How long does it takes to prepare for DELF B1 exam?

Bonjour!

The time it takes to prepare for the DELF B1 exam really depends on your current level of French and how intensively you study.

Here's a general idea based on different starting points and common learning progressions according to language study frameworks like the CEFR and the Common European Framework of Reference for Languages:

How long does it takes to prepare for DELF B1 exam if you are a complete beginner?

Starting from scratch (complete beginner) to reach DELF B1 is a bigger jump, but totally doable with consistency.

General Time Estimate:

To go from zero to B1, you're looking at:

  • 6 to 12 months on average
  • Around 350–400 hours of total study time

Why That Much Time?

Because you need to progress through:

  • A1 (basic survival French)
  • A2 (basic conversations, everyday topics)
  • Then reach B1 (independent user: can handle most daily situations, give opinions, etc.)

The Common European Framework of Reference (CEFR) roughly estimates:

  • A1 → 80–100 hours
  • A2 → +100–120 hours
  • B1 → +150–180 hours

So in total: 350–400 hours if you're starting from zero.

Realistic Study Plans:

Study Time / Completion Time

  • 1 hr/day → ~12–14 months
  • 2 hrs/day → ~6–8 months
  • 3 hrs/day (intensive) →~4–6 months

How long does it takes to prepare for DELF B1 exam if you are at level A1?

If you're currently at A1 level and aiming for DELF B1, you're basically looking to move up two CEFR sub-levels (A1 → A2 → B1), which is totally achievable with steady effort.

General Time Estimate:

  • 4 to 8 months on average
  • Roughly 250–300 hours of total study time

Based on Study Time Per Day:

Study Time/Day / Time to Reach B1

  • 1 hr/day → ~8 months
  • 2 hrs/day → ~4–5 months
  • 3 hrs/day → ~3–4 months (intensive)

This assumes a balanced approach (listening, speaking, reading, writing) and not just passively learning vocabulary.

What You Need to Focus On:

A1 → A2 (first 100–120 hours):

  1. Solidify basic grammar, verbs, sentence structure
  2. Practice short conversations, everyday vocabulary

A2 → B1 (next 150–180 hours):

  1. Dive into more complex grammar (subjunctive, conditionnel, etc.)
  2. Start writing emails, opinions, arguments
  3. Prepare with DELF B1 practice exams

How long does it takes to prepare for DELF B1 exam if you are at level A2?

Nice, back to the A2 → B1 path! If you're currently at A2, here's the clear answer:

Time Needed from A2 to B1:

  • 3 to 6 months
  • Around 150–200 hours of focused study

Based on Daily Study Time:

Study Time/Day - Time to Reach B1

  • 1 hr/day → ~5–6 months
  • 1.5 hrs/day → ~4 months
  • 2 hrs/day → ~3 months

This is assuming you’re actively practicing all four skills: listening, speaking, reading, and writing, not just passive stuff.

From A2 to B1 Means:

You already know:

  • Basic grammar (present, passé composé, simple questions)
  • Survival conversation (shopping, travel, personal topics)

Now you’ll need to:

  • Get comfortable with imperfect tense, future, and conditional
  • Build confidence with longer conversations, opinion pieces, more formal writing
  • Improve listening comprehension of natural-speed French
  • Prepare for specific DELF B1 exam tasks

How long does it takes to prepare for DELF B1 exam if you are already at level B1?

If you're already at B1, you're technically at the level needed to take the DELF B1 exam!

So, at this point, your goal is to polish your skills and ensure you're fully prepared for the test.

Preparation Time (if already at B1): 1 to 2 months.

Roughly 50–100 hours of focused study, depending on how confident you are and your strengths/weaknesses in each skill.      

‍Breakdown of Study Focus :

‍Since you're already at B1, the preparation at this stage should focus on:

  • Reviewing and practicing exam format: Knowing the types of tasks in each section (writing, speaking, listening, reading) and timing yourself while doing mock tests.
  • Strengthening weak areas: Maybe you're strong at speaking but need work on writing or listening.
  • Practicing speaking under pressure: Find a conversation partner or tutor who can help you simulate the exam's speaking section.
  • Targeting exam-specific vocabulary: Build a more diverse vocabulary for different topics (like social issues, current events, etc.).

Tips to prepare for the DELF B1 exam :

If you're looking to make faster progress toward DELF B1, here are some strategies that can help you level up more quickly while staying efficient and motivated:

1. Immerse Yourself in French Every Day

Even if it’s just for a short time, daily exposure is crucial. It helps your brain get used to thinking in French, speeding up your progress.

  • Listen: Podcasts, news, YouTube videos, and French radio.
  • Watch: French TV shows, movies, or YouTube channels. Put on French subtitles to reinforce reading.
  • Speak: Find language partners on platforms like Tandem , or local meetups. Don’t worry about making mistakes—practice builds confidence!

2. Target Specific DELF B1 Skills

The DELF B1 exam has four sections: reading, listening, writing, and speaking. Focus on practicing each part with exam-specific exercises.

  • Listening: Use resources like TV5MONDE, or News in Slow French to get used to real-world French at B1 level. Try listening to the same material multiple times to improve comprehension.
  • Speaking: Do mock interviews or record yourself on common DELF B1 topics. Focus on fluency over perfection.
  • Reading: Read news articles, books, or blogs in French, and try summarizing them aloud or in writing to practice understanding and speaking.
  • Writing: Write short essays or opinion pieces on topics like "social issues" or "travel" to reflect the type of writing expected in the exam. Focus on clarity and structure.

3. Use DELF-Specific Study Resources

Get official prep books and apps tailored for DELF B1, such as:

4. Focus on High-Impact Grammar & Vocabulary

At B1, you’ll need a stronger grasp of advanced grammar and expressive vocabulary. Some key areas to target:

  • Past tenses (imperfect, passé composé)
  • Future and conditional tenses
  • Subjunctive (though not always required, it’s good to know for writing and speaking)
  • Linking words (for connecting ideas in writing and speaking)
  • Topic-specific vocabulary: Focus on subjects like social issues, environment, education, culture, etc. These topics often appear in the exam.

5. Practice Speaking as Much as Possible

This is often the toughest part for many students, but it's also one of the fastest ways to make progress.

  • Find a speaking partner: Engage in regular conversation, even if it’s just for 15–20 minutes a day.
  • Join a conversation club: This can be local or online (check Meetup or language exchange groups such as Tandem).
  • Record yourself: Speak on a topic for 2–3 minutes, then listen back to analyze your pronunciation, fluency, and grammar.

6. Stay Consistent and Motivated

Progress can feel slow sometimes, but the key is consistency! Set realistic goals and track your improvement.

  • Stay positive: Celebrate small victories (e.g., completing a practice test, mastering a difficult grammar point).
  • Mix things up: If you’re feeling bored with one resource, switch to something else to keep things fresh and exciting.

By staying consistent with practice, using targeted resources, and immersing yourself in the language, you'll find yourself improving faster, building confidence, and feeling ready for the exam in no time.

You are motivated and you feel ready to prepare for the DELF B1 exam ?
At French via Skype, our highly experimented DELF French tutor helps you prepare for the DELF B1 exams, guaranteeing you 100% success!

At French via Skype, our French tutor is a native French with international experience with more than 15 years’ teaching French in Europe and has had the opportunity to accompany many students (adult and children) in order to best support them in their learning of French.
Certified in FLE (French as a Foreign Language), our French tutor has great expertise in the different levels of French required and will be able to guide you throughout your learning of the language so that your level meets the specific expectations of the DELF B1 exams knowing exactly what the difficulties may be for candidates preparing for exams of this type.

DELF B1 preparation courses with French via Skype, how does it work?

Our DELF B1 lessons are delivered online via Zoom or Teams or on the platform of your choice covering all aspects of the French language in order to best support you in your objectives.

Our DELF tuition is personalized, tailored to your specific needs and pace allowing you to achieve your goals more effectively than in a group or classroom setting.

  • We will design a personalized study plan for you, based on your specific needs and your language level.
  • We offer an effective preparation with tailored learning materials (full range of DELF B1 ressources and assessments).
  • Our French lessons target key areas such as listening, reading, writing and speaking and meticulously work on each grammar point such as French connectors or the subjunctive to ensure that each area meets the requirements required for the DELF B1 exams.
  • For homework, we will assign you work to practice grammar if necessary, develop your vocabulary and prepare written and oral comprehension, written and oral production tasks. The homework will then be prepared and reviewed by your teacher.‍
  • We offer you great planning flexibility. Our French tutor is available all year, during the holidays and after work hours.

At French via Skype, we are happy to support DELF students to guarantee their success at the DELF B1 exam since 2014.

Some testimonials from students who have prepared for the DELF B1 exam with us are below.

“Laure is an exceptional teacher who truly made a difference in my DELF preparation journey. Her approach is both professional and highly personalized — from day one, she established a clear, structured roadmap tailored to my goals, strengths, and weak points. Every session was focused, engaging, and productive, with just the right balance of challenge and encouragement.

What I appreciated most was her dedication to results. Laure never lost sight of the exam objectives, yet she managed to keep the learning process enjoyable and human. Her deep knowledge of the DELF format, combined with her high teaching standards, gave me the confidence and tools I needed to succeed.

If you're looking for a high-quality, goal-oriented learning experience with a teacher who genuinely cares about your progress, I can’t recommend Laure enough. “

Ivan Diachenko  
(DELF B1) CTO at AI R&D Gaard - Paris

" I’m studying with Laure for about one year now and I’m very satisfied with her very targeted and well-organised French lessons. If you like to invest your limited time well and aiming for a fast improvement of your French level Laure is the right teacher for you. The lessons are intense and you better be well prepared and do your homework as Laure is a very strict teacher ;). First I found it very challenging to work so hard on my pronunciation but I realized quickly that this is key to a higher level of French. Also I was very happy about the amount of time one talks in her lessons as I know from my own German teaching experience that this is crucial for an improvement of the communications skills. Together with Laure I prepared for the DELF B1 and thanks to her I passed it with incredible 91%. I could highly recommend her as French teacher. “

Erika Mantrino
(DELF B1) German teacher, Geneva

“ " Having studied French for several years in high school, I took up re-learning the language and preparing for the DELF after my undergraduate medical studies to maintain my connection and interest with the French culture. Laure was fantastic as a teacher and mentor during this experience, and was a highly supportive, encouraging and engaging teacher. Her lessons were structured around the exam topics in such a way that I could not have felt better prepared going in. On a personal note, her flexibility to reorganise certain lessons around my work schedule, as well as her weekly homework tasks to keep our knowledge and learning to the highest standards were highlights of working and learning with her, making for a very enjoyable and smooth studying experience alongside working full-time. I was able to pass my DELF B1 exam despite being out of touch with the language for over 7 years prior to Laure’s lesson- a true testament to her ability as a teacher, and would have no doubt recommending her to future students as one of the best options to prepare for your DELF exam, irrespective of your level! ”

Dr Abhi Shekhsrinivas
(DELF B1) Doctor - Melbourne

" I started learning French through group classes when I first moved to Geneva, but as I started to advance, I wanted to focus more intensely with grammar, writing and conversational skills. Laure immediately understood what I needed to work on as I explained that I would like to take the DELF exams and that French is critical for my career in the UN. She prepared me very well with the exam's reading and writing exercises, and fortunately, I was able to pass my DELF B1 exam. As I continue to work with her, I appreciate that she is a patient, very structured, and motivating teacher -- I would recommend Laure to anyone who wants to improve on French! "

Tomoka Nakamura
(DELF B1) UN staff, Geneva

At French via Skype, we specialize in preparation for the DELF B1 exam, you can certify your French language level well-equipped and with complete confidence.

If you would like to discuss your needs with us, we will be pleased to develop a teaching plan for you with a realistic estimate of the preparation time for your DELF B1 exam.
Do not hesitate to contact us if you have any questions or if you would like to sign up for lessons. ‍

À bientôt !