app to have it go off at specific times throughout the day to remind you to do your homework. This works especially well if you have a set homework time scheduled. So if you’ve decided you’re doing homework at 6:00 pm, you can set an alarm to remind you to bust out your books and get to work. 

If you use your phone as your planner, you may have the option to add alerts, emails, or notifications to scheduled events . Many calendar apps, including the one that comes with your phone, have built-in reminders that you can customize to meet your needs. So if you block off time to do your homework from 4:30 to 6:00 pm, you can set a reminder that will pop up on your phone when it’s time to get started. 

This dog isn't judging your lack of motivation...but your teacher might. Keep reading for tips to help you motivate yourself to do your homework.

How to Do Homework When You’re Unmotivated 

At first glance, it may seem like procrastination and being unmotivated are the same thing. After all, both of these issues usually result in you putting off your homework until the very last minute. 

But there’s one key difference: many procrastinators are working, they’re just prioritizing work differently. They know they’re going to start their homework...they’re just going to do it later. 

Conversely, people who are unmotivated to do homework just can’t find the willpower to tackle their assignments. Procrastinators know they’ll at least attempt the homework at the last minute, whereas people who are unmotivated struggle with convincing themselves to do it at a ll. For procrastinators, the stress comes from the inevitable time crunch. For unmotivated people, the stress comes from trying to convince themselves to do something they don’t want to do in the first place. 

Here are some common reasons students are unmotivated in doing homework : 

• Assignments are too easy, too hard, or seemingly pointless 
• Students aren’t interested in (or passionate about) the subject matter
• Students are intimidated by the work and/or feels like they don’t understand the assignment 
• Homework isn’t fun, and students would rather spend their time on things that they enjoy 

To sum it up: people who lack motivation to do their homework are more likely to not do it at all, or to spend more time worrying about doing their homework than...well, actually doing it.

3 Tips for How to Get Motivated to Do Homework

The key to getting homework done when you’re unmotivated is to figure out what does motivate you, then apply those things to homework. It sounds tricky...but it’s pretty simple once you get the hang of it! Here are our three expert tips for motivating yourself to do your homework. 

#1: Use Incremental Incentives

When you’re not motivated, it’s important to give yourself small rewards to stay focused on finishing the task at hand. The trick is to keep the incentives small and to reward yourself often. For example, maybe you’re reading a good book in your free time. For every ten minutes you spend on your homework, you get to read five pages of your book. Like we mentioned earlier, make sure you’re choosing a reward that works for you! 

So why does this technique work? Using small rewards more often allows you to experience small wins for getting your work done. Every time you make it to one of your tiny reward points, you get to celebrate your success, which gives your brain a boost of dopamine . Dopamine helps you stay motivated and also creates a feeling of satisfaction when you complete your homework !  

#2: Form a Homework Group 

If you’re having trouble motivating yourself, it’s okay to turn to others for support. Creating a homework group can help with this. Bring together a group of your friends or classmates, and pick one time a week where you meet and work on homework together. You don’t have to be in the same class, or even taking the same subjects— the goal is to encourage one another to start (and finish!) your assignments. 

Another added benefit of a homework group is that you can help one another if you’re struggling to understand the material covered in your classes. This is especially helpful if your lack of motivation comes from being intimidated by your assignments. Asking your friends for help may feel less scary than talking to your teacher...and once you get a handle on the material, your homework may become less frightening, too. 

#3: Change Up Your Environment 

If you find that you’re totally unmotivated, it may help if you find a new place to do your homework. For example, if you’ve been struggling to get your homework done at home, try spending an extra hour in the library after school instead. The change of scenery can limit your distractions and give you the energy you need to get your work done. 

If you’re stuck doing homework at home, you can still use this tip. For instance, maybe you’ve always done your homework sitting on your bed. Try relocating somewhere else, like your kitchen table, for a few weeks. You may find that setting up a new “homework spot” in your house gives you a motivational lift and helps you get your work done. 

Social media can be a huge problem when it comes to doing homework. We have advice for helping you unplug and regain focus.

How to Do Homework When You’re Easily Distracted

We live in an always-on world, and there are tons of things clamoring for our attention. From friends and family to pop culture and social media, it seems like there’s always something (or someone!) distracting us from the things we need to do.

The 24/7 world we live in has affected our ability to focus on tasks for prolonged periods of time. Research has shown that over the past decade, an average person’s attention span has gone from 12 seconds to eight seconds . And when we do lose focus, i t takes people a long time to get back on task . One study found that it can take as long as 23 minutes to get back to work once we’ve been distracte d. No wonder it can take hours to get your homework done! 

3 Tips to Improve Your Focus

If you have a hard time focusing when you’re doing your homework, it’s a good idea to try and eliminate as many distractions as possible. Here are three expert tips for blocking out the noise so you can focus on getting your homework done. 

#1: Create a Distraction-Free Environment

Pick a place where you’ll do your homework every day, and make it as distraction-free as possible. Try to find a location where there won’t be tons of noise, and limit your access to screens while you’re doing your homework. Put together a focus-oriented playlist (or choose one on your favorite streaming service), and put your headphones on while you work. 

You may find that other people, like your friends and family, are your biggest distraction. If that’s the case, try setting up some homework boundaries. Let them know when you’ll be working on homework every day, and ask them if they’ll help you keep a quiet environment. They’ll be happy to lend a hand! 

#2: Limit Your Access to Technology 

We know, we know...this tip isn’t fun, but it does work. For homework that doesn’t require a computer, like handouts or worksheets, it’s best to put all your technology away . Turn off your television, put your phone and laptop in your backpack, and silence notifications on any wearable tech you may be sporting. If you listen to music while you work, that’s fine...but make sure you have a playlist set up so you’re not shuffling through songs once you get started on your homework. 

If your homework requires your laptop or tablet, it can be harder to limit your access to distractions. But it’s not impossible! T here are apps you can download that will block certain websites while you’re working so that you’re not tempted to scroll through Twitter or check your Facebook feed. Silence notifications and text messages on your computer, and don’t open your email account unless you absolutely have to. And if you don’t need access to the internet to complete your assignments, turn off your WiFi. Cutting out the online chatter is a great way to make sure you’re getting your homework done. 

#3: Set a Timer (the Pomodoro Technique)

Have you ever heard of the Pomodoro technique ? It’s a productivity hack that uses a timer to help you focus!

Here’s how it works: first, set a timer for 25 minutes. This is going to be your work time. During this 25 minutes, all you can do is work on whatever homework assignment you have in front of you. No email, no text messaging, no phone calls—just homework. When that timer goes off, you get to take a 5 minute break. Every time you go through one of these cycles, it’s called a “pomodoro.” For every four pomodoros you complete, you can take a longer break of 15 to 30 minutes.

The pomodoro technique works through a combination of boundary setting and rewards. First, it gives you a finite amount of time to focus, so you know that you only have to work really hard for 25 minutes. Once you’ve done that, you’re rewarded with a short break where you can do whatever you want. Additionally, tracking how many pomodoros you complete can help you see how long you’re really working on your homework. (Once you start using our focus tips, you may find it doesn’t take as long as you thought!)

Two Bonus Tips for How to Do Homework Fast

Even if you’re doing everything right, there will be times when you just need to get your homework done as fast as possible. (Why do teachers always have projects due in the same week? The world may never know.)

The problem with speeding through homework is that it’s easy to make mistakes. While turning in an assignment is always better than not submitting anything at all, you want to make sure that you’re not compromising quality for speed. Simply put, the goal is to get your homework done quickly and still make a good grade on the assignment! 

Here are our two bonus tips for getting a decent grade on your homework assignments , even when you’re in a time crunch. 

#1: Do the Easy Parts First 

This is especially true if you’re working on a handout with multiple questions. Before you start working on the assignment, read through all the questions and problems. As you do, make a mark beside the questions you think are “easy” to answer . 

Once you’ve finished going through the whole assignment, you can answer these questions first. Getting the easy questions out of the way as quickly as possible lets you spend more time on the trickier portions of your homework, which will maximize your assignment grade. 

(Quick note: this is also a good strategy to use on timed assignments and tests, like the SAT and the ACT !) 

#2: Pay Attention in Class 

Homework gets a lot easier when you’re actively learning the material. Teachers aren’t giving you homework because they’re mean or trying to ruin your weekend... it’s because they want you to really understand the course material. Homework is designed to reinforce what you’re already learning in class so you’ll be ready to tackle harder concepts later.

When you pay attention in class, ask questions, and take good notes, you’re absorbing the information you’ll need to succeed on your homework assignments. (You’re stuck in class anyway, so you might as well make the most of it!) Not only will paying attention in class make your homework less confusing, it will also help it go much faster, too.

What’s Next?

If you’re looking to improve your productivity beyond homework, a good place to begin is with time management. After all, we only have so much time in a day...so it’s important to get the most out of it! To get you started, check out this list of the 12 best time management techniques that you can start using today.

You may have read this article because homework struggles have been affecting your GPA. Now that you’re on the path to homework success, it’s time to start being proactive about raising your grades. This article teaches you everything you need to know about raising your GPA so you can

Now you know how to get motivated to do homework...but what about your study habits? Studying is just as critical to getting good grades, and ultimately getting into a good college . We can teach you how to study bette r in high school. (We’ve also got tons of resources to help you study for your ACT and SAT exams , too!)

These recommendations are based solely on our knowledge and experience. If you purchase an item through one of our links, PrepScholar may receive a commission.

Ashley Sufflé Robinson has a Ph.D. in 19th Century English Literature. As a content writer for PrepScholar, Ashley is passionate about giving college-bound students the in-depth information they need to get into the school of their dreams.

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How to Do Your Homework on Time if You're a Procrastinator

Last Updated: May 10, 2024 Fact Checked

This article was co-authored by Katie Styzek . Katie Styzek is a Professional School Counselor for Chicago Public Schools. Katie earned a BS in Elementary Education with a Concentration in Mathematics from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign. She served as a middle school mathematics, science, and social studies teacher for three years prior to becoming a counselor. She holds a Master of Education (M.Ed.) in School Counseling from DePaul University and an MA in Educational Leadership from Northeastern Illinois University. Katie holds an Illinois School Counselor Endorsement License (Type 73 Service Personnel), an Illinois Principal License (formerly Type 75), and an Illinois Elementary Education Teaching License (Type 03, K – 9). She is also Nationally Board Certified in School Counseling from the National Board for Professional Teaching Standards. There are 9 references cited in this article, which can be found at the bottom of the page. This article has been fact-checked, ensuring the accuracy of any cited facts and confirming the authority of its sources. This article has been viewed 552,910 times.

Procrastinating on your homework assignments can make school more stressful and can hurt your grade if you're always finishing homework at the last minute. Once you learn a few techniques to beat procrastination can make homework much easier for you! By keeping organized, setting specific goals, and asking for help, you can transform yourself into an academic star who still has time to watch TV and catch up with friends on Facebook.

Getting Organized

Establishing a Routine

• Set an alarm on your phone to remind you when to get back to work!

Setting Goals

• Very few people can actually work effectively with music playing. If you like to listen to music while you work but find you aren't getting anything done, try going without it for an hour to see if your concentration improves.

Asking for Help

• This doesn't work for everybody. If you find another person distracting, quit working with them.

How Can I Stop Procrastinating?

Community Q&A

Reader Videos

• Good health can improve your study habits and can help you retain what you learn. Exercise, eat well, get plenty of sleep, and skip the alcohol and caffeine. Thanks Helpful 0 Not Helpful 0
• Ask your parents or a friend to keep your smartphone so you don't get distracted. Thanks Helpful 0 Not Helpful 0
• Try to set an alarm or a task reminder in your phone. Thanks Helpful 0 Not Helpful 0

• Even the best students know that they can't work all of the time. Allow some relaxation time for yourself, particularly on the weekends. Good study habits make you work smarter, not harder. Thanks Helpful 120 Not Helpful 9

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• ↑ Katie Styzek. Professional School Counselor. Expert Interview. 26 March 2021.
• ↑ https://www.grammarly.com/blog/how-to-stop-procrastinating/
• ↑ https://kidshealth.org/en/teens/focused.html
• ↑ https://kidshealth.org/en/teens/homework.html
• ↑ https://childmind.org/article/strategies-to-make-homework-go-more-smoothly/
• ↑ https://learningcenter.unc.edu/tips-and-tools/take-charge-of-distractions/
• ↑ Ted Coopersmith, MBA. Academic Tutor. Expert Interview. 10 July 2020.
• ↑ https://kidshealth.org/en/parents/school-help-teens.html
• ↑ https://blogs.iu.edu/dbauman/2018/12/18/homework-writing-tips-for-college-students/

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Did you complete your work/finish (homework

• Thread starter English nerd
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• Oct 30, 2018

sound shift

I would say "Have you done your homework?" or "Have you finished your homework?"  

In BE we would use the present perfect: Have you done your homework?  

Hermione Golightly

It is not usual to use 'complete' when we are talking about everyday things. (It often doesn't have the same meaning as 'finished'.)  

• Aug 1, 2021

Hermione Golightly said: It is not usual to use 'complete' when we are talking about everyday things. (It often doesn't have the same meaning as 'finished'.) Click to expand...

Roymalika said: Hi Hermione, you mean you find a difference between "Have you completed you homework?" and "Have you finished your homework?"? If yes, could you let me know what it is, please? Click to expand...

Luca Tufo said: You can complete a task, a project but I don't think you can complete your homework. Click to expand...

I'd use 'do' or 'finish,' not 'complete.' And although I'd probably use the past, the present perfect would also sound fine in this case.  

Roxxxannne said: I'd use 'do' or 'finish,' not 'complete.' Click to expand...

Nothing's grammatically wrong with it, but "complete my homework" is not idiomatic to me.  

It’s not idiomatic. That’s all. It would make perfect sense, but it would sound odd. It would suggest that you meant: did you complete the homework that you’d already started and then left unfinished?