Imagine online homework that actually adapts to your students...


600+ peer-reviewed, ready-to-go courses
Everything you need in a homework system, interactive, algorithmic problems.
Hundreds of thousands of randomized algebraic, graphing, and other problems with hints and personalized feedback.
LMS integration
Connect to Canvas, Blackboard, D2L, Moodle and others in minutes with single-sign-on and grade passback.
Personalization & adaptivity
Define adaptive learning pathways for mastery. Run corequisite classes. Includes on-demand instructional support.
Academic integrity
Stay ahead of cheating services with a steady stream of new peer-reviewed, randomized problems.
Easy migration
Migrate from any platform. Avoid lock-in with open format WeBWorK problems.
Analytics and intervention
Use pre-built dashboards to identify at-risk students and intervene where needed.
Collaboration
Easily author problems, then share and collaboratively build courses with peers. Run multi-section coordinated courses.
Textbook neutrality
Avoid expensive publisher bundles. Pair Edfinity with any textbook or instructional content you like.
Ready to get started?
- Our Product
- Accessibility (VPAT)
- Testimonials
- Help Center
Deliver online homework in a mastery-based learning environment offering just-in-time support, study resources and eTextbook access

Support Learning at Every Stage with OWLv2
OWLv2 makes Chemistry concepts clear and accessible; students practice at their own pace and access resources to help them achieve better grades.
Find an OWLv2 Course
Biochemistry
Allied Health Chemistry
General Chemistry
Introductory/Preparatory Chemistry
Liberal Arts Chemistry
Organic Chemistry
OWLv2 Guides, Resources & Stories
Hear Dr. Barbara Oakley discuss the cognitive theory behind OWLv2 , and how this approach benefits Chemistry students.
\"Using Science to Learn Science\"
Help students master Chemistry concepts with powerful features in OWLv2 .
Explore OWLv2 Features
81% of surveyed Chemistry students said OWLv2 resources and feedback helped them when they were stuck.
Why Students Love Using OWLv2
Hear instructors discuss the impact OWLv2 had on student success, including increased homework completion and improved exam scores.
How OWLv2 Helps Students Conquer Chemistry
Download Cengage Read for Free
Cengage Read lets students study whenever – and wherever – they want with online and offline mobile access to their eTextbook.

- Professional
- International
Select a product below:
- Connect Math Hosted by ALEKS
- My Bookshelf (eBook Access)
Sign in to Shop:
- Connect Math Hosted by Aleks
Business and Economics
Accounting Business Communication Business Law Business Mathematics Business Statistics & Analytics Computer & Information Technology Decision Sciences & Operations Management Economics Finance Keyboarding Introduction to Business Insurance and Real Estate Management Information Systems Management Marketing Student Success
Humanities, Social Science and Language
American Government Anthropology Art Career Development Communication Criminal Justice Developmental English Education Film Composition Health and Human Performance
History Humanities Music Philosophy and Religion Political Science Psychology Sociology Student Success Theater World Languages
Science, Engineering and Math
Agriculture and Forestry Anatomy & Physiology Astronomy and Physical Science Biology - Majors Biology - Non-Majors Chemistry Cell/Molecular Biology and Genetics Earth & Environmental Science Ecology Engineering/Computer Science Engineering Technologies - Trade & Tech Health Professions Mathematics Microbiology Nutrition Physics Plants and Animals
Digital Products
Connect® Course management , reporting , and student learning tools backed by great support .
McGraw Hill GO Greenlight learning with the new eBook+
ALEKS® Personalize learning and assessment
ALEKS® Placement, Preparation, and Learning Achieve accurate math placement
SIMnet Ignite mastery of MS Office and IT skills
McGraw Hill eBook & ReadAnywhere App Get learning that fits anytime, anywhere
Sharpen: Study App A reliable study app for students
Virtual Labs Flexible, realistic science simulations
Inclusive Access Reduce costs and increase success
LMS Integration Log in and sync up
Math Placement Achieve accurate math placement
Content Collections powered by Create® Curate and deliver your ideal content
Custom Courseware Solutions Teach your course your way
Professional Services Collaborate to optimize outcomes
Lecture Capture Capture lectures for anytime access
Remote Proctoring Validate online exams even offsite
Institutional Solutions Increase engagement, lower costs, and improve access for your students
General Help & Support Info Customer Service & Tech Support contact information
Online Technical Support Center FAQs, articles, chat, email or phone support
Support At Every Step Instructor tools, training and resources for ALEKS , Connect & SIMnet
Instructor Sample Requests Get step by step instructions for requesting an evaluation, exam, or desk copy
Platform System Check System status in real time
Connect helps you create deeper connections with your students.
Connect is a complete course platform that enables you to take your students further. It supports you by automating time-consuming prep work, simplifying the addition of instructors to any section, and surfacing more information with fewer clicks.
Connect with us
Whether you’re looking for a Connect® demo, your rep, or have some questions – this is the form for you. Complete the form below and we’ll get in touch with you as soon as we can.
Fields marked by * are required.
Your information will be used to provide you with the requested information and other information about McGraw Hill’s products and services. You may opt out at any time by contacting McGraw Hill’s local privacy officer or selecting “unsubscribe” at the bottom of any email you receive from us.
Higher Test Scores
Students using Connect earned a 7.5% higher test score than non-Connect students.
Read the Case Study
Connected Instructors
Instructors have paired Connect with their LMS in the past 12 months.
Time Spent on Teaching
Instructors spend 90% more time on active learning experiences instead of admin tasks when Connect is in use.
Uptime Rate
Technology you can rely on, so your students stay on pace.
See Platform Status
Student Satisfaction
92% of students said they were satisfied with Connect after using it for a full term according to a McGraw Hill 2022 Student NPS Survey
Student Benefits
With Connect, each of your students can enjoy a personalized digital learning experience designed to help them optimize study time and ramp up their grade potential. They’re able to study effectively using SmartBook® and connect with their materials anywhere, anytime with the free ReadAnywhere® App. And through Inclusive Access, they gain access to affordable course materials on or before the first day of class.
Adaptive Learning (SmartBook) Mobile eBook Access (ReadAnywhere App) First Day of Class Affordable Course Materials (Inclusive Access)
Instructor Benefits
Connect helps you deliver a complete, digital course experience that heightens student engagement with the material. Its flexible course design, digital-first vetted content and assessment materials, and easy-to-read analytics & reporting tools ensure best-in-class online learning.
Easy Course Building Increase Student Engagement Performance Tracking Remote Proctoring LMS Integration Support at Every Step
Latest Enhancements
We’re always working to improve your experience so you can get the most out of Connect. See the latest updates we’ve made on our updates page:
Testimonials
“I did an interesting survey with about 125 Microbiology students. I asked them what grade you earned in the class, and what grade do you think you would have earned without Connect? 95% of them believe they earned one letter grade better because of Connect.”
Heidi Smith Instructor, Microbiology

Try Connect for yourself.
Get a no-risk, no-obligation demonstration., company info.
- Contact & Locations
- Diversity, Equity & Inclusion
- Social Responsibility
- Investor Relations
- Social Media Directory
Follow McGraw Hill:
- Place an Order
- Get Tech Support
- Contact Customer Service
- Contact Sales Rep
- Check System Status
- Log in to Higher Ed Connect
- Log in to PreK–12 Products
Additional Resources
- Permissions
- Accessibility
- Author Support
- International Rights
- Purchase Order
©2023 McGraw Hill. All Rights Reserved.

- I'M AN INSTRUCTOR
- I'M A STUDENT

Find what you need to succeed.
- Our Mission
- Our Leadership
- Learning Science
- Sustainability
- Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion
- Accessibility
- Astronomy Biochemistry Biology Chemistry College Success Communication Economics Electrical Engineering English Environmental Science Geography Geology History Mathematics Music & Theater Nutrition and Health Philosophy & Religion Physics Psychology Sociology Statistics Value
- Digital Offerings
- Inclusive Access
- Lab Solutions
LMS Integration
- Curriculum Solutions
- Training and Demos
- First Day of Class
- Administrators
- Affordable Solutions
- Badging & Certification
- iClicker and Your Content
- Student Store
- News & Media
- Contact Us & FAQs
- Find Your Rep
- Booksellers
- Macmillan International Support
- International Translation Rights
- Request Permissions
- Report Piracy
- Read & Practice
- What's New?
Students, you can find your Achieve course on our student store. Access Your Course
- Disciplines
Benefits & Features
Proven student success, hear from users, achieve essentials.
An affordable solution that provides the flexibility to use your preferred text along with:
- ✓ An intuitive design that adapts to you
- ✓ A toolkit to ignite active learning
- ✓ Actionable insights to guide
- ✓ Resources to build students' metacognitive skills
Take a self-guided tour to explore the latest features added in Achieve Essentials - no booking or rep required.
Book a Demo Tour New Features
Achieve Essentials for Individual Disciplines
Explore our treasure trove of affordable resources including pre-built content, assessment tools, and iClicker, our leading student response system. Explore all the resources available for your discipline.

Biochemistry

Mathematics

Engage, assess, and guide learning through polling, quizzing, and more. Learn more about how iClicker fosters an engaging and active learning environment here.
Goal-setting and Reflection Surveys
Boost students' metacognitive abilities by promoting goal setting and regular reflection throughout the semester. This cultivates awareness of their learning and performance.
Reports and Insights
Access comprehensive data and insights for individuals and the whole class via a user-friendly dashboard. Gain valuable and actionable information on student performance and progress.
Flexibility of Use
Use the text that suits your needs, whether it's Macmillan Learning titles or your own content, and use it alongside Achieve Essentials’s full suite of features.
Quality Content & User-Friendly
Leverage resources and assessments, designed to enhance student learning and drive success. Each discipline offers a diverse array of resources tailored to meet the specific needs of the subject.
Integrate with your LMS to share assignments and grades and make it easy for your students to access Achieve.
A range of prices to fit your needs and options to assure your students have access on Day 1.
Get guided in-product help, consult the extensive knowledge base for answers, or contact the live support team. We’re here to help!
Tour New Features Book a Live Demo
85% of students who used Achieve Essentials were satisfied
Factors contributing to high ratings on ease of use include:
- Viewing scores on assignments
- Registering for the course
- Purchase access
- Locating assignments

It received high marks on questions related to DEI:
84% of students agree that they see themselves and/or their life experiences reflected in the content.
93% of students agree that the art, photos, and videos reflect and represent people from diverse backgrounds and experiences.
91% of students agree that the content in Achieve Essentials represents diverse backgrounds and experiences in an inclusive way.
Book a Demo
Here’s what instructors and students are saying about Achieve Essentials.
“ Achieve Essentials is really good at being able to provide you with a hint of why you got something wrong if you have multiple attempts. I feel the program overall is well designed and geared more towards student success.”
Chemistry student, 2023
“ Even when you answer a question incorrectly, Achieve tells you WHY it was wrong. It was really helpful for my learning of Biochemistry .”
Biochemistry student, 2023
“ Achieve’s problems are very useful. The software knows what I did wrong, it’s very reliable and is good at guiding my thinking.”
Physics student, 2023
“ I really like that I can monitor students in my class to see if they are actively working on in-class assignments I give on Achieve. I give participation points based on their effort in this area. They also have graded homework and quizzes on Achieve. I like that they have the option to use multiple attempts on a question so that there is no excuse of ‘I clicked on the wrong answer by accident.’”
Instructor using Achieve Essentials for OpenStax General Chemistry (1-Term Online)
“ It is a great complement to the material covered in class. [Achieve] allows the students to push themselves to get a better understanding of the material. It also requires students to extend the knowledge they gathered from reading the book. It challenges them to apply the material.”
Instructor using Achieve Essentials for Macroeconomics (1-Term Online)
“ I like the quantity and versatility of the options I have to include in assignments.”
Instructor using Achieve Essentials for General Chemistry (1-Term Online)
Compare Achieve Solutions
Still need help deciding which Achieve solution would best fit you and your students? Compare the different offerings and capabilities of Achieve, Achieve Essentials, and Achieve Read and Practice below!
Already using Achieve or Achieve Read & Practice?
Don't have an account? Create Account
Get Achieve maintenance updates. Check System Status
Instructors
Schedule a Grand Tour
See Achieve Titles
Get Achieve Support
Achieve Read & Practice
Schedule a Read & Practice Tour
See Read & Practice Titles
Get Read & Practice Support
Schedule an Essentials Tour
See Essentials Titles
Get Essentials Support
Access Your Achieve Course
Purchase Read & Practice
Access Your Essentials Course
Open Education: Homework Software
- OER Overview
- Creative Commons Licenses
- Find OER (open textbooks and more)
- Agriculture
- Biological Sciences
- Engineering
- Foreign Languages and Literatures
- Information / Digital Literacy & Research Skills
- Mathematics
- Plant Sciences & Horticulture
- Veterinary Medicine
- Images & Illustrations
- Librarian Tool Box
- For Authors & Adapters
- Public Domain
- Open Education Week
- Grantee & Projects Showcase
- VT Policies
- Virtual Labs
- Homework Software
- Introduction to Open Textbooks (Workshop)
About Open Homework Systems
Please note: This is an extremely incomplete list of homework solutions.
Homework software options which do not require authentication (e.g. are anonymous) are more freely available than those that pass student data back or integrate with an online gradebook. These options tend to focus on practice problems or self-testing rather than collection of data regarding individual students' performance.
Recorded presentations
- Archived webinar: Open Math Platforms by OpenOregon Educational Resources (May 2018) Math instructors have unique needs, and there are two good open platforms available to meet those needs. WeBWorK and MyOpenMath enable instructors to automate practice problems that are accessible to a wide variety of learners. In this session, Alex Jordan, Portland Community College, will discuss the features of WeBWorK (example: https://webwork.pcc.edu/webwork2/orcca-demonstration/) and Carrie Kyser, Clackamas Community College, will discuss MyOpenMath (example: https://www.myopenmath.com/, username “guest,” no password). This session is for faculty who are ready to break up with their expensive copyrighted product but don’t want to lose functionality. Open Math Platforms Handout: https://tinyurl.com/mathplatforms
Selected open homework systems
- MyOpenMath MyOpenMath is a free, open source, online course management system for mathematics and other quantitative fields. MyOpenMath's primary emphasis is to facilitate the creation and implementation of online homework and assessment, although it also supports content delivery on a limited basis. MyOpenMath runs on the open source IMathAS platform, providing free hosted use of this platform in support of free, open textbooks like the ones listed on OpenTextBookStore.com. The intent is to provide classroom use of the platform, without any required cost to students, for schools wanting a managed install of the IMathAS platform, and to provide students self-study opportunities. MyOpenMath.com is operated by the non-profit organization MyOpenMath.
- WebWork (Mathematical Assocation of America) WeBWorK is an open-source online homework system for math and sciences courses. WeBWorK is supported by the MAA and the NSF and comes with a Open Problem Library (OPL) [see below] of over 20,000 homework problems. Problems in the NPL target most lower division undergraduate math courses and some advanced courses. Supported courses include college algebra, discrete mathematics, probability and statistics, single and multivariable calculus, differential equations, linear algebra and complex analysis. Courses using WeBWorK: https://courses1.webwork.maa.org/webwork2
- WeBWorK Open Problem Library (OPL) The WeBWorK Open Problem Library (OPL) contains problems contributed by faculty from many institutions that have used WeBWorK. Currently, there are approximately 35,000 problems in the OPL, and new problems are added regularly. The OPL was initially formed from several of the original File Based Problem Libraries, and includes all of the problems from the Arizona State, Rochester, California State-Long Beach, and the University of Virginia libraries. It also contains most, if not all, of the problems from Union College, the College of New Jersey, Dartmouth, Ohio State, Northern Arizona University, and Indiana University. Once known as the National Problem Library (NPL), the Open Problem Library (OPL) naming convention was adopted in the summer of 2012 to accommodate the increasing internationalization of WeBWorK and the possible inclusion of problem libraries from textbook publishers.
Assessment Integrations and PlugIns
- H5P H5P is a plugin for existing publishing systems that enables the system to create interactive content like Interactive Videos, Presentations, Games, Quizzes and more. H5P makes it easy to create interactive content by providing a range of content types for various needs. You can create interactive content by ($$) adding the H5P plugin to your WordPress, Pressbooks, Moodle or Drupal site, or integrate it via LTI with Canvas, Brightspace, Blackboard and many other LMS/VLEs that support LTI integration. More info on H5P integration: https://h5p.org/node/287135 [NOTE: Secure Pressbooks/H5P/Canvas gradebook integration is coming soon at Virginia Tech. Contact [email protected] for details.]
- << Previous: Virtual Labs
- Next: Introduction to Open Textbooks (Workshop) >>
- Last Updated: Nov 14, 2023 4:51 PM
- URL: https://guides.lib.vt.edu/oer

Choose Your Test
Sat / act prep online guides and tips, the 5 best homework help websites (free and paid).

Other High School , General Education

Listen: we know homework isn’t fun, but it is a good way to reinforce the ideas and concepts you’ve learned in class. But what if you’re really struggling with your homework assignments?
If you’ve looked online for a little extra help with your take-home assignments, you’ve probably stumbled across websites claiming to provide the homework help and answers students need to succeed . But can homework help sites really make a difference? And if so, which are the best homework help websites you can use?
Below, we answer these questions and more about homework help websites–free and paid. We’ll go over:
- The basics of homework help websites
- The cost of homework help websites
- The five best homework websites out there
- The pros and cons of using these websites for homework help
- The line between “learning” and “cheating” when using online homework help
- Tips for getting the most out of a homework help website
So let’s get started!

The Basics About Homework Help Websites–Free and Paid
Homework help websites are designed to help you complete your homework assignments, plain and simple.
What Makes a Homework Help Site Worth Using
Most of the best sites allow users to ask questions and then provide an answer (or multiple possible answers) and explanation in seconds. In some instances, you can even send a photo of a particular assignment or problem instead of typing the whole thing out!
Homework help sites also offer more than just help answering homework questions. Common services provided are Q&A with experts, educational videos, lectures, practice tests and quizzes, learning modules, math solving tools, and proofreading help. Homework help sites can also provide textbook solutions (i.e. answers to problems in tons of different textbooks your school might be using), one-on-one tutoring, and peer-to-peer platforms that allow you to discuss subjects you’re learning about with your fellow students.
And best of all, nearly all of them offer their services 24/7, including tutoring!
What You Should Should Look Out For
When it comes to homework help, there are lots–and we mean lots –of scam sites out there willing to prey on desperate students. Before you sign up for any service, make sure you read reviews to ensure you’re working with a legitimate company.
A word to the wise: the more a company advertises help that veers into the territory of cheating, the more likely it is to be a scam. The best homework help websites are going to help you learn the concepts you’ll need to successfully complete your homework on your own. (We’ll go over the difference between “homework help” and “cheating” a little later!)

You don't need a golden piggy bank to use homework help websites. Some provide low or no cost help for students like you!
How Expensive Are the Best Homework Help Websites?
First of all, just because a homework help site costs money doesn’t mean it’s a good service. Likewise, just because a homework help website is free doesn’t mean the help isn’t high quality. To find the best websites, you have to take a close look at the quality and types of information they provide!
When it comes to paid homework help services, the prices vary pretty widely depending on the amount of services you want to subscribe to. Subscriptions can cost anywhere from $2 to $150 dollars per month, with the most expensive services offering several hours of one-on-one tutoring with a subject expert per month.
The 5 Best Homework Help Websites
So, what is the best homework help website you can use? The answer is that it depends on what you need help with.
The best homework help websites are the ones that are reliable and help you learn the material. They don’t just provide answers to homework questions–they actually help you learn the material.
That’s why we’ve broken down our favorite websites into categories based on who they’re best for . For instance, the best website for people struggling with math might not work for someone who needs a little extra help with science, and vice versa.
Keep reading to find the best homework help website for you!
Best Free Homework Help Site: Khan Academy
- Price: Free!
- Best for: Practicing tough material
Not only is Khan Academy free, but it’s full of information and can be personalized to suit your needs. When you set up your account , you choose which courses you need to study, and Khan Academy sets up a personal dashboard of instructional videos, practice exercises, and quizzes –with both correct and incorrect answer explanations–so you can learn at your own pace.
As an added bonus, it covers more course topics than many other homework help sites, including several AP classes.
Runner Up: Brainly.com offers a free service that allows you to type in questions and get answers and explanations from experts. The downside is that you’re limited to two answers per question and have to watch ads.
Best Paid Homework Help Site: Chegg
- Price: $14.95 to $19.95 per month
- Best for: 24/7 homework assistance
This service has three main parts . The first is Chegg Study, which includes textbook solutions, Q&A with subject experts, flashcards, video explanations, a math solver, and writing help. The resources are thorough, and reviewers state that Chegg answers homework questions quickly and accurately no matter when you submit them.
Chegg also offers textbook rentals for students who need access to textbooks outside of their classroom. Finally, Chegg offers Internship and Career Advice for students who are preparing to graduate and may need a little extra help with the transition out of high school.
Another great feature Chegg provides is a selection of free articles geared towards helping with general life skills, like coping with stress and saving money. Chegg’s learning modules are comprehensive, and they feature solutions to the problems in tons of different textbooks in a wide variety of subjects.
Runner Up: Bartleby offers basically the same services as Chegg for $14.99 per month. The reason it didn’t rank as the best is based on customer reviews that say user questions aren’t answered quite as quickly on this site as on Chegg. Otherwise, this is also a solid choice!

Best Site for Math Homework Help: Photomath
- Price: Free (or $59.99 per year for premium services)
- Best for: Explaining solutions to math problems
This site allows you to t ake a picture of a math problem, and instantly pulls up a step-by-step solution, as well as a detailed explanation of the concept. Photomath also includes animated videos that break down mathematical concepts to help you better understand and remember them.
The basic service is free, but for an additional fee you can get extra study tools and learn additional strategies for solving common math problems.
Runner Up: KhanAcademy offers in-depth tutorials that cover complex math topics for free, but you won’t get the same tailored help (and answers!) that Photomath offers.
Best Site for English Homework Help: Princeton Review Academic Tutoring
- Price: $40 to $153 per month, depending on how many hours of tutoring you want
- Best for: Comprehensive and personalized reading and writing help
While sites like Grammarly and Sparknotes help you by either proofreading what you write via an algorithm or providing book summaries, Princeton Review’s tutors provide in-depth help with vocabulary, literature, essay writing and development, proofreading, and reading comprehension. And unlike other services, you’ll have the chance to work with a real person to get help.
The best part is that you can get on-demand English (and ESL) tutoring from experts 24/7. That means you can get help whenever you need it, even if you’re pulling an all-nighter!
This is by far the most expensive homework site on this list, so you’ll need to really think about what you need out of a homework help website before you commit. One added benefit is that the subscription covers over 80 other subjects, including AP classes, which can make it a good value if you need lots of help!

Best Site for STEM Homework Help: Studypool
- Best for: Science homework help
- Price: Varies; you’ll pay for each question you submit
When it comes to science homework help, there aren’t a ton of great resources out there. The best of the bunch is Studypool, and while it has great reviews, there are some downsides as well.
Let’s start with the good stuff. Studypool offers an interesting twist on the homework help formula. After you create a free account, you can submit your homework help questions, and tutors will submit bids to answer your questions. You’ll be able to select the tutor–and price point–that works for you, then you’ll pay to have your homework question answered. You can also pay a small fee to access notes, lectures, and other documents that top tutors have uploaded.
The downside to Studypool is that the pricing is not transparent . There’s no way to plan for how much your homework help will cost, especially if you have lots of questions! Additionally, it’s not clear how tutors are selected, so you’ll need to be cautious when you choose who you’d like to answer your homework questions.

What Are the Pros and Cons of Using Homework Help Sites?
Homework help websites can be a great resource if you’re struggling in a subject, or even if you just want to make sure that you’re really learning and understanding topics and ideas that you’re interested in. But, there are some possible drawbacks if you don’t use these sites responsibly.
We’ll go over the good–and the not-so-good–aspects of getting online homework help below.
3 Pros of Using Homework Help Websites
First, let’s take a look at the benefits.
#1: Better Grades Beyond Homework
This is a big one! Getting outside help with your studies can improve your understanding of concepts that you’re learning, which translates into better grades when you take tests or write essays.
Remember: homework is designed to help reinforce the concepts you learned in class. If you just get easy answers without learning the material behind the problems, you may not have the tools you need to be successful on your class exams…or even standardized tests you’ll need to take for college.
#2: Convenience
One of the main reasons that online homework help is appealing is because it’s flexible and convenient. You don’t have to go to a specific tutoring center while they’re open or stay after school to speak with your teacher. Instead, you can access helpful resources wherever you can access the internet, whenever you need them.
This is especially true if you tend to study at off hours because of your extracurriculars, work schedule, or family obligations. Sites that offer 24/7 tutoring can give you the extra help you need if you can’t access the free resources that are available at your school.
#3: Variety
Not everyone learns the same way. Maybe you’re more of a visual learner, but your teacher mostly does lectures. Or maybe you learn best by listening and taking notes, but you’re expected to learn something just from reading the textbook .
One of the best things about online homework help is that it comes in a variety of forms. The best homework help sites offer resources for all types of learners, including videos, practice activities, and even one-on-one discussions with real-life experts.
This variety can also be a good thing if you just don’t really resonate with the way a concept is being explained (looking at you, math textbooks!).

Not so fast. There are cons to homework help websites, too. Get to know them below!
3 Cons of Using Homework Help Websites
Now, let’s take a look at the drawbacks of online homework help.
#1: Unreliable Info
This can be a real problem. In addition to all the really good homework help sites, there are a whole lot of disreputable or unreliable sites out there. The fact of the matter is that some homework help sites don’t necessarily hire people who are experts in the subjects they’re talking about. In those cases, you may not be getting the accurate, up-to-date, and thorough information you need.
Additionally, even the great sites may not be able to answer all of your homework questions. This is especially true if the site uses an algorithm or chatbot to help students…or if you’re enrolled in an advanced or college-level course. In these cases, working with your teacher or school-provided tutors are probably your best option.
#2: No Clarification
This depends on the service you use, of course. But the majority of them provide free or low-cost help through pre-recorded videos. Watching videos or reading info online can definitely help you with your homework… but you can’t ask questions or get immediate feedback if you need it .
#3: Potential For Scamming
Like we mentioned earlier, there are a lot of homework help websites out there, and lots of them are scams. The review comments we read covered everything from outdated or wrong information, to misleading claims about the help provided, to not allowing people to cancel their service after signing up.
No matter which site you choose to use, make sure you research and read reviews before you sign up–especially if it’s a paid service!

When Does “Help” Become “Cheating”?
Admittedly, whether using homework help websites constitutes cheating is a bit of a grey area. For instance, is it “help” when a friend reads your essay for history class and corrects your grammar, or is it “cheating”? The truth is, not everyone agrees on when “help” crosses the line into “cheating .” When in doubt, it can be a good idea to check with your teacher to see what they think about a particular type of help you want to get.
That said, a general rule of thumb to keep in mind is to make sure that the assignment you turn in for credit is authentically yours . It needs to demonstrate your own thoughts and your own current abilities. Remember: the point of every homework assignment is to 1) help you learn something, and 2) show what you’ve learned.
So if a service answers questions or writes essays for you, there’s a good chance using it constitutes cheating.
Here’s an example that might help clarify the difference for you. Brainstorming essay ideas with others or looking online for inspiration is “help” as long as you write the essay yourself. Having someone read it and give you feedback about what you need to change is also help, provided you’re the one that makes the changes later.
But copying all or part of an essay you find online or having someone write (or rewrite) the whole thing for you would be “cheating.” The same is true for other subjects. Ultimately, if you’re not generating your own work or your own answers, it’s probably cheating.

5 Tips for Finding the Best Homework Help Websites for You
Now that you know some of our favorite homework help websites, free and paid, you can start doing some additional research on your own to decide which services might work best for you! Here are some top tips for choosing a homework help website.
Tip 1: Decide How You Learn Best
Before you decide which site or sites you’re going to use for homework help, y ou should figure out what kind of learning style works for you the most. Are you a visual learner? Then choose a site that uses lots of videos to help explain concepts. If you know you learn best by actually doing tasks, choose a site that provides lots of practice exercises.
Tip 2: Determine Which Subjects You Need Help With
Just because a homework help site is good overall doesn’t mean that it’s equally good for every subject. If you only need help in math, choose a site that specializes in that area. But if history is where you’re struggling, a site that specializes in math won’t be much help. So make sure to choose a site that you know provides high-quality help in the areas you need it most.
Tip 3: Decide How Much One-On-One Help You Need
This is really about cost-effectiveness. If you learn well on your own by reading and watching videos, a free site like Khan Academy is a good choice. But if you need actual tutoring, or to be able to ask questions and get personalized answers from experts, a paid site that provides that kind of service may be a better option.
Tip 4: Set a Budget
If you decide you want to go with a paid homework help website, set a budget first . The prices for sites vary wildly, and the cost to use them can add up quick.
Tip 5: Read the Reviews
Finally, it’s always a good idea to read actual reviews written by the people using these homework sites. You’ll learn the good, the bad, and the ugly of what the users’ experiences have been. This is especially true if you intend to subscribe to a paid service. You’ll want to make sure that users think it’s worth the price overall!

What’s Next?
If you want to get good grades on your homework, it’s a good idea to learn how to tackle it strategically. Our expert tips will help you get the most out of each assignment…and boost your grades in the process.
Doing well on homework assignments is just one part of getting good grades. We’ll teach you everything you need to know about getting great grades in high school in this article.
Of course, test grades can make or break your GPA, too. Here are 17 expert tips that’ll help you get the most out of your study prep before you take an exam.
Need more help? Check out Tutorbase!
Our vetted tutor database includes a range of experienced educators who can help you polish an essay for English or explain how derivatives work for Calculus. You can use dozens of filters and search criteria to find the perfect person for your needs.

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.
Student and Parent Forum
Our new student and parent forum, at ExpertHub.PrepScholar.com , allow you to interact with your peers and the PrepScholar staff. See how other students and parents are navigating high school, college, and the college admissions process. Ask questions; get answers.

Ask a Question Below
Have any questions about this article or other topics? Ask below and we'll reply!

Improve With Our Famous Guides
- For All Students
The 5 Strategies You Must Be Using to Improve 160+ SAT Points
How to Get a Perfect 1600, by a Perfect Scorer
Series: How to Get 800 on Each SAT Section:
Score 800 on SAT Math
Score 800 on SAT Reading
Score 800 on SAT Writing
Series: How to Get to 600 on Each SAT Section:
Score 600 on SAT Math
Score 600 on SAT Reading
Score 600 on SAT Writing
Free Complete Official SAT Practice Tests
What SAT Target Score Should You Be Aiming For?
15 Strategies to Improve Your SAT Essay
The 5 Strategies You Must Be Using to Improve 4+ ACT Points
How to Get a Perfect 36 ACT, by a Perfect Scorer
Series: How to Get 36 on Each ACT Section:
36 on ACT English
36 on ACT Math
36 on ACT Reading
36 on ACT Science
Series: How to Get to 24 on Each ACT Section:
24 on ACT English
24 on ACT Math
24 on ACT Reading
24 on ACT Science
What ACT target score should you be aiming for?
ACT Vocabulary You Must Know
ACT Writing: 15 Tips to Raise Your Essay Score
How to Get Into Harvard and the Ivy League
How to Get a Perfect 4.0 GPA
How to Write an Amazing College Essay
What Exactly Are Colleges Looking For?
Is the ACT easier than the SAT? A Comprehensive Guide
Should you retake your SAT or ACT?
When should you take the SAT or ACT?
Stay Informed

Get the latest articles and test prep tips!
Looking for Graduate School Test Prep?
Check out our top-rated graduate blogs here:
GRE Online Prep Blog
GMAT Online Prep Blog
TOEFL Online Prep Blog
Holly R. "I am absolutely overjoyed and cannot thank you enough for helping me!”

W. W. NORTON & COMPANY
Smartwork Direct : Online homework for the way you teach
Smartwork Direct is the most flexible textbook-independent online homework system for general chemistry. Its diverse set of chemistry-specific problem types coach students with hints, animations, and answer-specific feedback. Problems can be organized around your course materials—edited to suit your needs—and adaptive assignments create individualized learning pathways based on each student’s understanding of the material. Starting at $35 per term or $60 for 720 days.
Try an assignment

Smartwork Direct allows instructors to choose from more than 4,500 visual, drawing, chemical equation, and numeric problems, which are automatically graded. Every problem has been written by general chemistry instructors, has been thoroughly class tested, and includes answer-specific feedback and hints when students need them. Students are given a consistent problem-solving strategy that guides them as they work, and tutorial problems break down difficult concepts by defining steps and processes.
Additional features include:

Animations help students visualize chemistry online and in class
ChemTour and Stepwise animations are included with access to Smartwork Direct . ChemTour animations include images, animations, closed captioning, and audio that demonstrate dynamic processes and help students visualize and understand chemistry at the molecular level.

Easy course setup and customization
Instructors can create a course that matches their resources in a matter of minutes. They have the option to select premade assignments curated by an instructor using similar resources, making course setup a snap. In addition, they can choose to modify the content with our easy-to-use editor to reflect the language and notation used in class. Adopters may edit any of the problems, hints, feedback, and premade assignments to fit their course.

Both adaptive and traditional assignments help students master learning objectives
Smartwork Direct offers instructors more ways to help students achieve mastery. The adaptive functionality guides each student through personalized pathways with hints, feedback, and animations. Struggling students who need more practice receive targeted attention and remediation, while higher-performing students can quickly move on to tackling more challenging problems.

- Book A Demo
Homework & Practice
Aktiv Chemistry is a comprehensive online homework platform that helps students build mastery of chemistry. Take advantage of over 15,000 built-in chemistry problems, scaffolded practice, a powerful instructor dashboard, LMS grade syncing, and much more.

All-in-one platform
Comprehensive learning & assessment.
From in-class active learning, homework assignments, and now secure online quizzes and exams, Aktiv Chemistry’s all-in-one platform provides a comprehensive set of features for formative and summative assessments.

In-class or Synchronous Online
Take attendance, post polls & quizzes, enhance traditional worksheets, or promote think-pair-share activities. Learn More

Assign interactive problem sets with instant feedback and automatic grading that sync with institutional LMS gradebooks.

Timed Online Quizzes & Exams
Create summative assessments with question pools, algorithmic problems, and optional integrated proctoring. Learn More
15,000 PROBLEMS OR WRITE YOUR OWN
Extensive content library.
Building engaging classroom activities has never been easier. Aktiv Chemistry provides an extensive library of questions for chemistry courses such as General Chemistry, Introductory Chemistry, GOB Chemistry, Organic Chemistry. The content library includes discipline-specific problem types such as molecule drawing, chemical equations and naming, dimensional analysis, numerical entry, and more.
Easy and flexible authoring also allows instructors to add their own questions.
Learn More About

Draw the Lewis structure of (CHO)OCH₃ and then choose the appropriate set of molecular geometries of the three central atoms. Your answer choice is independent of the orientation of your drawn structure.
The solubility of He in water at 25.0 °C is 7.0 × 10⁻⁵ M when the partial pressure of He is 0.20 atm. What is the value of the Henry's law constant for He ?
- monosaccharide
- oligosaccharide
- monopolysaccharide
- heteropolysaccharide
- homopolysaccharide

According to the balanced reaction below, calculate the moles of NH₃ that form when 4.2 mol of N₂H₄ completely reacts 3 N₂H₄(l) → 4 NH₃(g) + N₂(g)

AFFORDABLE & FLEXIBLE
Built to work with any textbook.
Aktiv Chemistry ’s textbook independent approach means instructors have more flexibility for their courses. Build assignments that align to any major publisher textbook or increasingly popular OER options.
For General Chemistry courses, Aktiv Chemistry also offers seamless integration with the OpenStax Chemistry textbooks.
Student Success
More chemistry, less technology.
Drawing chemical structures, entering subscripts and superscripts, and working with significant figures just shouldn’t be hard. That’s why Aktiv Chemistry was designed from the ground up with the student experience in mind. With intuitive user interfaces and scaffolded and visual modules, our goal is to use technology to lower the barrier to chemistry.
Bring Your Own Device. Any Device.
Students and instructors can access the Aktiv Learning app from any iPhone, iPad, or Android Device. Additionally, the platform is fully accessible on Web with any Mac, PC, or Chromebook.
Aktiv Chemistry ’s mobile-first design ensures that students receive the same experience no matter where they are. Students take advantage of the Aktiv Learning mobile app to work and study on-the-go in places like riding the bus or train, or even on campus when they have downtime.

RANDOMIZATION WITH
Algorithmic problems & question pools.
Aktiv Chemistry offers additional security with both Question Pools and Algorithmic Problems. These features randomize the content that is delivered to each student during homeworks, quizzes, or exams. Instructors can also randomize the order of questions on any assignment.
Built-in variables create thousands of question variants to be delivered that randomize numbers, words, or compounds within the problem statement.
Group together a set of similar questions and deliver a subset of them at random to students.
Problem Pool 1
14 problems in this pool
- Problems to Assign
What is the correct IUPAC name for HBrO(aq)?
What is the correct IUPAC name for Ca(BrO₂)₂?
What is the correct IUPAC name for Ti(ClO₄)₄?
Success Story
Professors from over 700 colleges and universities use Aktiv Chemistry to engage students inside and outside of the classroom. Learn how some of them have transformed their courses.

Helping Students Learn, Interact, and Visualize Chemistry in New Ways

¹ This quote was provided at a time where Aktiv Chemistry was named Chem101. We have replaced the use of Chem101 in any direct quotes with Aktiv Chemistry to minimize confusion.
DESIGNED TO
Support your course, flexible grading policies.
Every Aktiv Chemistry activity has a multitude of grading policies that can be customized depending on the assignment type. Settings include points per problem, participation credit, late submissions with penalties, variable attempts per problem, penalties for incorrect attempts, and more. The Aktiv Chemistry gradebook can be set up to display summary columns or individual columns depending on the assignment type as well.
Industry-leading Support
Any course using Aktiv Chemistry comes with our industry-leading support featuring average response times of 14 minutes and extended hours that include late nights and weekends. Additionally, every Aktiv Chemistry instructor works with an individual member of our Success team that helps with initial course set up, gradebook/LMS integrations, and recommendations for best practices.
LMS Integrated
Aktiv Chemistry’s gradebook can be synced with any popular campus LMS such as Canvas, Blackboard, Moodle, or D2L. The gradebook and associated columns can be customized to separate the various assignment types, to present individual assignments, or display summary columns for each type.

Speak to a Specialist
One of our Learning Specialists will give you a tour of the Aktiv Chemistry or Aktiv Mathematics learning platforms and provide a free instructor playground account with access to the content library.
I Want to Learn More About:

A Greater Way to Educate
Expert TA is educational technology company committed to helping students learn and to providing instructors with tools to create and provide the best learning resources possible.
Online Homework

Editable eBooks with OpenStax

Want a Guided Tour?
Student registration, digital publishing and self-publishing platform, secure exams.
Author your own exam questions or assign from our libraries and administer via our secure testing platform.

Expert TA Blog
- Online Exams, Academic Integrity, and Covid-19 May 28, 2020
- AAPT - Promoting Physics Education November 27, 2018
- Getting Started with Expert TA May 17, 2018
- TCU Addressing Online Cheating - Something Can Be Done May 14, 2018
- Making the Move to a Flipped Classroom April 18, 2018
Testimonials
Expert TA is easy to use, provides great value, and gets the job done at a better price; it really does a good job. The problems are a cut above what I have seen in other web-based homework. They are more complex and detailed. They have more different parts and each one of the problems addresses another aspect of physics. Hector Mireles, Associate Professor of Physics , California State Polytechnic University, Pomona, CA
I went with Expert TA because I had been using a publisher’s system and all of the answers to all of the questions were available on Google. Simon C. Capstick, Ph.D., Associate Professor, Department of Physics , Florida State University, Tallahassee, FL

- Private Tutors

Intuitive , Engaging and Simple!
Create engaging homework in minutes. assign in seconds. mark in an instant. , less work for teachers. more time for students., cure your homework headache.

SKOOLWORK MOBILE APP FOR EVERYONE
Stay connected and informed with the latest news, announcements, homework and messages.
- Receive notifications for homework
- Receive notifications for new messages, news and announcements
- View latest assigned homework
- Complete offline and upload homework
- Create homework and view completion data
- Upload pics and files from phone
- View homework score data
- View ranking details
- View assigned lessons
- View assigned learning projects
- Send homework reminders
- And much more...

- Sign in // Register
Find what you need to succeed.
Ap® updates.
- AP® Updates
- SaplingPlus
- Our Mission
- News & Media
- Accessibility
- Sustainability
- Diversity and Inclusion
- Administrators
- AP® Summer Institutes
- Home Schooler
- International Customers
- LMS Integration
- Program Resources
- Language Arts Mathematics Science Social Studies
- Booksellers
Find Your Rep
- Find Your Account Manager
- BFW Online Store
- Permissions
- Report Piracy
- Training and Demos
- Familiar Features
- Upgrades & Enhancements
- Explore Achieve
- Support for Teachers
Sapling is Moving to Achieve!
Beginning with Fall 2024 classes , Achieve will replace SaplingPlus as the courseware for new and existing BFW products. Achieve delivers the e-book, resources, and adaptive quizzing you love in a more intuitive interface, with easier assignability, and access to robust reports and analytics.
You don't have to do anything yet! If you'd like to get a head start and preview an Achieve sample course, simply request below. We'll be in touch in 2024 when it's time to move.
Request Achieve Preview Access Book a Live Demo
Achieve Incorporates Your Favorite SaplingPlus Features

Each Achieve course comes with a BFW e-book uniquely developed for the course it serves. These e-books include highlighting, note-taking, and search functionality and can be accessed online or downloaded to multiple devices.

Teacher Resources
Teacher resources are easily accessible in Achieve. Your resources include the TE-book, pacing guides, handouts, graphic organizers, PD videos, and more. Your students will benefit from the flashcards, simulations, videos, and tutorials.

Homework and Targeted Feedback
Achieve includes homework assessments that target specific misconceptions or misunderstandings. These formative assessments offer real-time, answer-specific feedback to help students build understanding of complex concepts.
Upgrades You’ll Get in Achieve
New interface.
Achieve’s interface provides a more seamless experience for both teachers and students. This interface is designed to enhance the user experience, streamline the number of clicks to content, and support this environment of teaching and learning.
New Course Branching
Achieve uses Section Management so you can allow full or restricted access to your sections depending on the needs of your district/school.
Advanced Reporting
Achieve’s reporting functionality provides user-friendly data and insights, enabling precise analysis for individual students or entire classes. Teachers can also filter reporting based on learning objectives, units, and more.
Increased Assignment Flexibility
Most assignment settings can be updated in a batch, allowing you to create or edit assignments quicker and easier than in SaplingPlus.
Enhanced Gradebook
Experience a more powerful gradebook designed to simplify and streamline the process of organizing and viewing student grades. You can now add categories to assignments and more easily create student groups and adjust grading policies.
See What’s New in Achieve!
Teachers, Prepare for the Move!
In Fall of 2024, your courses are moving to Achieve, the next generation of SaplingPlus. Learn more about Achieve and how to use it for your upcoming classes.

Request Achieve preview access and find out for yourself how it compares to SaplingPlus.

Discover Achieve’s foundation in learning science and how we developed this next generation online courseware.

Experience a brief demonstration of Achieve's capabilities and discover its potential for you, your class, and your students.
SaplingPlus Support for Teachers For 2023
Please review the following videos designed to assist you in building out your SaplingPlus course! SaplingPlus contains a variety of helpful resources that can either be assigned or used by students for self-study. Depending on the SaplingPlus you have adopted, those resources might include homework, quizzing, videos & more! Most of these resources can be assigned for points in the SaplingPlus gradebook.
Please note that SaplingPlus is moving to Achieve starting in Fall 2024. You don’t need to do anything yet! Just request your preview course and kick the tires. We’ll be in touch in 2024 when it’s time to move.
RECORDING: SaplingPlus Training
In this video, a BFW Client Success Specialist walks through the SaplingPlus program in a recorded training session. Learn how to use the e-book, teacher and student resources, LearningCurve, online homework, gradebook, and more. The specialist uses Friedland/Relyea's Environmental Science for the AP® Course , Third Edition as the sample text, but the tools and tips apply to all SaplingPlus courses.
Access, Set-up, and Log-in
In this short video, a BFW Specialist explains how to access SaplingPlus, set up your course, and have students join.
How to access and download your BFW e-book
RECORDING: Engaging students in online learning
In this webinar, recorded at the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic, a BFW Learning Solutions Specialist explains how SaplingPlus supports recognized theories and models of online learning and student engagement. After viewing this webinar, you should feel empowered to facilitate active virtual learning based on the key functionality of SaplingPlus technology. In particular, the webinar focuses on the system's robust guided feedback, how to create engaging student assessments, how to download and use the e-book, and more.
Training Slide Deck
Review at your own pace with this slide deck from a SaplingPlus training session. The deck includes:
- Setting up your Sapling Course
- Roster-based Clever integration or manual rostering
- Navigating a SaplingPlus Course
- E-book access
- Teacher & Student Resources
- SaplingPlus Assessments
- LearningCurve
- Course Management
- Sapling Support
Additional Support
Access our Knowledge Base/Support Site
Schedule a Live Training Session
Help with Canvas Integration

- Course Design
Online Homework Systems Can Boost Student Achievement
- January 22, 2013
- Maryellen Weimer, PhD
Online homework has great appeal for instructors, especially those teaching large courses. By using online assignments, instructors don’t have to collect, grade, and promptly return large quantities of homework assignments. Online programs provide instructors with feedback on student performance that can be used to modify the presentation of material in class. Online homework is also beneficial to students. They get feedback promptly, even more promptly than that provided by very conscientious instructors. Online homework can also be designed so that it allows students to work on areas that frequently cause trouble and/or on areas where the individual student is having difficulty.
Despite these beneficial design features, there is a need to document quantitatively that completion of online homework positively impacts student achievement. Some work in this area has already been done, and somewhat surprisingly, the results to date are mixed. Some studies reported a positive impact. In some studies, the correlations were weak, and in others online homework had no impact on exam scores. “The lack of consensus on the effectiveness of online homework highlights the need for further investigations.” (p. 71)
This research team decided to go with an online homework system that had showed better student performance than text-based homework in previous research. “For our study, we examined whether the previously reported learning gains for this online homework system were an isolated instance of success, specific to an instructor, or whether the system had the same efficacy when taught by multiple instructors over multiple years.” (p. 72) To answer that question, researchers collected data from 13 sections of the same course, enrolling 3,806 students and taught by five different instructors over a six-year period.
The course was the first term of a yearlong chemistry sequence. Each course was taught using the traditional lecture-discussion format. Individual instructors did make course-related decisions. “We designed the study to examine whether there was a correlation between success and the use of this online homework in different settings in which the instructors were free to make all the teaching decisions.” (p. 72) Instructors had to agree to use the online homework consistently across the course sections.
“The study revealed that the online homework system provided an overall benefit that promoted student learning in large-scale introductory science instruction.” (p. 77) Completion of the homework led to higher scores on the finals. Even when the researchers adjusted for students’ level of preparation for class, “the online homework substantially influenced exam performance.” (p. 70)
Students also noted the value of the homework. In response to a survey question that asked how much each of several aspects of the course helped their learning, they rated the online homework problems in improving their understanding of course material a 3.55 (SD 0.91) out of 5 points possible. In a summary of the student assessments, the researchers write, “Overall, students appreciated online homework most when it was easy to use, carefully planned and integrated seamlessly with course material, and supported by the instructors and teaching assistants.” (p. 77) Among a number of recommendations made for implementing online homework across multiple sections with different instructors, they point out the importance of faculty and teaching assistant attitudes toward online homework. “If the instructors and teaching assistants enthusiastically embraced the approach, integrating the assignments with their course materials, their students embraced it too.” (p. 76)
Reference: Arasasinghma, R. D., Martorell, I., and McIntire, T. M. (2011). Online homework and student achievement in a large enrollment introductory science course. Journal of College Science Teaching , 40 (6), 70-79.
Reprinted from Online Homework Makes a Difference, The Teaching Professor , 25.10 (2011): 2.
Sign Up for Faculty Focus!

- Opens in a new tab


Login to Lumen Ohm

Search code, repositories, users, issues, pull requests...
Provide feedback.
We read every piece of feedback, and take your input very seriously.
Saved searches
Use saved searches to filter your results more quickly.
To see all available qualifiers, see our documentation .
WeBWorK -- Open Source Online Homework System
- 37 followers
- University of Rochester, Washington DC, etc.
- http://webwork.maa.org/wiki
- thewebworkproject@gmail.com
Course management front end for WeBWorK
Perl 137 162
Problem rendering engine for WeBWorK
A library of WeBWorK problems contributed by the OpenWeBWorK community
PostScript 221 415
Forked from drdrew42/renderer
PG Renderer
TypeScript 1 4
Repositories
The next generation of webwork software.
moodle webwork assignment activity module
Documentation towards a uniform interface to the PG renderer.
WeBWorK Install Script
Top languages
Most used topics.
- Published: 15 October 2020
A Comparison of the Effects of Two Different Online Homework Systems on Levels of Knowledge Retention in General Chemistry Students
- Leena Nabulsi 1 ,
- Amy Nguyen 1 &
- Oluwatobi Odeleye ORCID: orcid.org/0000-0002-0334-0268 1
Journal of Science Education and Technology volume 30 , pages 31–39 ( 2021 ) Cite this article
925 Accesses
3 Citations
1 Altmetric
Metrics details
Online homework systems have been shown to help student achievement in chemistry courses. This study sought to compare the levels of knowledge retention in students over the course of a semester, using two different types of homework systems—the adaptive-responsive system and the traditional-responsive system. Two sections of a first semester general chemistry course were investigated, with one section using the adaptive-responsive system and the other using the traditional-responsive system. Students’ grades on cumulative exams were compared across both sections, and it was found that students using the adaptive-responsive system scored significantly higher on the exams and retained significantly more information than the students in the other section. The results of this study should help inform the choices educators make regarding the homework system they choose to use, or even which parts of the different systems they choose to use or not to use based on the outcomes they would like for their student population.
This is a preview of subscription content, access via your institution .
Access options
Buy single article.
Instant access to the full article PDF.
Price includes VAT (Russian Federation)
Rent this article via DeepDyve.

Arora, M. L., Rho, Y. J., & Masson, C. (2013). Longitudinal study of online statics homework as a method to improve learning. Journal of STEM Education, 14 (1), 36–44.
Google Scholar
Burch, K. J. and Kuo, Y-J. (2010). Traditional vs. online homework in college algebra. Mathematics and Computer Education, 44 (1), 53–63.
Butler, A. C., Marsh, E. J., Slavinsky, J. P., & Baraniuk, R. G. (2014). Integrating cognitive science and technology improves learning in a STEM classroom. Educational Psychology Review, 26, 331–340.
Article Google Scholar
Cengage (2019). MindTap - The leading digital learning tool . [online]. Available at: https://www.cengage.com/mindtap/ [accessed 28 July 2019].
Centre for evaluation and monitoring, (2019). Effect size resources. [online]. Avaliable at: https://www.cem.org/effect-size-resources [accessed 26 Nov. 2019].
Eichler, J. F., & Peeples, J. (2013). Online homework put to the test: A report on the impact of two online learning systems on student performance in general chemistry. Journal of Chemical Education, 90 (9), 1137–1143.
Ertmer, P. A., & Newby, T. J. (1993). Behaviorism, cognitivism, constructivism: Comparing critical features from an instructional design perspective. Performance improvement quarterly, 6 (4), 50–72.
Gill, R. (2011). Effective strategies for engaging students in large-lecture, nonmajors science courses. Journal of College Science Teaching, 41 (2), 14–21.
Heflin, H., Shewmaker, J., & Nguyen, J. (2017). Impact of mobile technology on student attitudes, engagement, and learning. Computers & Education, 107, 91–99.
Herreid, C. F., & Schiller, N. A. (2013). Case studies and the flipped classroom. Journal of College Science Teaching, 42 (5), 62–66.
Hibbard, L., Sung, S., & Wells, B. (2015). Examining the effectiveness of a semi-self-paced flipped learning format in a college general chemistry sequence. Journal of Chemical Education, 93 (1), 24–30.
Macmillan Learning (2019). Sapling Learning . [online] Available at: https://www.macmillanlearning.com/college/us/digital/sapling [accessed 28 July 2019].
Mason, D. (2015). Knowledge decay and content retention of students in first-semester general chemistry. Lumat, 3 (3), 341–352.
McGraw-Hill, (2019). Overview of ALEKS . [online]. Avaliable at: https://www.aleks.com/about_aleks/overview [accessed 28 July 2019].
McGraw-Hill, (2020). Knowledge Space Theory. [online]. Available at: https://www.aleks.com/about_aleks/knowledge_space_theory [accessed 17 March 2020].
McLeod, G. (2003). Learning theory and instructional design. Learning Matters, 2 (3), 35–43.
McLeod, S. A. (2019). What does effect size tell you? Simply psychology [online]. Available at: https://www.simplypsychology.org/effect-size.html [accessed 14 September 2020].
Parker, L. L., & Loudon, G. M. (2012). Case study using online homework in undergraduate organic chemistry: Results and student attitudes. Journal of Chemical Education, 90 (1), 37–44.
Pearson (2019). The learning science behind Pearson mastering chemistry . [online]. Avaliable at: https://www.pearsonmylabandmastering.com/northamerica/masteringchemistry/educators/learning-science/index.html [accessed 28 July 2019].
Revell, K. D. (2013). A comparison of the usage of tablet PC, lecture capture, and online homework in an introductory chemistry course. Journal of Chemical Education, 91, 48–51.
Richards-Babb, M., Drelick, J., Henry, Z., & Robertson-Honecker, J. (2011). Online homework, help or hindrance? What students think and how they perform. Journal of College Science Teaching, 40 (4), 81–93.
Richards-Babb, M., Curtis, R., Georgieva, Z., & Penn, J. H. (2015). Student perceptions of online homework use for formative assessment of learning in organic chemistry. Journal of Chemical Education, 92 (11), 1813–1819.
Richards-Babb, M., Curtis, R., Ratcliff, B., Roy, A., & Mikalik, T. (2018). General chemistry student attitudes and success with use of online homework: Traditional-responsive versus adaptive-responsive. Journal of Chemical Education, 95 (5), 691–699.
Roschelle, J., Feng, M., Murphy, R. F., & Mason, C. A. (2016). Online mathematics homework increases student achievement. AERA Open, 2 (4), 1–12.
Turner, S., & Peck, D. (2010). Can we do school science better? Facing the problem of student engagement. Education Canada, 49 (2), 54–57.
WileyPLUS (2019). Case Studies . [online] Avaliable at: https://www.wileyplus.com/case-studies/ [accessed 28 July 2019].
Williamson, V. M., & Zumalt, C. J. (2017). How do general chemistry students’ impressions, attitutdes, perceived learning, and course performance vary with the arrangement of homework questions and E-text? Chemistry Education Research and Practice, 18, 785–797.
Download references
Acknowledgments
The authors would like to thank all the individuals at the University of Oklahoma who willingly participated in this study.
Author information
Authors and affiliations.
Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, University of Oklahoma, Norman, OK, 73019, USA
Leena Nabulsi, Amy Nguyen & Oluwatobi Odeleye
You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar
Corresponding author
Correspondence to Oluwatobi Odeleye .
Ethics declarations
Conflict of interest.
The authors declare that they have no conflict of interest.
Ethical Statement
All procedures that were carried out in this study involving human participants were approved by the Institutional Review Board (IRB) at the University of Oklahoma, IRB no. 9489.
Consent Statement
All participants in this student received an online consent form, attached to the online survey, which was approved by the IRB. Study participation was voluntary, and participants were required to accept (or decline) the terms of the consent forms before completing the survey.
Additional information
Publisher’s note.
Springer Nature remains neutral with regard to jurisdictional claims in published maps and institutional affiliations.
Rights and permissions
Reprints and Permissions
About this article
Cite this article.
Nabulsi, L., Nguyen, A. & Odeleye, O. A Comparison of the Effects of Two Different Online Homework Systems on Levels of Knowledge Retention in General Chemistry Students. J Sci Educ Technol 30 , 31–39 (2021). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10956-020-09872-2
Download citation
Accepted : 01 October 2020
Published : 15 October 2020
Issue Date : February 2021
DOI : https://doi.org/10.1007/s10956-020-09872-2
Share this article
Anyone you share the following link with will be able to read this content:
Sorry, a shareable link is not currently available for this article.
Provided by the Springer Nature SharedIt content-sharing initiative
- First-year undergraduate
- High school/general chemistry
- Knowledge retention
- Online homework systems
- Student-centered learning
- Testing/assessment
Advertisement
- Find a journal
- Publish with us
- More from M-W
- To save this word, you'll need to log in. Log In
Definition of homework
Examples of homework in a sentence.
These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'homework.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
Word History
1662, in the meaning defined at sense 1
Dictionary Entries Near homework
Cite this entry.
“Homework.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary , Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/homework. Accessed 25 Nov. 2023.
Kids Definition
Kids definition of homework, more from merriam-webster on homework.
Thesaurus: All synonyms and antonyms for homework
Nglish: Translation of homework for Spanish Speakers
Britannica English: Translation of homework for Arabic Speakers
Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about homework
Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!

Can you solve 4 words at once?
Word of the day.
See Definitions and Examples »
Get Word of the Day daily email!
Games & Quizzes


IMAGES
VIDEO
COMMENTS
Edfinity has a clean, attractive interface and has been the easiest homework system to get up to speed of all the ones that I have used or tried out. Edfinity has good sets of exercises, while having a nice selection of additional problems that can be added in. Additionally, the support team has been very responsive to questions and suggestions.
Cengage OWLv2 Deliver online homework in a mastery-based learning environment offering just-in-time support, study resources and eTextbook access OWLv2 Support Learning at Every Stage with OWLv2 OWLv2 makes Chemistry concepts clear and accessible; students practice at their own pace and access resources to help them achieve better grades.
Sign into Achieve Overview Disciplines Benefits & Features Proven Student Success Hear from Users Peer Consultants Macmillan Learning's Digital Courseware Platform Designed to foster engaged active learning in the classroom, Achieve complements your unique teaching style and course needs.
Courseware: Online Homework Manager | Lumen Learning OHM offers thoughtfully designed course materials faculty can customize to meet students' needs. OHM empowers students in building a strong foundation in math.
Part of the world's leading collection of online homework, tutorial, and assessment products, Pearson MyLab Math is designed with a single purpose in mind: to improve the results of all higher education students, one student at a time. ... Pearson also provides Learning Management System (LMS) integration services so you can easily access MyLab ...
Connect is a complete course platform that enables you to take your students further. It supports you by automating time-consuming prep work, simplifying the addition of instructors to any section, and surfacing more information with fewer clicks. Connect with us Watch Video 7.5% Higher Test Scores
Achieve Essentials | Online Homework System | Macmillan Learning US Achieve Read & Practice Essentials Compare What's New? Students, you can find your Achieve course on our student store. Access Your Course Overview Disciplines Benefits & Features Proven Student Success Hear from Users Achieve Essentials
Mastering is the most effective and widely used online homework, tutorial, and assessment system for the sciences. Over three million science students are currently using Mastering in the following disciplines: Mastering A&P Mastering Astronomy Mastering Biology Mastering Chemistry Mastering Engineering & Computer Science
WebWork (Mathematical Assocation of America) WeBWorK is an open-source online homework system for math and sciences courses. WeBWorK is supported by the MAA and the NSF and comes with a Open Problem Library (OPL) [see below] of over 20,000 homework problems. Problems in the NPL target most lower division undergraduate math courses and some ...
Best Paid Homework Help Site: Chegg. Price: $14.95 to $19.95 per month. Best for: 24/7 homework assistance. This service has three main parts. The first is Chegg Study, which includes textbook solutions, Q&A with subject experts, flashcards, video explanations, a math solver, and writing help.
Smartwork Direct is the most flexible textbook-independent online homework system for general chemistry. Its diverse set of chemistry-specific problem types coach students with hints, animations, and answer-specific feedback.
Aktiv Chemistry is a comprehensive online homework platform that helps students build mastery of chemistry. Take advantage of over 15,000 built-in chemistry problems, scaffolded practice, a powerful instructor dashboard, LMS grade syncing, and much more. Book a Demo All-in-one platform Comprehensive Learning & Assessment
Online Homework. Text-book independent online homework platform for a number of subjects, with accompanying additional resources. All subjects offer complex question types and specific feedback for incorrect answers. Explore all Subjects. Editable eBooks with OpenStax.
Promote Learning By Rewarding Progress and Attainment. Learn More. A complete school homework management tool to provide online and offline homework covering all subjects. Choose from quizzes, short answers, multiple choice, written, upload and interactive activities. Now includes live video lessons and remote learning.
OER and Online Homework Systems Looking for an elegant solution. By Matt Reed I'm hoping some wise and worldly readers have found, figured out or devised an elegant solution to this one. How do you keep the textbook cost of a math class at zero without sacrificing an online homework platform?
Teacher Resources Teacher resources are easily accessible in Achieve. Your resources include the TE-book, pacing guides, handouts, graphic organizers, PD videos, and more. Your students will benefit from the flashcards, simulations, videos, and tutorials. Homework and Targeted Feedback
Online Homework Systems Can Boost Student Achievement January 22, 2013 Maryellen Weimer, PhD Online homework has great appeal for instructors, especially those teaching large courses. By using online assignments, instructors don't have to collect, grade, and promptly return large quantities of homework assignments.
Login. or. Enroll In a New Course. What is Lumen OHM? Forgot Password. Forgot Username. Request an instructor account.
of an online homework system when teaching tertiary mathematics is a feature of 21st century teaching and has a definite role to play in the blended learning model followed by many tertiary institutions. The motivation for turning to online homework systems includes: providing effective tuition for increased enrolment figures, ...
The Webwork Project is an organization of mathematicians and technologists supporting the WeBWorK open source online homework system. 37 followers University of Rochester, Washington DC, etc.
Buy It Online! Yes, it is easy and quick! 5homework.com provides you homework at a low price cheaper than any other websites. Perfect quality and online support! We have considerable experience in the sphere of homework online help; that's why we think we know what kind of help a student needs. Just buy university assignments online and enjoy.
Online homework systems have been shown to help student achievement in chemistry courses. This study sought to compare the levels of knowledge retention in students over the course of a semester, using two different types of homework systems—the adaptive-responsive system and the traditional-responsive system. Two sections of a first semester general chemistry course were investigated, with ...
How to use homework in a sentence. piecework done at home for pay; an assignment given to a student to be completed outside the regular class period… See the full definition