FCE study planner: build your B2 First plan
This free FCE study planner helps you turn the time before your exam into a clear week-by-week plan that covers all four papers, regular practice tests and review. It follows the approach of our 8, 12 and 24-week study plans. It is one of our free FCE tools.
By Eleanor BennettLast updated:
Knowing what to study is only half the problem. The other half is fitting it into real life, week after week. The planner gives you a structure so you can stop deciding what to do every day and start doing it.
Choose your exam date to build your plan.
How to use it
- Take a practice test first if you can, and estimate your score with the score calculator. This tells you your weakest skills.
- Tell the planner how much time you have before your exam and how much you can realistically study.
- Read your plan and check that it fits your week. Be honest: a smaller plan you follow is better than a big plan you abandon.
- Give extra time to your weakest skills. Move tasks around if your practice-test results show one skill needs more attention.
- Review the plan every few weeks, after each practice test, and adjust it.
If you are not sure how much time you need, read how long to prepare for FCE first.
How it works
The planner uses the same principles as our FCE study plan guide:
- A balanced weekly routine. Every week includes vocabulary, Reading and Use of English, Listening, Writing and Speaking, so no skill is forgotten.
- Phases. Longer plans start with building your English, then move into learning the exam and finally into timed exam practice. Shorter plans move faster into exam practice.
- Regular checkpoints. Practice tests are spread through the plan so you can measure progress and adjust.
- A lighter final week. The last days focus on review, confidence and rest. See our exam day tips for that week.
What a typical week can look like
Here is an example of one ordinary week in the middle of a 12-week plan, for a student with a little time on most days:
- Monday: vocabulary review and one Use of English part, then check the answers.
- Tuesday: one Listening part, listened to twice, then a third time with the transcript.
- Wednesday: plan and write one Writing task, then check it with the writing word counter.
- Thursday: one Reading part with a timer.
- Friday: Speaking practice with a partner.
- Weekend: review the mistakes from the week and rest.
Your own plan will look different, and that is fine. What matters is that every skill appears regularly.
Tips for sticking to your plan
- 1
Fix a regular time
Study at the same time on most days, for example after dinner. Habits are easier than decisions.
- 2
Keep sessions short
Several short sessions usually beat one long session. Use the phrasal verb trainer and word formation trainer for quick daily review.
- 3
Find a study partner
A partner keeps you motivated and is essential for Speaking practice. See our guide to partner practice.
- 4
Don't double up after a missed week
If you miss a week, continue from where you are. Trying to catch up all at once often leads to giving up.
Common planning mistakes
Trap: Planning more hours than you really have.
Fix: Start with a plan that feels slightly easy. You can always add more once the habit is in place.
Trap: Leaving Speaking and Writing until the end.
Fix: These skills need time and feedback to improve. Include them from the first week.
Trap: Skipping the practice tests in the plan.
Fix: Checkpoints show whether your plan is working. Without them, you can spend weeks on the wrong things.
Trap: Studying only the parts you enjoy.
Fix: Each of the five scores counts equally in your overall result, so every skill deserves regular time.
Frequently asked questions
Is the FCE study planner free?
Yes. The planner is free to use, like all our tools.
How long should my FCE study plan be?
It depends on your starting level and your weekly time. As a rough teacher's guide, students close to B2 often use around 8 weeks, students in the B1+ to B2 range around 12 weeks, and students building towards B2 around 24 weeks.
Can I change my plan after I start?
Yes, and you should. Review it after each practice test and move more time to the skills that need it.
What should a weekly FCE study plan include?
Vocabulary review on most days, one Reading or Use of English task, one Listening task, one Writing task, a Speaking session and time to review your mistakes.
Does the planner work for B2 First for Schools?
Yes. The overall structure of the two versions is the same. Check the official For Schools information for the Writing task types, and plan your Writing practice around them.