What can I do to help ESL students do well on homework and tests? Depending on where the student is from, homework may not be something that the student or parents are familiar and the vocabulary, wording of the questions, topic and various other aspects of the test/homework may be difficult for the students to comprehend. If they are showing difficulties in class, they will have difficulties at home. Plus, there may not be someone at home to help, especially if English is not spoken at home. th