Reaching B1 usually takes 350 to 400 hours of study, and B2 about 500 to 600 hours (Cambridge English estimates for English). At one hour a day that is roughly a year to B1 and a year and a half to B2. But the time depends heavily on the language: according to the US diplomatic school, Chinese takes more than three times as long as Spanish. Let us look at the numbers and at what actually speeds things up.
How many hours each level takes
Cambridge English estimates how many guided learning hours it takes to reach each level from zero. Below are those hours and how many months they take at different daily amounts.
| Level | Hours from zero | 30 min a day | 1 hour a day | 2 hours a day |
|---|
| A2 | 180–200 | 12.5 months | 6 months | 3 months |
|---|
| B1 | 350–400 | 25 months | 12 months | 6 months |
|---|
| B2 | 500–600 | 36 months | 18 months | 9 months |
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| C1 | 700–800 | 49 months | 25 months | 12 months |
|---|
This is a guideline, not a rule. Cambridge hours include teacher-led study; self-study can be more or less effective depending on how it is organised. For the vocabulary each level needs, see A2, B1, B2 and C1.
Why some languages take longer than others
The US State Department's Foreign Service Institute (FSI) publishes how long it takes a native English speaker to reach professional working proficiency (roughly C1) in intensive training: about 23 class hours a week plus self-study.
| Group | Languages in NewLexi | Training time |
|---|
| I | Italian, Portuguese, Dutch, French, Spanish | 24–30 weeks (552–690 class hours) |
|---|
| II | German | about 36 weeks (828 hours) |
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| III | Greek, Russian, Serbian, Turkish | about 44 weeks (1,012 hours) |
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| IV | Chinese | 88 weeks (2,200 hours) |
|---|
These estimates are for native English speakers. If your native language is close to the one you learn, the road is shorter: Serbian is easier for Russian speakers, Italian for Spanish speakers. If it is far, it takes longer.
What actually speeds things up
- A little every day. Distributed practice consistently beats cramming (meta-analysis by Cepeda and colleagues, 2006). 30 minutes daily usually does more than 3.5 hours once a week.
- Vocabulary without losses. Half the time is wasted if learned words are forgotten. Spaced repetition brings each word back just before it starts to fade. More: spaced repetition and SM-2.
- Lots of understandable text. Stories and dialogues slightly above your level train comprehension and show words in context.
- Your own output. Writing, building phrases, speaking. Recognising a word and being able to use it are different skills.
- A clear goal. A move abroad, a job, an exam: words and topics tied to a goal stick faster.
What slows you down
- Long breaks. A week off pushes fresh words back.
- Only one skill. Only multiple choice, or only reading without speaking, leaves gaps.
- Cramming before an exam. Fast, but it does not last.
- Materials that are too hard. If half the words are unknown, a text tires you instead of teaching you.
A realistic plan to B1
An example for 45 minutes a day that, done regularly, gets you to B1 in a little over a year:
- 15 minutes: words. 10 new words plus scheduled reviews.
- 15 minutes: reading and listening. A short story or dialogue at your level.
- 15 minutes: output. Building phrases, a short text or a conversation.
10 new words a day add up to about 3,600 words a year, which is a B2 vocabulary (details in how many words for A1–C2).
How NewLexi helps you get there faster
- A daily plan of reviews, new words, a story and a dialogue, so you can study every day without overload.
- Spaced repetition for every word, so what you learn stays.
- Stories and dialogues at your level, written just for you from your own words.
- Grammar from A1 to C2, a writing trainer with AI correction and a chat for speaking practice.
Sources
- Cambridge English. Guided learning hours. support.cambridgeenglish.org/hc/en-gb/articles/202838506-Guided-learning-hours
- U.S. Department of State, Foreign Service Institute. Foreign Language Training: language learning timelines. www.state.gov/national-foreign-affairs-training-center/foreign-language-training
- Council of Europe. Common European Framework of Reference for Languages (CEFR). www.coe.int/en/web/common-european-framework-reference-languages
- Cepeda, N. J., Pashler, H., Vul, E., Wixted, J. T., & Rohrer, D. (2006). Distributed practice in verbal recall tasks. Psychological Bulletin, 132(3), 354–380. doi.org/10.1037/0033-2909.132.3.354
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