The aim of the study was to explore Swedish high school students’ experiences of group workduring Home Economics (HE) woodwork, with a specific focus on the factors they consideredimportant and how the group work was organized. A total of 21 interviews with 23 participantswere analyzed using thematic analysis. The findings indicate that while teachers establishedthe groups, students were responsible for organizing the division of tasks within them. A keyaspect was the importance of communication, which facilitated task allocation as studentsdiscussed their preferences and prior knowledge. When focusing on the work, students valueda balanced workload with appropriately challenging tasks to achieve a successful outcomeefficiently. Additionally, enjoyment, a sense of security, and having fun were important; thus,many preferred collaborating with familiar peers, even if this sometimes negatively affectedefficiency. Successful group work in HE relies on effective communication among students.However, an emphasis on outcomes over processes may hinder learning opportunities anddiscourage engagement with unfamiliar tasks, suggesting a need for more reflective practicesin group work to prioritize educational goals.