Do and make are among the most confused verbs in English because many languages use a single verb for both. English splits them, and the choice is mostly about what kind of thing the noun is.
Do describes actions, tasks, jobs and activities: you perform something that already exists as a duty or a process. Make describes creating, producing or constructing something that did not exist before: a thing, a result, a plan.
| Do | Make |
|---|---|
| do the dishes | make a cake |
| do your homework | make a decision |
| do a favour | make a mistake |
| do the shopping | make a phone call |
| do business | make money |
Many pairs simply have to be learned. Compare "do an exercise" with "make an exception", and "do harm" with "make peace". If you are unsure, remember that make usually leaves a visible or countable result (a cake, a list, a mistake), while do usually describes the activity itself.
When you read English, notice which verb goes with each noun and write the pair down as one unit. Learning collocations, not single words, is the fastest way to stop mixing up do and make.