30-Day English Study Plan: B1 to B2

Who this plan is for

This plan is built for adult learners around the B1 (lower-intermediate) level who want to move toward solid B2 — the level where you can comfortably hold conversations, follow most TV without subtitles, and write a clear email. If you are below B1, the daily output expectations will frustrate you; if you are already strong B2, you will need more challenge. The plan assumes about 60 minutes a day, 6 days a week.

What you need before you start: a flashcard app (see our comparison), one graded reader at B1/B2 level, a podcast or YouTube channel pitched at intermediate learners, and (ideally) one tutor session per week. A reading pen helps but is optional — see our reading pen guide.

The daily structure (60 minutes)

15 min vocabulary — flashcards + 3 sentences of your own.
15 min listening — one podcast or short video, twice (active then passive).
15 min reading — one chapter of a graded reader or 2-3 short articles.
15 min output — speaking out loud or writing, depending on the day’s focus.

Week 1 — Build the foundation

Goal: consistent daily habit, 50 new words, comfortable with intermediate listening.

Day 1: Set up flashcards. Add 10 words from our collocations list. Listen to one BBC Learning English “6 Minute English” episode. Read one chapter of a B1 graded reader. Speak: 1-minute self-introduction recorded on your phone.
Day 2: 10 new collocations. Same podcast episode again (passive). New chapter. Write 5 sentences using yesterday’s words.
Day 3: 10 new collocations. New podcast episode. New chapter. Speak: describe your morning in 90 seconds.
Day 4: 10 new collocations. Re-listen to Day 3 podcast. New chapter. Write 6 sentences using Day 1-3 words.
Day 5: 10 new collocations. New podcast. New chapter. Speak: describe a place you know well in 2 minutes.
Day 6: Review only. Re-test all 50 new words via flashcards. Re-read the most useful chapter. Write a 100-word summary of one podcast episode.
Day 7 (rest day): Optional: watch one English TV episode with subtitles, no other study.

Week 2 — Add complexity

Goal: 50 more new words, longer listening, first written paragraph at B2 level.

Day 8: Switch flashcard input to phrasal verbs (see our list) — 10 per day. Move from 6-minute podcasts to 10-12 minute episodes (e.g. The English We Speak, Luke’s English Podcast intermediate range). Same reading. Speak: describe your job/studies in 2 minutes without notes.
Day 9: 10 new phrasal verbs. New podcast. Read a short news article (BBC News Pidgin or Voice of America Learning English). Write 100 words: “What I did yesterday and why”.
Day 10: 10 new phrasal verbs. Re-listen to Day 9. New article. Speak: explain how you learned to do something (cook, drive, play sport).
Day 11: 10 new phrasal verbs. New podcast. New article. Write 100 words: a short opinion (“Living in a city is better/worse than the countryside because…”).
Day 12: 10 new phrasal verbs. New podcast. New article. Speak: re-tell the article in your own words, 2 minutes.
Day 13: Review. Re-test Week 1 + Week 2 words. Speak: 3-minute monologue on any familiar topic. Record and listen back, noting one or two errors to fix next week.
Day 14 (rest day): Optional: TV episode without subtitles.

Week 3 — Push into B2 territory

Goal: 50 more upgrade words, write a structured paragraph, hold a 5-minute spoken response.

Day 15: Switch to topic vocabulary from our IELTS Band 7 list — 10 per day. Listen to one 15-minute native podcast (TED-Ed, Stuff You Should Know intro segments). Read a longer article. Speak: 2-minute opinion on a topic from the podcast.
Day 16: 10 new topic words. Re-listen Day 15. New article. Write 150 words on the same topic.
Day 17: 10 new topic words. New podcast. New article. Speak: 2-minute opinion.
Day 18: 10 new topic words. New podcast. New article. Write 150 words: opinion essay structure (intro, two points, conclusion).
Day 19: 10 new topic words. New podcast. New article. Speak: re-tell article in 3 minutes with your own opinion added.
Day 20: Review. Re-test Week 1-3 vocabulary. Write a 200-word opinion essay using 5+ words from the IELTS list.
Day 21 (rest day): Optional: full English film with subtitles, listen for the new vocabulary in real use.

Week 4 — Consolidate and test

Goal: verify B2 level, fix recurring mistakes, set the next 30-day plan.

Day 22: No new words today — review only. Listen to a 20-minute native-speaker podcast on a familiar topic. Read a longer article (1500+ words). Speak: 3-minute structured response (intro, 2 reasons, conclusion).
Day 23: 10 new words from any of the lists. New podcast. New article. Write 200 words on a current event in your life or city.
Day 24: 10 new words. Take an online B2 placement quiz (free options exist on Cambridge English, EF SET, British Council). Note the score and which skills are weakest.
Day 25: Focus on the weakest skill from Day 24’s test. If listening: more native podcasts. If writing: write 250 words. If speaking: 5-minute monologue. If grammar: targeted grammar exercises (see English book reviews).
Day 26: Same — work on the weakest skill again.
Day 27: Review all 200 new words. Write a 250-word essay using your favourite 15 words.
Day 28: Speak: take a free CEFR self-test (such as our quiz) and record a 5-minute response on one topic.
Day 29: Re-take the placement test from Day 24. Compare scores honestly.
Day 30: Plan the next 30 days. If you reached B2: shift to native content (podcasts, novels, real news) and add a tutor session per week. If not yet: repeat Week 3 with new vocabulary, focus on the weak skill identified in Day 24.

How to know if it worked

By the end of 30 days you should be able to:

Hold a 5-minute monologue on a familiar topic without long pauses.
Follow most intermediate podcasts at normal speed without subtitles.
Read a 1500-word article and summarise it in your own words.
Write a 250-word opinion essay with clear structure.
Use 100+ new words actively, with collocations.

Common mistakes that ruin a 30-day plan

Skipping output. Listening and reading without speaking and writing creates passive vocabulary that does not transfer to real conversation.
Adding too many new words. 20+ new words a day is unsustainable for most adults. Stick to 10.
Switching apps every week. Pick one flashcard app, one podcast feed, one reader, and finish the month.
Not reviewing. Half of your vocabulary growth comes from spaced review, not from new cards.
Studying only when motivated. A 30-minute boring day still beats skipping. Lower the bar before you skip.

FAQ

Can I really go from B1 to B2 in 30 days?

You can make a clear jump in active vocabulary, fluency and confidence in 30 focused days. Moving up a full CEFR level is usually a 3-6 month process — but a 30-day plan is the right unit to build the habit and see real change.

What if I miss days?

Resume the next day where you left off. Do not try to “catch up” — that almost always breaks the habit. Consistency over the month matters far more than perfect compliance.

Do I need a tutor for this plan?

It is not required, but one weekly tutor session in Weeks 2-4 will significantly accelerate output skills. See our English app guide for tutor platforms.

What about grammar?

This plan focuses on input + output volume because at B1, grammar improves naturally with exposure. If you have a specific grammar weakness (e.g. tenses, prepositions), add 10 minutes of targeted grammar work to your daily 60.