What to Do When a Student Doesn’t Do Their Homework: A Tutor’s Guide

Why Students Don’t Do Their Homework

Although the problem may look the same from the outside, there can be several reasons behind it.

1. 1The student doesn’t understand the material. During lessons, the student manages exercises with the tutor’s help but struggles to complete similar tasks independently. They may need more practice before they’re ready to work on their own.
2. 2The workload is too heavy. School assignments, extracurricular activities, and other commitments leave little free time. Adding another long list of exercises can make homework feel overwhelming.
3. 3The student keeps forgetting. They may agree to do the homework but forget to write it down, put it off, or simply lose track of it. Sometimes the issue isn’t a lack of motivation but underdeveloped planning skills.
4. 4They don’t see the point. Some students attend tutoring because their parents expect them to. They may not understand why they need to do extra work, especially when the benefits seem too far away.
5. 5They’re afraid of making mistakes. Difficult assignments can cause anxiety or frustration. Some children would rather avoid the task altogether than risk feeling unsuccessful again.
6. 6They don’t feel responsible for completing it. The student knows that nothing much will happen if they turn up without their homework. The tutor will explain everything again, and the lesson will carry on as usual.

Don’t assume there is only one reason. Sometimes several factors contribute to the same problem.

What to Do When a Student Doesn’t Do Their Homework: A Step-by-Step Approach

Instead of making the same comments every week, try changing the way you approach the situation.

Step 1. Find Out What’s Getting in the Way

Start with a calm conversation. Asking, “Why haven’t you done your homework again?” is unlikely to get you an honest answer.

Your goal is to understand the problem, not simply get another promise that things will be different next time.

Step 2. Check the Difficulty and Amount of Work

Ask the student to complete a similar exercise independently. If they can’t manage without your help, they may need another explanation and more guided practice.

Also reconsider the amount of homework you’re setting. More isn’t always better. Three carefully chosen exercises can be more useful than a full page of tasks that the student is unlikely to complete.

Start with a small, manageable amount, such as:

• learning five new words;
• solving three maths problems;
• completing one grammar exercise;
• reading a short text and answering three questions.

The task should be clear, specific, and achievable.

Step 3. Agree on Clear Expectations

The student should know exactly what they need to do, how long it should take, and when it needs to be completed.

Discuss what they should do if they get stuck, too. Ask them to explain the assignment in their own words to make sure they understand the instructions.

Step 4. Help Them Build a Routine

If a student regularly forgets their homework, introduce a simple reminder system:

• writing assignments in a diary or notebook;
• keeping a separate homework list;
• setting reminders on their phone;
• using a simple checklist;
• choosing a regular time for independent study.

Show the student how to use the system, then gradually encourage them to take responsibility for planning their own work.

Step 5. Talk to the Parents

If the problem keeps happening, don’t wait until it becomes a source of conflict. Explain how often homework is left unfinished, how this affects lessons, and what you suggest changing.

How to Talk to a Student Who Doesn’t Want to Do Their Homework

Threats, guilt, and comparisons with other children rarely help students become more independent. Comments such as “You’ve let me down again” or “Other children manage just fine” are unlikely to improve the situation.

Instead, try agreeing on small, realistic steps.

If the student feels overwhelmed by the amount of work:

“Let’s choose the most important tasks. I don’t want you spending your entire evening on homework.”

If they keep forgetting:

“Let’s find a way to help you remember. Would you rather write your assignments in a notebook or set a reminder?”

If they’re afraid of difficult exercises:

“You don’t have to get everything right straight away. Just try the first exercise. If something doesn’t work, we’ll go through it together next time.”

If they refuse to work:

“I can’t do the assignments for you, but I can help you understand them. Let’s decide which part you can try on your own.”

The tutor’s role isn’t to demand obedience at any cost. It’s to help students gradually develop the skills they need to manage their own learning.

How to Talk to Parents When a Student Isn’t Doing Their Homework

Parents may react differently. Some want stricter supervision, others don’t consider homework particularly important, while some expect the tutor to solve the motivation problem entirely.

To keep the conversation constructive, follow three principles:

1. 1Stick to the facts. For example, explain that homework was missed three times in the last four lessons.
2. 2Avoid blaming anyone. The aim is to find a solution, not decide who is at fault.
3. 3Suggest a practical plan. Explain what you intend to change and what support you need from the parents.

Here’s an example of a message you could send:

Parents can help by reminding children when it’s time to study, but they shouldn’t be doing the exercises for them or turning every evening into a homework inspection.

How to Handle Lessons When a Student Hasn’t Done Their Homework

Don’t let every lesson begin with a lengthy discussion about unfinished assignments. Tutors have a programme to follow, learning goals to meet, and limited time.

Try following this approach:

1. 1Briefly find out what happened. A few minutes should be enough to understand why the homework wasn’t completed.
2. 2Decide what actually needs attention. If the student hasn’t understood the topic, spend time explaining it. If they simply haven’t completed familiar exercises, you don’t necessarily need to work through every single one together.
3. 3Keep the lesson moving. Don’t automatically abandon your lesson plan if the student has enough understanding to move on.
4. 4Agree on what needs to change. Discuss how to avoid the same situation next time.

There’s an important difference between a student who struggles to understand the material and one who understands it but doesn’t organise their independent work. The first may need a different teaching approach; the second may need help developing planning skills and a sense of responsibility.

What If a Student Consistently Fails to Do Their Homework?

If you’ve already adjusted the workload, discussed the reasons with the student and spoken to their parents, but nothing changes, it’s time to reassess the arrangement.

Ask yourself:

• Does the student have clear learning goals?
• Do they understand why they’re having tutoring sessions?
• Is the workload appropriate for their age and abilities?
• Are the parents supporting the agreed approach?
• Is the student making progress during lessons?

If the student is engaged during lessons and gradually improving, it may be worth reconsidering how much independent homework they really need. Not every student benefits from the same approach.

However, if the student consistently refuses to participate, the parents aren’t willing to support the agreed arrangements, and no progress is being made, it may be time to discuss changing the lesson format or ending the arrangement.

A tutor cannot take full responsibility for a student's learning.

How Tabula Helps Tutors Stay Organised

When you work with several students, there’s more to keep track of than just lessons. You also need to remember previous arrangements, lesson history, cancellations, rescheduling, and payments.

With Tabula, tutors can manage their student lists, keep lesson histories, organise their schedules, track cancellations and rescheduled lessons, and record payments, outstanding balances, and advance payments.

This helps keep the administrative side of tutoring under control, so you spend less time trying to remember what was agreed during the previous lesson.

Of course, setting and reviewing homework remains part of the teaching process. The tutor decides what to assign, how to assess the work, and when a different approach is needed.

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Frequently Asked Questions

Final Thoughts

When a student doesn't do their homework, it's an opportunity to look at what's going wrong rather than simply make another complaint. They may need more help understanding the material, a more realistic workload, or a clearer system for organising their time.

A tutor's job is to create the conditions in which independent work becomes manageable, meaningful, and achievable. But responsibility for learning shouldn't rest entirely on the tutor. Progress is much more likely when the student, parents, and tutor understand their roles and are willing to work together.

When Homework Isn’t Done

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