you finished a fourth of your homework in 45 minutes

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How to Calculate Elapsed Time

• Calculating the elapsed time means to find the difference between two times.
• To calculate the elapsed time, it is easiest to count up in hours.
• First find the number of minutes from the earliest time to the next hour by subtracting the number of minutes in the earliest time from 60.
• Count up in hours until the hour before the final time.
• Then read the number of minutes from this hour until the final time.
• Here, there are 40 minutes until 09:00, 1 hour until 10:00 and then 15 minutes from 10:00 until 10:15.
• Adding the minutes, we have 1 hour 55 minutes.

• The start and end times are labelled on the end of a time line.
• Between 11:45 and 15:11 are the hours of 12:00, 13:00, 14:00 and 15:00, which are marked on the time line.
• We subtract the 45 minutes of 11:45 from 60 minutes to get 15 minutes. There are 15 minutes from 11:45 to 12:00.
• Between 12:00 and 15:00 there are 3 hours.
• From 15:00 to 15:11 there are 11 minutes.
• We add the minutes together. 15 + 11 = 26 minutes in total.
• The elapsed time is 3 hours 26 minutes.

• Minutes in an Hour and Hours in a Day
• How to Read a Clock
• Subtraction Without Regrouping

Elapsed Time Worksheets and Answers

Elapsed Time

How to calculate the elapsed time.

• Count the number of minutes from the first time to the hour that comes after it.
• Count on in hours until the hour immediately before the final time.
• Count the number of minutes from this hour until the final time.
• Add the hours and minutes to find a total.

Examples of Calculating Elapsed Time

Elapsed Time Using Subtraction

The Formula for Calculating Elapsed Time

Elapsed Time on a Number Line

Elapsed Time Word Problems

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How to Finish Homework Fast: 7 Proven Ways

Welcome to The Knowledge Nest, your go-to resource for all things related to education, productivity, and personal growth. In today's fast-paced world, managing homework efficiently is vital for academic success. In this article, we will explore seven proven techniques to help you finish your homework quickly and effectively.

1. Create a Structured Study Schedule

When it comes to completing homework efficiently, having a structured study schedule is crucial. Designate specific time slots for each subject or assignment, and stick to the schedule. This approach not only helps you stay organized but also ensures a dedicated focus on each task at hand. Remember to include short breaks in your schedule to recharge and prevent burnout.

2. Eliminate Distractions

Distractions are the enemies of productivity. To finish homework fast, create an optimal learning environment by minimizing distractions. Find a quiet and well-lit space, away from televisions, phones, and other potential disruptions. Consider using productivity apps or website blockers to limit access to social media and other time-consuming websites during study hours.

3. Break Down Tasks into Smaller Chunks

Homework tasks can sometimes feel overwhelming, especially when they appear large or complex. To overcome this, break down your assignments into smaller, more manageable chunks. Start with the most important or challenging parts and gradually work your way through the rest. This approach helps you maintain focus and boosts your motivation as you accomplish smaller milestones along the way.

4. Use Effective Study Techniques

Adopting effective study techniques can significantly enhance your homework completion speed. Experiment with various methods such as active reading, summarizing key concepts, creating mind maps, or using mnemonic devices. Find what works best for you and incorporate these techniques into your study routine.

5. Prioritize and Organize

Not all homework assignments are created equal. Some tasks may carry more weight in terms of grades or deadlines. Prioritize your assignments based on their importance and due dates. By focusing on high-priority tasks first, you ensure that you have enough time to complete them thoroughly. Additionally, staying organized with materials, notes, and deadlines prevents unnecessary delays and confusion.

6. Seek Help, Collaborate, and Clarify

Homework often presents challenges or questions that may require additional assistance. Don't hesitate to seek help when needed. Reach out to your classmates, teachers, or online communities for clarification or guidance. Collaborating with peers can also lead to fresh insights and a deeper understanding of the subject matter.

7. Take Breaks and Practice Self-Care

While it may seem counterintuitive, taking regular breaks and practicing self-care can significantly improve your homework productivity. Studies have shown that short breaks between study sessions actually enhance focus and retention rates. Engage in activities that help you relax, such as exercising, meditating, or pursuing hobbies. Remember to prioritize sleep and maintain a healthy lifestyle as it directly impacts your cognitive abilities and overall well-being.

By implementing these seven proven techniques, you can streamline your homework process, save time, and achieve better results. Remember, consistent practice and perseverance are key to success. Stay motivated, stay focused, and make the most out of your learning journey at The Knowledge Nest.

If you are looking for more tips, expert advice, or educational resources, explore our website further. The Knowledge Nest is dedicated to supporting students, parents, and educators in their pursuit of knowledge and personal growth.

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How to Finish Your Homework

Last Updated: March 2, 2024 Fact Checked

This article was co-authored by Emily Listmann, MA . Emily Listmann is a private tutor in San Carlos, California. She has worked as a Social Studies Teacher, Curriculum Coordinator, and an SAT Prep Teacher. She received her MA in Education from the Stanford Graduate School of Education in 2014. There are 17 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 280,497 times.

While studying can differ for different age groups, many of the things that get in the way are the same. Whether it's your environment or time management skills, it easy for things to discourage you from finishing your homework. With a little organization and help, your homework can become approachable.

Managing Your Time

• For instance, try setting aside a time you know you can work well such as an hour or 2 before dinner, or if you're a night owl, after dinner.

• Work in hour blocks, with 50 minutes spent studying and 10 minutes spent taking a break.
• It can also be helpful to move around when you are taking your break, especially if you are working at a screen. Go for a walk outside to get your blood circulating and enjoy some fresh air.
• You might also want to eat a healthy snack on your break to improve your focus. Avoid junk food and choose something like a handful of nuts, a piece of fruit, veggies, or a small portion of cottage cheese.

• Identify which assignments are worth the most points for each class. Most likely these will take the longest to complete. [5] X Research source
• Consider how long you have to do each project, and if possible, see when the assignment is introduced. Oftentimes, primary and secondary school classes do not have syllabi, so it might be harder to plan out an entire term, but if you are in college, you will most likely have a syllabus with at least a partial course schedule. Knowing how long you have to complete an assignment will help you prioritize which assignments to do first. You can also ask the teacher how long you have to complete an assignment. [6] X Research source

• Use highlighters or stickers to mark which assignments are most important.
• If you're using an online or mobile schedule, create alerts or notifications for the projects and any time-sensitive steps for those projects.

• Don't let a big project overshadow the smaller assignments you need to complete!

• Assignment outlines can help you visualize the necessary tasks to get the assignment done.

Creating a Productive Work Environment

• A desk or table would be a better location than a couch or a bed.

• Turn your phone off or on silent (not vibrate). It might be best to put the phone out of sight, or in another room while you work, as the temptation to text or get on social media can be as much of a distraction as actually using social media.
• Use an app that blocks social media. There are plenty of applications out there that can help block social media and other distracting sites (such as shopping or gaming sites). [10] X Trustworthy Source Pew Research Center Nonpartisan thinktank conducting research and providing information on public opinion, demographic trends, and social trends Go to source

• Use a white noise app to block out noise.
• Use earplugs or noise-blocking earmuffs. [12] X Research source
• Work in a quiet place, such as a library or a home office, if you have one.
• Avoid listening to music while studying. Studies have shown that although listening to music while studying lowers overall performance, this does not affect everyone equally. [13] X Research source However listening to music before studying has been shown to improve performance on cognitive tasks. [14] X Research source

Using Your Resources

• If you're too afraid to ask a teacher during class, see if you can stay behind to ask your questions.

• First, contact your school to see if there are any after-school tutoring programs. While not all primary and secondary schools offer tutoring, a vast majority of universities do. If your school does not offer tutoring, they may know of other resources for you to contact.
• Then, contact your library to see if they offer any tutoring. [18] X Research source
• In some areas, there may also be free community tutoring programs. Contact your local community center for more information.
• There are plenty of private tutors out there as well, but they can be costly (ranging from $20 to $100 an hour). [19] X Research source You can find tutors online through a number of websites, such as Craigslist or Angie's list.

• If you need to work at a library after school, ask your parents or search the web to find your local library.

Supercharge Your Studying with this Expert Series

Community Q&A

Reader Videos

Share a quick video tip and help bring articles to life with your friendly advice. Your insights could make a real difference and help millions of people!

• Don't feel too stressed or you'll be doing less work than you actually can. Thanks Helpful 7 Not Helpful 2
• Make sure you’re getting enough sleep. Thanks Helpful 5 Not Helpful 2
• Maintain a healthy diet. Thanks Helpful 4 Not Helpful 3

• Recommended time doing homework varies by age. The National PTA recommends about 10 minutes per grade level per night (30 minutes a night for the third grade). Thanks Helpful 9 Not Helpful 0
• Some people may need additional help in order to focus on their homework and finish it. If you are struggling in school, ask your parents or teachers about what resources may be available, and seek out professional help or ask your parents to do so, if necessary. Thanks Helpful 29 Not Helpful 9
• If you are under the age of thirteen, you may need to obtain your parents’ permission before downloading any computer applications. Thanks Helpful 30 Not Helpful 13

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• ↑ https://kidshealth.org/en/teens/homework.html
• ↑ https://www.takingcharge.csh.umn.edu/power-habit-charles-duhigg
• ↑ https://www.edutopia.org/article/research-tested-benefits-breaks/
• ↑ https://www.wma.us/about/titan-blog/post/~board/titan-blog/post/how-to-prioritize-school-assignments-and-homework
• ↑ https://jhsap.org/self_help_resources/school-life_balance//
• ↑ https://lsc.cornell.edu/how-to-study/studying-for-and-taking-exams/guidelines-for-creating-a-study-schedule/
• ↑ https://success.oregonstate.edu/learning/concentration
• ↑ https://www.pewresearch.org/internet/2020/07/28/parenting-children-in-the-age-of-screens/
• ↑ https://kidshealth.org/en/teens/homework.html/
• ↑ https://absn.northeastern.edu/blog/8-things-to-keep-in-your-at-home-study-space/
• ↑ https://scholar.utc.edu/theses/171/
• ↑ https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/abs/10.1002/acp.1731
• ↑ https://kidshealth.org/en/teens/talk-to-parents.html
• ↑ https://rdw.rowan.edu/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?article=2412&context=etd
• ↑ https://blogs.chapman.edu/scst/2016/02/09/what-tutoring-is-and-what-tutoring-is-not/
• ↑ https://undergrad.stanford.edu/tutoring-support
• ↑ https://www.ideaedu.org/idea-notes-on-instruction/encouraged-students-to-use-multiple-resources-e-g-internet-library-holdings-outside-experts-to-improve-understanding/

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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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Present Perfect

For recently finished actions.

Table of Contents

In this grammar section we will have a look at the tense Present Perfect to talk about recently finished/completed actions.

A: How long have you worked there? B: I have worked there for 3 years.

A: How long have you been friends? B: We haven’t been friends for long. We have been friends since 2022

The video gives an overview of to Present Perfect for something recently completed/finished actions.

It shows the meaning/usage: when and why to use the Present Perfect.

For the form and the pronunciation have a look a the different webpages:

• Present perfect form
• Present perfect pronunciation

Usage/ Meaning

How and when do we use the Present Perfect?

Present Perfect is also used to talk about something recently finished.

I have just done my homework: This means not so long ago you finished your homework . It is an unspecified time in the past . We don’t know when the person did it, but it wasn’t so long ago . It is usually used to stress that you finished the action and there it no need to do it anymore or no need to worry about it anymore .

I have already done my homework: This means you finished your homework somewhere before now . It is an unspecified time in the past . We don’t know when the person did it . It is usually used to stress that you finished the action and there it no need to do it anymore or no need to worry about it anymore .

Present Perfect is also used to talk about something that is not finished.

I haven’t done my homework yet : This means you did not finished your homework somewhere before now but that you will do it later . It is usually used to stress that you did not finished the action but you will do it somewhere soon in the future.

• Just: recently finished actions. positive and questions. Between have and the main verb : I have just finished . 
• Already: finished actions. positive and questions. Between have and the main verb : I have already finished .
• Yet: not finished, but will finish it later. Negative and questions. At the end of the sentence: I haven’t finished yet .

Have a look at the questions and write your answers in the comments below . Also give us some more details about when, where, why,….

• What have you already done today?
• What haven’t you done yet today, but must still do today?
• What have you just finished before answering these questions?
• Have you just had some food?
• Have you already finished your homework?
• Have you already studied today?
• Have you just had a phone call?
• Have you already had lunch today?
• Which movie have you already seen more than 2 times?
• Which goals in your life have you already achieved?

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3.4 Reading and calculating time

3.4 reading and calculating time (emg3w).

In this section we will learn how to convert between the different time formats, how to convert between different units of time and how to calculate elapsed time. Unlike units for measurement, volume and weight, units of time are not metric: the units are not multiples of \(\text{10}\) or \(\text{100}\). Rather, there are \(\text{60}\) seconds in \(\text{1}\) minute, \(\text{60}\) minutes in \(\text{1}\) hour, \(\text{24}\) hours in one day and so on. This means we need to be careful, particularly when converting from one unit of time to another.

Being able to convert between different time formats and units and being able to calculate elapsed time are immensely important skills in terms of self management and planning. Time occurs in many different formats in the real world, and it is important to understand the differences and similarities of these formats. Being able to calculate how long something is going to take, or how much free time we have to do a task between two events means we can plan accordingly and organise our time and our daily lives.

Different time formats (EMG3X)

Time values can be expressed in different formats, such as 8 o'clock, 8:00 a.m., 8:00 p.m. and 20:00.

The two most common formats are the 12-hour format and the 24-hour format.

12-hour clock/analogue

8:00 a.m. or 8:00 p.m. are examples of readings of time using the 12-hour format. This format is seen on analogue clocks and watches. In the diagram and the pictures below, the short hand shows us the hour and the long hand shows us the minutes. Sometimes a third hand shows the seconds.

When we use the 12-hour clock, we use the letters “a.m.” to show that the time is before midday (12 o'clock or noon) and “p.m.” to show that it is after midday. For example, school may start at 7:30 a.m. (in the morning) and finish at 2 p.m. (in the afternoon).

24-hour clock/digital

The table below gives examples of 12- and 24-hour time. Look carefully at how to tell the time when it is midnight.

Can you see how to convert from the 12-hour clock to the 24-hour clock?

If you compare the top line and bottom line of the table above, you will see that the times are written the same until midday. After midday, you simply add 12 to the the number of hours that have passed. For example: 3:00 p.m. is 3 hours after 12:00 p.m. (midday). 3 p.m. + 12 hours = 15:00. 8:30 p.m. is 8 hours 30 minutes after 12:00 p.m. 8 hours 30 minutes + 12 hours = 20:30.

To convert from the 24-hour clock to the 12-hour clock you subtract 12 from the number of hours. Don't forget to check whether your answer will be a.m. or p.m.! For example: 15:00 - 12 hours = 3:00. We know 15:00 is after midday, so the answer is 3:00 p.m. 20:00 - 12 hours = 8:00. 20:00 is long after midday, so the answer is 8:00 p.m.

Worked example 4: Converting between the 12-hour and 24-hour time formats

• Jane goes to bed at 9:56 p.m.
• The local shop opens at 8:30 a.m.
• Archie's cricket practice ends at 4:05 p.m.
• David's school day ends at 14:45
• Mrs Gwayi has morning tea at 10:25
• The Dube family eat dinner at 19:35
• 9:56 p.m. + 12 hours = 21:56
• 8:30 (This is before midday so it's written the same)
• 4:05 p.m. + 12 hours = 16:05
• 14:45 - 12 hours = 2:45 p.m.
• 10:25 a.m. (This is before midday so it's written the same - we simply add the “a.m.”)
• 19:35 - 12 hours = 7:35 p.m.

Converting between 12-hour and 24-hour clock times

Write the following times in the 12-hour format:

Elvis left the building at 17:40.

Karen went to bed at 23:40.

Write the following times in the 24-hour format:

Lungile wakes up at 5:40 a.m.

Simphiwe ate dinner at 6:59 p.m.

David got home from his night shift at 12:30 a.m.

Converting units of time (EMG3Y)

As with all the conversions we have already done, we use different units of time to measure different events. For example, you would measure the length of your school holidays in days or weeks, not seconds. But the time it takes to walk across a road would be measured in seconds, not years!

Worked example 5: Deciding on units of time

There are seven pictures below. Decide on the most appropriate unit of time for each situation.

The time it takes crops to grow.

• The amount of time it takes a sprinter to run \(\text{100}\) \(\text{m}\) would be measured in seconds.
• A short taxi ride would be measured in minutes.
• The amount of time you spend at school each day is measured in hours.
• The length of a cricket test match is measured in days.
• The length of the school holidays can be measured in weeks.
• The time it takes crops to grow is measured in months.
• Your age is measured in years.

There are \(\text{86 400}\) seconds in a day and \(\text{604 800}\) seconds in a week! These are large numbers and they are not always practical to work with. We can convert between different units of time to make our calculations simpler.

The relationship between the units are given in the table below.

Calculating elapsed time (EMG3Z)

Being able to do calculations with time is a very useful skill to have. It is important to know how to plan and organise your time on a daily basis. For example, if it takes you a certain amount of time to walk to school, what time must you leave home in the morning to arrive in time for class? Or, if you need to help cook dinner at 7pm, how much time do you have to finish your homework?

In this section we will look at how to calculate elapsed time. When doing calculations like this, we add the units of time separately, and don't forget to be careful when working with remainders!

Worked example 6: Calculating elapsed time

• School starts at 07:45. You are in class for \(\text{2}\) hours \(\text{30}\) minutes. What time will the bell ring for first break? Give your answer in the 24-hour format.

Palesa starts cooking dinner at 6:00 p.m. She has to leave for her choir practice in \(\text{1}\) hour and \(\text{45}\) minutes.

• What time must she leave? (Give your answer in the 12-hour format).

The bus leaves school at 14:30. It takes \(\text{70}\) minutes to get to Mulalo's house.

• What time will he arrive at home? (Give your answer in the 24-hour format).
• Convert your answer to the 12-hour format.
• Mark leaves for work at 07:45. He arrives at 08:10. How long did it take him to get there? (Give your answer in minutes).
• Lebogang goes for a walk around her neighbourhood at 4:20 p.m. She gets back home at 5:40 p.m. How long did she walk for? (Give your answer in hours and minutes).

Russel finishes soccer practice at 4:00 p.m. It takes him \(\text{10}\) minutes to walk home. He then spends \(\text{80}\) minutes doing his homework.

• What time will Russel finish his homework? (Give your answer in the 12-hour format).

Ewald's hockey practice starts at 15:10 and ends at 16:30.

• How long was his hockey practice? (Give your answer in hours and minutes).
• If it takes him \(\text{40}\) minutes to get home from hockey, what time will he arrive at home? (Give your answer in the 12-hour format)
• First add the hours: 07:00 + 2 hours = 9:00 Then add the minutes: \(\text{45}\) minutes + \(\text{30}\) minutes = \(\text{75}\) minutes \(\text{75}\) minutes = \(\text{60}\) minutes and \(\text{15}\) minutes = \(\text{1}\) hour and \(\text{15}\) minutes Calculate the total time elapsed: 9:00 + \(\text{1}\) hour \(\text{15}\) minutes = 10:15 So the bell will ring for break at 10:15.
• First add the the hours: 6:00 p.m. + 1 hour = 7:00 pm Then add the minutes: \(\text{0}\) minutes + \(\text{45}\) minutes = \(\text{45}\) minutes Calculate the total time that will elapse: 7:00 p.m. and \(\text{45}\) minutes = 7:45 p.m. So Palesa must leave at 7:45 p.m.
• To convert this to the 24-hour time format we simply add 12 hours to the time: 7:45 p.m. + 12 hours = 19:45.
• First we break down \(\text{70}\) minutes into hours and minutes: We know that \(\text{60}\) minutes = \(\text{1}\) hour. \(\text{70}\) minutes - \(\text{60}\) minutes = \(\text{10}\) minutes, so the bus ride takes \(\text{1}\) hour and \(\text{10}\) minutes. Now we add the hours: 14:30 + 1 hour = 15:30 Next we add the minutes: 15:30 + 10 minutes = 15:40. So Mulalo will arrive home at 15:40
• To convert our answer to the 12-hour format we subtract 12 hours: 15:40 - 12 hours = 3:40. We know that 15:40 is after midday, so Mulalo will arrive home at 3:40 p.m.
• 7:45 to 8:10 is less than an hour. So in this case we only need to add the minutes it took Mark to get to work. 7:45 + \(\text{15}\) minutes = 8:00 8:00 + \(\text{10}\) minutes = 8:10 \(\text{10}\) minutes + \(\text{15}\) minutes = \(\text{25}\) minutes So it took Mark \(\text{25}\) minutes to get to work.
• 4:20 p.m. + \(\text{1}\) hour = 5:20 p.m. 5:20 p.m. + \(\text{20}\) minutes = 5:40 p.m. So Lebogang walked for \(\text{1}\) hour and \(\text{20}\) minutes.
• We need to add two values to get our answer here: the time it takes Russel to walk home and the time it takes him to finish his homework. First we add the time it took him to walk home after soccer practice: 4:00 p.m. + \(\text{10}\) minutes = 4:10 p.m. Next we must add the time it took him to do his homework: We know that \(\text{60}\) minutes = \(\text{1}\) hour. \(\frac{\text{80}}{\text{60}} = \text{1,34}\) so \(\text{80}\) minutes is one hour plus some remainder of minutes. \(\text{80}\) minutes - \(\text{60}\) minutes = \(\text{20}\) minutes. So it takes Russel \(\text{1}\) hour and \(\text{20}\) minutes to do his homework. Now we add this to the time he got home: First we add the hours: 4:10 p.m. + \(\text{1}\) hour = 5:10 p.m. Then we add the minutes: 5:10 p.m. + \(\text{20}\) minutes = 5:30 p.m. So Russel finishes his homework at 5:30 p.m.
• To convert our answer to the 24-hour format we simply add 12 hours: 5:30 p.m. + \(\text{12}\) hours = 17:30.
• 15:10 + \(\text{1}\) hour = 16:10. 16:10 + \(\text{20}\) minutes = 16:30. \(\text{1}\) hour + \(\text{20}\) minutes = \(\text{1}\) hour and \(\text{20}\) minutes. So Ewald's hockey practice was \(\text{1}\) hour and \(\text{20}\) minutes long.
• We can divide the \(\text{40}\) minutes it takes Ewald to get home into \(\text{30}\) + \(\text{10}\) minutes to make it easier to add: 16:30 + \(\text{30}\) minutes = 17:00 17:00 + \(\text{10}\) minutes = 17:10 So Ewald gets home at 17:10. To convert this to the 12-hour format we subtract 12 hours: 17:10 - \(\text{12}\) hours = 5:10. We know that 17:10 is after midday so the converted time is 5:10 p.m.

Calculating elapsed time

Unathi's father goes to work at 8:00 a.m. He fetches her from school \(\text{7}\) hours and \(\text{30}\) minutes later. What time will he fetch Unathi? Give your answer in the 24-hour format.

Lauren finishes her music class at 15:30. It takes her \(\text{30}\) minutes to get home. She then does homework for \(\text{50}\) minutes. Lauren meets her friend \(\text{20}\) minutes after she finishes her homework. What time do they meet? Give your answer in the 12-hour format

Heather starts baking biscuits at 6:15 p.m. The biscuits must come out of the oven at 6:35 p.m. and need to cool for another \(\text{20}\) minutes before they can be eaten.

How long will the biscuits be in the oven for?

\(\text{20}\) minutes

Alison's favourite TV show starts at 20:35. It is forty-five minutes long. What time will it finish?

If Alison watches the movie that follows her favourite show and it finishes at 10:50 p.m., how long was the movie (in hours and minutes)?

\(\text{1}\) hour, \(\text{30}\) minutes

\(\text{2}\) hours, \(\text{45}\) minutes

Calendars (EMG42)

Calendars are useful tools to help us keep track of events that are going to happen and to plan our lives accordingly. We can add information to them about important events and dates (like birthdays and school holidays) to a calendar, to help us remember what is happening when. We can read off days, weeks and months on a calendar and do conversions between these units of time.

Worked example 7: Using a calendar

Jess's calendar for the month of May is given below. Study it carefully and answer the questions that follow:

• Mother's Day.
• Jess goes on her school camp.
• Jess's granny comes to visit.
• how many weeks does Jess have to study for her Maths Literacy test?
• How many days does she have to study for the test?
• How many weeks ago was her dad's birthday?
• Will Jess go to school on 1 May? Give a reason for your answer.
• Jess needs to buy a present for her mother for Mother's Day. If she has plans with friends on 11 May, by when should she have bought the present?
• Jess is invited to a party on Saturday 18 May. Will she be able to attend?
• If her granny arrives in the evening of 25 May, when should Jess bake the cake?
• Given that she's busy on the morning of 25 May, when should Jess make time to buy the ingredients for the cake?
• \(\text{6}\) days
• \(\text{11}\) days
• \(\text{19}\) days
• \(\text{2}\) weeks
• \(\text{14}\) days
• \(\text{0}\) weeks ago - it was \(\text{6}\) days ago.
• No. 1 May is Workers' Day which is a public holiday.
• Jess should buy a present for her mother by Friday 10 May.
• No. She will be away on her school camp.
• On the afternoon of Saturday 25 May.
• On or before Friday 24 May.

Creating your own calendar

You need to create a calendar (like the one in the previous worked example) for one month of the year. It should include the following:

• close relatives' birthdays (that happen in that month)
• any classmates' birthdays
• sports fixtures
• test and/or exam dates and times
• school functions or events.

Learner-dependent answer

Timetables (EMG43)

Timetables are similar to calendars in that they help us plan our time. Where calendars are useful for planning months and years, timetables are useful for planning shorter periods of time like hours, days and weeks. You may already be familiar with timetables like those for your different classes at school, and for TV shows. In this section we will learn how to read timetables and how to draw up our own.

Worked example 8: Using a timetable

Look at the timetable below and answer the following questions.

• What is the difference in time between the English News at 5:30 p.m. and the English News at 8:30 p.m. (both on SABC 2)?
• How long, in minutes, is American Idol?
• If Zonke wants to watch Isidingo after dinner at 7:30 p.m., and she needs \(\text{90}\) minutes to cook and eat dinner, what time should she start cooking dinner?
• Mandla wants to watch It's My Biz and Generations. He plans to do his homework in between the two shows. If he expects each subject's homework to take \(\text{30}\) minutes, how many subjects worth of homework will he be able to complete between the two shows?
• Sipho wants to watch the news in English and in Afrikaans, at the same time. Would this be possible? Give a reason for your answer.
• Why are the blocks on the timetable for SABC 3, blank for 8:30 p.m. and 9:00 p.m.? What do the blank blocks represent?
• What is the total time period allocated to the News (in all languages) across all four TV channels?

• \(\text{3}\) hours.
• 7:30 to 8:30 p.m. = \(\text{1}\) hour = \(\text{60}\) minutes.
• \(\text{90}\) minutes = \(\text{1}\) hour + \(\text{30}\) minutes 7:30 p.m. - \(\text{1}\) hour = 6:30 p.m. 6:30 p.m. - \(\text{30}\) minutes = 6:00 p.m.
• It's My Biz finishes at 6:00 p.m. and Generations starts at 8:00 p.m. This gives Mandla \(\text{2}\) hours to do his homework. \(\text{2}\) hours = \(\text{120}\) minutes. \(\text{120}\) minutes \(\div\) \(\text{30}\) minutes = \(\text{4}\) So Mandla will be able to do homework for four subjects in between the two shows.
• Yes, there is the English News on SABC 3 at 7:00 p.m. and on SABC 2 there is the Afrikaans Nuus at that same time. However, he cannot watch two channels at the same time. He would need to choose a channel to watch.
• They are blank because the program “Welcome to the Parker” is still showing.
• There are \(\text{8}\) sets of news slots appearing on the timetable. Each slot is \(\text{30}\) minutes. Therefore, a total of \(\text{4}\) hours of news will be shown between 5:30 p.m. and 9:00 p.m. on four channels.

Writing up a timetable

Sipho and Mpho are brothers. Their parents require them to do household chores every day. These chores need to fit into their school sports and homework timetables.

Using the information provided in the table below, construct a timetable for each brother for one day of the week.

The two brothers' timetables need to be clearly laid out and easy to read.

Learner-dependent answer but an example:

You finished a fourth of your homework in 60 minutes. How many hours did it take you to finish all of it?

Gauth ai solution, explanation.

4 Ways To Finish Homework Fast: Last-Minute Tips

As a high school student, you live a busy life. Maybe you’re running around from practice to practice or club to club, and you have little time for homework. After spending all day in classes, the last thing you want to do is more homework, and we don’t blame you. 

After all, if you have the opportunity to use a professional essay writing service and  pay someone to write my paper , use it! But, there are also some other things you can do to speed up the process.

Have you ever compared your homework time to a friends? Does it always sound like they have way less homework? Maybe that is the case, or maybe they just know how to finish their homework fast. 

Here are 4 tips we suggest implementing when needing assignment help and wanting to complete your homework as fast as possible: 

1. Find a Clean and Organized Space

One of the best things you can do when trying to complete a task quickly is finding the right space. A space that is disorganized and full of clutter will automatically keep you distracted. 

If your space is decluttered, and clean all you have to focus on is your summer homework that’s right in front of you. We suggest cleaning your room ahead of time, finding a different space in your home, or visiting a local or school library. Once you’ve found your spot, use the restroom before, grab yourself a drink of water, and close the door behind you so that you are set to stay focused in that spot for as long as you can. 

2. Turn off cell phone and distractions

Tip number two is on the same topic of distractions. If you’re staying focused you’re more likely to get your homework done fast. If you have hours of homework and you’re spending too much time in between each task checking your social media or playing video games, you’ll double your homework time. 

Would you rather crank out your homework distraction free in 2 hours or spend 4 hours doing homework because you were checking your social media and playing games in between?

3. Strategize tasks

Have you ever sat down and looked at your long list of homework not knowing where to start? The best way to complete as many tasks as possible in a short amount of time, is to strategize. 

We suggest starting with your largest and most important homework assignment. This task will get your best brain energy and if it’s the most important you don’t want to save it till the end. 

4. Give yourself a time limit 

We suggest starting a timer for each homework assignment you have. Think about all that needs to be completed and how quickly you think you can finish it by, and then start the timer. The timer will make sure you are staying on track and finishing your homework in the time you have set out to do it. 

If it were up to us, we would say spend more time having fun and less time doing homework, but really all that we can control is how long it takes you to complete your homework. Hopefully these four tips have you on your way to cutting your homework time in half.

Brian Robben

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Dajuana's homework.

• It usually takes Dajuana 45 minutes to do her homework. If she starts her homework at 5:30 PM, what time will she finish?
• One day Dajuana started her homework at 6:45 PM and finished her homework at 7:20 PM. How long did Dajuana spend on her homework?
• Another day, Dajuana finished her homework at 5:05 PM after spending 40 minutes on her homework. What time did Dajuana start her homework?

IM Commentary

The purpose of this task is for students to work on elapsed-time questions. This task includes three different elapsed time situations: end-time unknown, elapsed time unknown, and start-time unknown. In each of these situations, an open number line can be a useful tool to help students visualize and organize the information. In order to do this effectively, students must be able to decompose time into strategic chunks. For example, in part (a), students might find it helpful to decompose 45 minutes into 30 minutes plus 15 minutes. This decomposition allows students to understand that it will take Dajuana 30 minutes to reach 6:00 PM and the additional 15 minutes of homework will take her to 6:15 PM.

This type of reasoning will serve students well when they work with more complex elapsed time problems. There are many different ways that students will approach these problems with open number lines, so teachers should anticipate allowing for multiple solution methods in class. For example, on part (a), a struggling learner might want to break 45 minutes into 4 sets of 10 minutes and 1 set of 5 minutes on their open number line. A more advanced student might reason that if Dajuana spent 1 hour on her homework, she would finish at 6:30 PM. If she only spent 45 minutes on her homework, then we would need to adjust our open number line by moving backwards 15 minutes from 6:30 PM to 6:15 PM.

Open number lines are also helpful because they can visually represent the change within the problem. Students often learn to solve elapsed time problems by adding or subtracting hours and minutes, but using addition or subtraction does not help students differentiate between start-unknown, elapsed time unknown or end-time unknown problems.

Note: there are many different ways that students might use open number lines to solve these problems.  The highlighted value in each problem represents the part of the open number line that represents the solution to the problem.