You have four weeks until the DELF B1 exam. That’s enough time to move from shaky to solid if you follow a structured plan. This guide gives you a day-by-day schedule, resource recommendations, and a realistic hour breakdown. No shortcuts—just efficient work.
The Big Picture: 4 Weeks, 120 Hours Total
This plan assumes you can dedicate 30 hours per week (about 4.3 hours daily). If you have less time, scale proportionally but keep the sequence. The goal is balanced coverage across listening, reading, writing, and speaking.
| Week | Focus | Daily Hours | Total Hours | |------|-------|-------------|-------------| | 1 | Foundation & Listening | 4 | 28 | | 2 | Reading & Grammar | 4.5 | 31.5 | | 3 | Writing & Speaking | 4.5 | 31.5 | | 4 | Mock Tests & Review | 4 | 28 |
Week 1: Foundation & Listening
Goal: Build listening stamina and review core grammar.
- Days 1–2: Take a full-length diagnostic mock. Use it to identify weak areas. Don’t worry about the score—just note where you lose points.
- Days 3–5: Daily listening practice (30 minutes) using RFI Savoirs or TV5MONDE. Focus on understanding main ideas and key details. Follow with 30 minutes of grammar review (subjunctive, past tenses, pronouns).
- Days 6–7: Intensive listening: transcribe 2–3 short audio clips (2–3 minutes each). Then do a timed reading comprehension exercise (40 minutes).
Take a free DELF B1 demo mock to find out where you stand: Try the demo →
Week 2: Reading & Grammar Deep Dive
Goal: Improve reading speed and accuracy; solidify grammar.
- Days 8–10: Read one long article daily (Le Monde, Le Figaro, or similar). Skim for gist, then read for detail. Answer comprehension questions. Spend 30 minutes on grammar drills (focus on conditionnel, plus-que-parfait).
- Days 11–13: Tackle past exam reading papers. Time yourself: 35 minutes per section. Review errors immediately. For grammar, do 20–30 fill-in-the-blank exercises daily.
- Day 14: Rest or light review. Revisit your diagnostic weak spots.
Week 3: Writing & Speaking Production
Goal: Produce structured written and spoken responses under time pressure.
- Days 15–17: Write one formal letter (e.g., complaint, request) and one argumentative essay daily. Use a timer: 45 minutes per task. Focus on structure (introduction, body, conclusion).
- Days 18–20: Speaking practice: record yourself answering 5–7 typical DELF B1 speaking prompts (e.g., describe a photo, express opinion). Listen back and note hesitations. Then do a timed written task (30 minutes).
- Days 21–22: Simulate the full speaking test with a partner or tutor (15 minutes). Record and review. Write two more essays.
See DELF B1 mock-test packs and pricing: View plans →
Week 4: Mock Tests & Final Polish
Goal: Build test-day stamina and fix last gaps.
- Days 23–25: Take three full-length mock tests under exam conditions (no pauses, strict timing). After each, review all errors and categorize them (listening, grammar, etc.).
- Days 26–27: Focus on your weakest category. If it’s writing, write two more essays. If speaking, do three more recordings. If listening, do intensive transcription.
- Day 28: Light review. Read through your error log. Relax. Sleep well.
Resource Sequence
Use resources in this order for maximum efficiency:
- 1Official DELF B1 sample papers – Free from CIEP. Start here.
- 2RFI Savoirs – For listening, especially “Journal en français facile.”
- 3TV5MONDE Langue Française – Interactive exercises for grammar and listening.
- 4Grammaire Progressive du Français (Niveau Intermédiaire) – Best grammar book.
- 5Le Monde / Le Figaro – For reading practice.
- 6Italki or Tandem – For speaking practice with native speakers.
Common Pitfalls to Avoid
- Skipping mock tests: You cannot improve without simulating real conditions.
- Ignoring speaking until week 4: Speaking fluency takes daily practice.
- Overloading grammar: Focus on high-frequency structures for B1 (subjunctive, conditionnel, relative pronouns).
- Not transcribing audio: This is the fastest way to improve listening.