How-to playbook with numbered steps

Define the smallest daily win

A streak is a count of consecutive days you complete a target. Set a minimum viable action, the tiniest version that still moves the needle.

• Writing: 1 claim sentence plus 1 example.
• Speaking: 60 seconds Part 2 outline out loud.
• Reading: map 1 paragraph, first and last line only.
• Listening: mark numbers and units for 6 items.
  Benchmark: 10 to 15 minutes per day is enough to start a streak.

Build a visible tracker

Use a paper grid or phone widget. Show today, the last 7 days, and your current streak.

• Rule: never let the chain break two days in a row.
• Add a weekly count-up line, total minutes trained.
  Tip: place the tracker where you open your laptop or keep your phone.

Set honest streak math

Not every day has the same weight. Use these scoring rules.

• Full credit: you complete the minimum action.
• Double credit: you also do one plus task, for example one extra Speaking answer.
• Safety credit: on crisis days, do a 3 minute micro task, for example read one graph, and keep the streak alive.
  Guardrail: no triple credit. Extra work does not buy future days.

Attach rewards that reinforce, not distract

A reward is a small, planned treat that follows the streak.

• Daily: 10 minutes of a favourite show or a snack after study.
• Weekly: a coffee with a friend after 6 of 7 days completed.
• Milestone: a low cost item after 21 straight days.
  Rule of thumb: reward value grows slowly with streak length. Keep it modest so the habit is the main win.

Use templates you can copy

A. 14-day streak card

• Target: 14 checks in 16 calendar days.
• Columns: Date, Skill, Minimum action done Y/N, Plus task Y/N, Minutes.
• Success line: at least 12 checks, at least 120 total minutes.

B. Reward menu

• Level 1 after 6 checks: favourite dessert.
• Level 2 after 12 checks: small book or app.
• Level 3 after 21 checks: day trip or class.

C. Fail-safe plan

• Decide now the 3 minute emergency actions per skill.
• Store one offline Speaking prompt list and one offline Reading passage in case the internet drops.

Add friction to bad defaults

Make skipping harder and starting easy.

• Put phone on a different desk for 15 minutes.
• Open the exact tab or notebook the night before.
• Use temptation bundling, pairing study with a pleasant cue, for example tea only during Writing.

Track results, not feelings

Feelings vary, but numbers guide. Each Sunday, log:

• Total checks, total minutes, longest streak, banded practice count, for example 2 Speaking, 3 Reading.
• Two errors you repeated and how you will block them next week.

Run two concrete examples

Example 1, Speaking:
You set 60 seconds planning plus 120 seconds speaking for one Part 2. After 10 days your longest streak is 6. You added a rule, prepare hooks first, and your next recording starts clean in under 5 seconds.

Example 2, Writing:
You commit to one claim plus one example daily. On day 8 you add the limit line habit, for example works in dense city centres. Your paragraphs become tighter at 80 to 100 words.

Mini case, busy week rescue

Ariana works full time and tutors part time. Her last streak broke at day 5 when relatives visited. She now uses safety credit. During a family dinner week she reads one paragraph map on her phone before bed, 3 minutes, for four days. The streak survives, and on Saturday she does a 25 minute catch-up Speaking session. Net result, 13 checks in 14 days and no restart pain.

Mistakes to avoid

• Overloading the minimum action. If it takes 30 minutes, reduce scope.
• Buying big rewards early. Keep them small until day 21.
• Letting the tracker hide in an app folder. It must be visible.
• Chasing streak length over skill coverage. Rotate skills.

Edge cases

• Illness or travel, pause the streak. Restart with a 3 day ramp, 5 minutes per day, then return to normal.
• Exam in 10 days, switch to exam taper, shorter daily sessions with stronger review, not new content.
• Shared laptop or power cuts, keep a paper card and an offline task list.

Quick diagnostics table

Mini glossary

• Streak: consecutive day count of completed actions.
• Minimum viable action: smallest step that advances the skill.
• Plus task: optional stretch task after the minimum is done.
• Temptation bundling: pairing a habit with a pleasant cue to make it stick.

Actionable closing
Pick one skill and set a 14-day streak card. Define a 10 minute minimum action, place a visible tracker, and choose a Level 1 reward. Add one emergency 3 minute task per skill. Start tonight, log your first check, and review numbers next Sunday. If a day fails, use safety credit, then continue.