We’ve all been there. After a long night of some serious slacking off, or an extended period of procrastination, the teacher walks in and says, “Students, take out your homework”. What homework? Oh. That homework. At the risk of divulging state secrets, here are ten excuses that we’re sure each and every student has used when this happened. Let us know if we missed any in the comments.

1. I left it at home

Whether or not we had actually done it, this excuse sure did the job with getting us out of hot water with our teachers. It also bought us some extra time to go home and get it done for real.

2. I didn’t understand it

Usually met with the response of: “Why didn’t you come to me before?”. Then our response: “Er…”

3. I don’t know what homework you’re talking about/I wasn’t there when it was given

This one was a classic, especially if you had fallen asleep during the class the assignment was given in. With just the right amount of confusion on your face and whole lot of sincerity in our voice we got a bit of mileage out of this one.

4. I was sick

Maybe we actually were, maybe we were just a little lazy.

5. I packed my bag for the wrong day

Another classic. Some of us will go as far as to tell the teacher to look in our bags so we could prove we weren’t lying.

6. I didn’t have access to a printer

For the teachers who demanded we present only neat, organised work and nothing less, here’s what we used to placate them. Couple this excuse with a promise to get it to them at a later date, we were all good to go.

7. My group members weren’t co-operating

In truth we probably didn’t even know who our group members were, let alone meet as a group, but hey, the teacher didn’t know that now did they? However, there was always that one person out of the group who would take the initiative and do the work on their own to ensure their grade was secured. If that was you, big up yuh self.

8. My internet was down

“We have several computers in the library/IT labs Mr/Ms student.”

9. The electricity was out

No homework? No problem. There’s no way on earth that the teacher could have known whether or not you really had electricity in your house anyways…unless they lived near you.

10. Didn’t know it was due today

Not quite as weak as “dog ate it”, but still pretty weak, if we’re being honest.