How do you do homework more quickly?

[Anonymous]

In high school, I took way too long to study and do homework, and that limited my time for extracurriculars. I spend like two hours reading the assigned reading for AP literature and language, especially when they are so boring. I struggled massively with doing homework for the AP science and calculus courses because I constantly get stuck on multiple problems and have no idea how to solve it. Most top students can bang out the homework within 3 hours, even if they are taking like six AP courses per semester. How do people do the work more efficiently?

[Anonymous]

I don’t know if that’s true. My DC’s math classes took many hours every night- practice sets that were pages long. Studying for hours for bio and chem tests.

I think the kids who do it rapidly are finding short cuts like copying classmates work and things like that.

[Anonymous]

People are born with a certain processing speed, OP. It's one of the traits that are measured on comprehensive neuropsychological evaluations, and it's distinct from cognitive reasoning, both verbal and logical. In other words, you can be slow but have good cognitive reasoning skills, or rapid but have poor reasoning. Speed doesn't equal smarts.

It's not really possible to speed up. You can tinker around the edges with medication for ADHD, if you get distracted during studying time, or you can develop better study habits that make studying more effective, or you can try to manage anxiety and perfectionism that make you quadruple-check everything obsessively.. but your actual processing speed won't change much over the course of your life.

I have one child with abysmally slow processing speed, who needed double time accommodations in school, and one child with normal processing speed. It's amazing what the latter can accomplish compared to the former, in the same amount of time. Both took/take an AP-heavy courseload, but my slow kid didn't have time for anything but homework, and my normal-speed kid has plenty of time for extra-curriculars and lounging around.

[Anonymous]

Many public schools have block schedules so they allow students to start or even finish their homework at school.

[Anonymous]

There is a lot to read, learn, and memorize, especially if you take AP classes and strive for As. It takes a lot of time for top students.

[Anonymous]

Minimize the time used other than academic, shower less than 10 min ( during rest in between doing homework/study), eat at the same time while doing homework/study, put phone away to avoid chat group notifications etc. Make your own note by highlighting. Doing the harder homework/study first when you’re not as tired, and leave those easier ones to do later. Nap on school bus, or car ride if you don’t have to drive. If you’ve been learning music instruments, it certainly helps to memorize easier and more efficient.

[Anonymous]

Pomodoro method can help with motivation and attention.

Learn to skim longer readings by reading the first sentence of each paragraph.

Get some work done in small chunks throughout the school day. If a student can knock out a math problem while waiting for class to start or in the last five minutes of lunch, they might have 15 minutes of math HW done by the time they get home.

[Anonymous]

The quickest is just not to do it and accept the credit because a teacher does not want to be fired.

[Anonymous]

Pay attention and be engaged in class so the HW makes sense at home. Get off tiiktok in class and cut out the in class gang fights . These are all good starts.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:In high school, I took way too long to study and do homework, and that limited my time for extracurriculars. I spend like two hours reading the assigned reading for AP literature and language, especially when they are so boring. I struggled massively with doing homework for the AP science and calculus courses because I constantly get stuck on multiple problems and have no idea how to solve it. Most top students can bang out the homework within 3 hours, even if they are taking like six AP courses per semester. How do people do the work more efficiently?

Being in the correct level is key.

[Anonymous]

When they pass all the students along that should be held back or retake courses then they are not prepared for the next level. It's like you cant learn a second language is you have not learned the to read or know the rules of your first language. You can't move to algebra if you don't understand the basics of arithmetic. Well, sorry to be the bearer of bad news, but kids get to high school illiterate because they make us pass all the kids along even if they should not. They put all the blame on the teachers and that is why I do not recommend this profession. The union is lame and will not stand up for teachers anymore. We are just the pawns that make other people rich.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Minimize the time used other than academic, shower less than 10 min ( during rest in between doing homework/study), eat at the same time while doing homework/study, put phone away to avoid chat group notifications etc. Make your own note by highlighting. Doing the harder homework/study first when you’re not as tired, and leave those easier ones to do later. Nap on school bus, or car ride if you don’t have to drive. If you’ve been learning music instruments, it certainly helps to memorize easier and more efficient.

The above sounds like practical advice.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:
I think the kids who do it rapidly are finding short cuts like copying classmates work and things like that.

This couldn't be further from the truth.
The truly top kids work super fast and efficiently and learn quickly the first time they read material and never have to study the material again - they are not copying classmates - they are the ones being copied. They don't need short cuts because they are so fast. I have a kid like this - barely spends any time on homework yet straight A's in top rigor in magnet program. Sailing through without any stress.

I have another kid who needs time, works slowly, must go over material several times and review a lot. Several years younger but spends more time on homework than older kid.

Everyone is different. Don't be that sour grapes person by critiizing high acheivers and wrongly saying they are doing something unethical - makes you look pathetic.

[Anonymous]

Anyone taking six AP courses that claims they get their HW done in 3 hours is lying about the time, their work is low quality, or they rely on AI.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Anyone taking six AP courses that claims they get their HW done in 3 hours is lying about the time, their work is low quality, or they rely on AI.

LOL!
Speak for yourself.