FCE study plan: 8, 12 and 24-week plans for B2 First

All three plans use the same basic week. Change the order to fit your life, but try to keep every element:

• Vocabulary, most days. Short sessions with the phrasal verb trainer, the word formation trainer or your own notebook.
• One Reading or Use of English task. Rotate through Parts 1–7 of Reading and Use of English.
• One Listening task, with a second listen using the transcript if you have one.
• One Writing task, or half a task (a plan and a paragraph) in busy weeks.
• One Speaking session, ideally with a partner, using our Speaking guide.
• Review time. Look back at your mistakes from the week and write the most useful ones in a mistakes list.

The secret is not doing more; it is doing a little of everything, regularly, and learning from your mistakes.

Use this plan if your practice-test estimates are already around 160 or above and you mainly need exam technique and confidence.

• Week 1: Diagnose. Do a full timed practice test. Use the score calculator to estimate your scores and choose your two weakest skills.
• Week 2: Use of English. Focus on Parts 2, 3 and 4. Learn the common patterns for key word transformations.
• Week 3: Reading. Parts 5, 6 and 7. Practise timing: aim to finish the whole paper with a few minutes to check.
• Week 4: Writing. One essay and one Part 2 task (article, email or letter, review or report). Check each one against the writing checklist.
• Week 5: Listening and Speaking. All four Listening parts, and two full Speaking practices with a partner.
• Week 6: Second full practice test. Compare your estimate with Week 1. Spend the rest of the week on your weakest part.
• Week 7: Polish. Timed practice for each paper, and extra work on your weakest two skills.
• Week 8: Light review. One last timed practice early in the week, then review your mistakes list and read our exam day tips.

Use this plan if your estimates are mostly in the 150s and you need both language work and exam practice.

Weeks 1–2: Foundations Do a full diagnostic test. Learn the format of every part with our FCE exam format page. Start a daily vocabulary habit.

Weeks 3–6: Build and practise Each week, focus on one paper while keeping the weekly routine for the others:

• Week 3: Use of English (Parts 1–4)
• Week 4: Reading (Parts 5–7)
• Week 5: Writing (essay plus one Part 2 task type)
• Week 6: Listening and Speaking

Week 7: Check your progress Take a second full practice test. Update your list of weakest skills.

Weeks 8–10: Target your weaknesses Spend about half of your time on your two weakest skills. Do timed practice of single papers. Practise the other Writing task types.

Week 11: Full rehearsal One complete practice test with real timings, in the same format (computer or paper) as your exam.

Week 12: Review and rest Revise your mistakes list and useful phrases. Keep sessions short and protect your sleep.

Use this plan if your estimates are in the 140s or below, or if you have a lot of time before your exam.

Months 1–2 (weeks 1–8): Grow your English Do a diagnostic practice test so you know your starting point, but don't worry about the score. Focus on general English: a graded reader or simple articles every week, regular listening (podcasts or series with English subtitles), grammar review of B1–B2 topics and a daily vocabulary habit. Do one exam task each week so the format becomes familiar.

Months 3–4 (weeks 9–16): Learn the exam Work through each part of each paper with our guides. Write one text every week. Start regular Speaking practice with a partner. Take a second practice test around week 12 to check your progress.

Month 5 (weeks 17–20): Exam practice Do timed single papers each week. Spend extra time on your two weakest skills. Take a third full practice test at the end of the month.

Month 6 (weeks 21–24): Exam mode Two full timed practice tests, two weeks apart. Polish your Writing, review your mistakes list and prepare for the day with our exam day tips.