DELF B1 30-Day Study Plan: A2-to-B1 Compressed Prep

Who this plan is for

You have cleared DELF A2 or equivalent (comfortable with all three basic tenses, ~3000-word vocabulary, can hold a short conversation). You have 30 days and can commit 15 hours per week — meaningfully more than the A2/A1 plan asks for. B1 is a genuine step up, and 30 days from an A2 base is tight.

If you have less than 12 hours per week or you’re not fully comfortable at A2 yet, extend to a 60-day plan. This 30-day version has no slack for weak-foundation candidates.

Week 1 — the B1 grammar and vocabulary jump

• Daily 40 min: futur simple, plus conditional (si + imparfait, conditionnel present). Both required at B1.
• Daily 30 min: connectors from 3 categories — addition, opposition, cause. Absence caps writing coherence at 2/4.
• 3× this week: RFI ‘Journal en français facile’ with transcript cross-check for connector-catching.
• 3× this week: opinion-writing drill — pick a topic, write 100 words justifying a position (not full B1 length yet — build the structure first).
• End of week: 20-min speaking practice — defend an opinion on a familiar topic for 3 minutes.

Week 2 — section drills at B1 length

• Daily 25 min: B1 listening drill — one 90-second recording, played twice with 30s notes gap.
• Daily 25 min: B1 reading — either an Exercise 1 comparative table or one 500-word article.
• 3× this week: full 160–180 word Production Écrite under 45-min timing, self-marked against the grid.
• 3× this week: 15-min speaking Task 3 — draw a text, give a 3-min defended opinion.
• End of week: full B1 diagnostic mock under exam-timed conditions.

Week 3 — mock cycle

Three full B1 mocks this week (Mon, Wed, Fri). Review each for one day between mocks with specific attention to Production Écrite structure (4-paragraph frame present? position stated in paragraph 1? connectors from 3+ categories?) and Production Orale Task 3 (position defended with 2+ arguments? closing question posed?).

Weekend: 6 × 15-min speaking sessions on different Task 3 topics. Rehearse the opinion-defence skeleton until it becomes automatic.

Week 4 — calibration & taper

• Days 22–24: one final full mock.
• Days 25–27: rehearse Production Écrite template on 3 fresh topics; rehearse 3 Task 3 opinion monologues.
• Day 28: 30 min light listening + review connector list.
• Day 29: rest. Confirm centre logistics.
• Day 30 (exam day): light warm-up French then trust prep.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is 30 days enough for DELF B1 from an A2 base?

For candidates fully comfortable at A2 with 15+ study hours per week, a 55–60/100 pass is achievable. For less-committed candidates or those with wobbly A2, extend to 60 or 90 days.

What if I never took DELF A2 formally?

As long as you have equivalent competence (all three basic tenses, ~3000-word vocabulary, functional short conversation), you’re fine. Take a diagnostic mock in Week 1 — if you score under 55/100 on a B1 mock, extend the plan by 3–4 weeks.

Which B1 section usually needs the most work?

Production Écrite for most candidates — the 4-paragraph opinion structure with connectors doesn’t appear at A2. Also Production Orale Task 3 (defended opinion from a text), which is new at B1.

How many DELF B1 mocks in 30 days?

Minimum 4 full mocks — one diagnostic at Week 2 end, three during Week 3. Plus skill-specific short mocks (10+ writing drills, 15+ speaking Task 3 practices) throughout.

Related Guides

• DELF B1 exam pattern & syllabus
• DELF B1 Production Orale — speaking
• DELF B1 Production Écrite — writing