What Atomic Habits Teach Us About 11+ Prep

James Clear's Atomic Habits has had a remarkable impact since its release in October 2018, becoming one of the bestselling non-fiction books of all time. Many avid readers as well as people seeking to improve their daily productivity have read the book, including many parents.The book has led to a lifestyle learning mentality among many adults but what about the kids, specifically children preparing for the competitive 11plus exam.

We are here to distill some of the lessons that can be crucial for parents to prepare their kids for the competitive exam so that it feels less like a dreadful burden and more like breathing - effortless, automatic and woven into the rhythm of family life. We call it effortless learning and here are some of its principles:

1% daily improvement compounds exponentially

One of the most important thing for a parent to takeaway from the book is that tiny bits of efforts do add up to result in real change. We at Phoenixademy are a staunch believer that 11 plus prep is a marathon, not a sprint - you’ll succeed by putting in hard work throughout the year instead of cramming and pulling all-nighters days before the exam.

Some actionable steps can include creating morning hacks such as sneaking synonyms into breakfast banter with your kid or reciting 10 times table on the commute to school – make it into a rhythm - it’s earworm learning they can’t resist.

Clear’s research shows habits stick when tied to existing routines (*habit stacking*). Pair new terms with tooth-brushing or shoe-tying rituals so whenever they go to brush their teeth or tie their shoes, they have to apply the new 11 plus vocabulary word in a sentence.

Four Laws of 11+ Success

These laws focus on one of our key principles: Learning behavior and approach is context-dependent so make the environment conducive for the exam outcome we want.

• Make it easy means making the preparation process easier. It can be by preloading the BBC Bitesize quizzes on their tablet home screen, setting up a simple study environment with a desk and chair, away from the distractions and signing up with Phoenixademy to make the preparation process as easy as it can be.

• Make it attractive so that instead of running away from 11plus prep, they run towards it and are eager to engage. This can be done by turning errors into “Easter egg hunts” with chocolate rewards for every 3 mistakes identified or getting 5 consecutive questions right to get a Freddo etc.

• Make it obvious without making it too obvious so that the preparation becomes part of the stealth learning lifestyle. This means putting sticky notes on the fridge with word/meaning of difficult words, poetic techniques on post-its (simile, metaphor, alliteration) on bathroom mirror, leaving flashcards on the PS5 console to review before gaming or keeping a “Question Jar” for traffic jam quizzes.

• Make it satisfying so that they participate with enthusiasm and feel the improvement and progress happening. Create a “Progress Pizza” where for every 20 mins studied, we add a slice. This is also effective as wins turn into something real which is better than vague promises.

Identity Over Outcomes

As Clear notes: “Every action you take is a vote for the type of person you wish to become…small habits can make a meaningful difference by providing evidence of a new identity.”

As a family preparing for 11 plus prep, take the perspective that we are the family of learners who:

• Spot literary devices during movie/tv time

• Calculate restaurant bills before the check arrives

• Replace everyday words with their 11 plus approved vocabulary

This will help boost their confidence as they would know they are not in this alone preparing for a certain outcome but something we do for fun/bonding in our family.

The 20-Minute Sweet Spot

Clear’s two minute rule focuses on starting small and taking the first steps to take on any challenging or daunting task. In our case, we advise on taking the 20-min approach to learning which can take the following form:

• Phase 1: Doing a 30 day challenge of 5 min speed-reading a comprehension passage or solving 2 challenging NVR (Non-Verbal Reasoning) patterns

• Phase 2: From day 31 - day 60, annotating a creative writing snippet or debating a documentary’s persuasive techniques for 10 min

• Phase 3: From day 61 onwards, the full 20-min session would feel automatic

To build a customized 20-min plan for your child, contact us at contact@phoenixademy.com or our insta @phoenix.ademy, and we’ll be happy to get your child on the effortless learning approach.

Set-it back

We all have setbacks and tend to procrastinate and parents are no exception. So we say when (not if) motivation dips, apply the “Never Miss Twice”* rule which essentially means if we miss one planned learning activity, try to do it the next day. For a ratio problem that we forgot to revise after dinner, we can try to tackle it the next morning over cereal.

For the curious parents (or the skeptical ones) on why this approach works, time magnifies the margin between success and failure. So thirty of those 20-minute sessions that we squeezed in our busy routines for our kids accumulate to 10 hours per month and 60+ hours over six months which in 11 plus world is equivalent to 15 mock exams, minus the tears. By framing prep as identity-building (“We’re learners”) not goal-chasing (“We need 95%!”), you’re giving kids something no tutor can: a lifelong growth mindset. Or as an 11+ veteran mom told us: “The exam came and went – but the learning habits? Those stayed.”