"You Better Not Waste My Time" is a mid-paced track which features an upbeat rhythm consisting of lightly placed keys, horns and strong bass.

[4] A writer for the Manchester Evening News praised the track's slick production and deemed its central hook as "one to die for," adding, "This single has a real sense of urgency about it and gets right in your head within seconds.

"[6] The writer went on to mention that the song's combination of rap and "superb vocals" is what lifts it as a complete product, concluding that Tulisa's Fergie-like harmony is the track's most essential component.

[6] The newspaper's writer was however critical of N-Dubz' sound, opining that they are a "teen version of The Black Eyed Peas" sonically, but, "You'd rather your kids listened to this than Samanda, surely?

"[6] Emma Warren from The Guardian positively reviewed "You Better Not Waste My Time" writing, "This pop-friendly slice of MC culture riffs on well trodden topics but it does so in such ebullient style that it hardly matters.

"[7] Warren went on to highlight the song's target market, mentioning, "Currently being played at tinny top volume by kids on buses nationwide.

[8] Digital Spy's Alex Fletcher awarded "You Better Not Waste My Time" a three (out of five)-star rating, deeming the group's "cock-sure" attitude and bravado as one that "makes a refreshing change from the twee and retiring indie chaps that generally clog the nations airwaves.

"[5] Fletcher felt that the song manifested the group's ear for a decent tune, adding, "The haunting piano line and reverberating bass thumps should find themselves on a million kids' ringtones.

"[5] Fletcher was however critical of the song's lyrical content, opining, "the bitter lyrics about disparaging school teachers are not attractive, " and felt that the group's "brand of grimy, haunting garage is somewhere between the So Solid Crew, Blazin' Squad comic book gangster nonsense of a few years back and the far more acceptable sounds of UK hip-hop stars Kano and Sway.

"[5] "You Better Not Waste My Time" originally peaked at number 141 on the UK Singles Chart on 11 November 2006,[9] following its independent release on LRC Records.