What this is, in plain English
A daily reflection is a 10 minute review that turns today’s numbers and notes into a single concrete action for tomorrow. A bottleneck is the narrowest point that limits your score, such as TF accuracy or filler control. A leading indicator changes quickly with practice, for example fillers per minute. A lagging indicator moves slowly, like band score. A next-step recipe is a short rule that maps a problem to a drill.

Why advanced learners need this
Band 7 comes from fast feedback loops, not long diaries. You want a small system that captures evidence, picks the right lever, and tells you exactly what to do next, without guesswork or guilt.

The 4-stage Daily Generator

1. Capture
   Log three to five KPIs only. Good defaults:

• Reading accuracy percent and one error tag, for example scope, paraphrase, order.
• Listening accuracy percent and one error tag, for example left or right, numbers, maps.
• Speaking: words per minute, fillers per minute, percent of final falls.
• Writing: errors per 100 words, task response coverage tick, numbers per paragraph.
  Add one sentence: the clearest win or the clearest stumble.

1. Diagnose
   Pick the one bottleneck using thresholds.

• Reading: below 80 percent timed → accuracy bottleneck.
• Listening: map or number errors > 30 percent → orientation or numerals bottleneck.
• Speaking: fillers per minute > 3 or final falls < 60 percent → delivery bottleneck.
• Writing: missing a prompt part or > 6 errors per 100 words → task or grammar bottleneck.

1. Decide
   Use a next-step recipe. Examples:

• Reading TF or YN error due to scope → run NG proof rule on 8 items tomorrow.
• Headings confusion → 90 second gist map, then 3 step match test on 6 paragraphs.
• Listening maps → 5 step Map Method with a 700 ms facing-cue pause.
• Speaking fillers → buffer line plus 300 to 500 ms planning pauses in a 2 minute answer.
• Writing task response → Coverage Matrix with one job per body and one evidence line each.

1. Plan
   Schedule a 15 minute mini-block for the drill. Write it like a command: “08:30, Shadow 30, then re-record Part 2, aim FPM ≤ 2”. Keep one metric target.

Two worked examples

Example 1 — Reading day
Capture: 40 mixed items in 55 minutes, 31 correct → 77.5 percent. Errors: 4 scope, 3 paraphrase, 2 order.
Diagnose: accuracy bottleneck driven by scope.
Decide: NG proof rule on 8 TF items, plus scope word underlining.
Plan: 19:00 to 19:15, “8 in 8” ladder, target ≥ 6 correct, note each extreme word that drove the choice.

Example 2 — Speaking day
Capture: Part 2, 2 minutes, 236 words → 118 WPM, fillers per minute 3.2, final falls 55 percent.
Diagnose: delivery bottleneck, fillers.
Decide: buffer “That is a fair question” plus thought groups of 4 to 7 words; metronome 110 bpm.
Plan: 07:45 to 08:00, three takes of the same card, target FPM ≤ 2 and final falls ≥ 75 percent.

The reflection card you can reuse (fill in five lines)

• Today’s top metric: …
• Bottleneck: …
• Cause tag: scope, paraphrase, numbers, maps, fillers, task response, grammar
• Recipe: rule that fixes the cause
• Tomorrow’s 15 min block: time, drill, numeric target

Pin three card examples on your wall so the routine feels automatic.

Mini case — Zayan in Dhaka

Zayan studied for hours but improved slowly. He switched to the generator. Week 1 numbers: Reading 72 to 79 percent, Speaking fillers 4.8 to 2.1 per minute, Writing errors per 100 words 9 to 6. The key change was one drill per day tied to a number. By week 3 he averaged Reading 84 percent timed and Speaking final falls 82 percent. His teacher noted clearer focus and fewer rambles.

Measurable tips

• Keep the reflection to 10 minutes. If it grows, you will skip it.
• Limit to one bottleneck and one recipe per day.
• Write targets in the same unit as the KPI, for example Accuracy percent, fillers per minute.
• Review weekly with medians to ignore a single bad day.
• Tag each error once only. Too many tags equals no diagnosis.

Common mistakes

• Writing a diary without numbers.
• Picking three goals for one day.
• Swapping drills before you complete three sessions.
• Logging minutes instead of items for reading or listening.
• Vague next steps such as “do more reading” rather than “8 TF with NG rule”.

Edge cases and safe responses

• Plateau two weeks at the same accuracy: switch set type or add one untimed analysis session where you justify every answer with a quote.
• Low energy day: protect consistency with a low-load drill, for example confusables or clause control for 10 minutes.
• Exam month: reduce volume, keep the reflection, and run one full simulation per week to stabilise timing.

Tips and tricks

• Pre-print five reflection cards for the week, so you only fill boxes.
• Use phone alarms named with the drill, not just times.
• Keep a tiny bank of recipes taped to your desk: NG proof rule, 3 step match test, Coverage Matrix, Map Method, Slash and Cap for thought groups.
• Reward the habit, not the result. Tick the card when you complete the 15 minute block, even if the metric misses once.

To avoid

• Moving targets mid-session.
• Writing long post-mortems that do not change tomorrow.
• Chasing WPM above clarity.
• Changing two variables at once when you are testing a fix.

Glossary

Bottleneck — the narrowest point that limits progress.
Leading indicator — metric that responds quickly to practice.
Lagging indicator — metric that moves slowly, such as band score.
Recipe — a rule that maps a problem to a drill.
Coverage Matrix — a quick grid that ensures all task parts are answered.
NG proof rule — two checks to justify Not Given confidently.

Next steps

Print five reflection cards. Tonight, run Capture and Diagnose, then select one recipe. Book a 15 minute block for tomorrow morning with one numeric target. On Sunday, compute medians for your three main KPIs and pick the single bottleneck for next week.

1. Actionable closing — Myth vs fact

• Myth: More hours guarantee progress.
  Fact: Daily consistency with one bottlenecked drill moves faster than long unplanned study.
• Myth: Reflection is journaling.
  Fact: Reflection is numbers plus a next-step recipe you can do tomorrow in 15 minutes.
• Myth: You need many goals to cover weaknesses.
  Fact: One bottleneck per day prevents split focus and speeds feedback.
• Myth: If a drill feels easy, you are improving.
  Fact: Improvement shows in the KPI. Change the drill only after three sessions without gain.
• Myth: Skip the log on bad days.
  Fact: Short logs protect the habit and keep your averages honest.

CTA: Fill one reflection card now. Choose a single bottleneck and attach a 15 minute recipe with a numeric target. Set a phone alarm with the drill name, then run the plan tomorrow morning. Track the metric for seven days and keep the habit under ten minutes.