https://www.reddit.com/r/learnfrench/comments/1s8ur1g/from_early_b1_tcf_b2_in_56_months_exact_study/

From early B1 → TCF B2 in ~5 months (exact study plan + what I'd change)

I took the TCF Canada on March 16, 2026 and cleared NCLC 7/B2. I started prepping for TCF in October 2025 but did not start from scratch since I had studied French in highschool up till 2017 (A1→B1 range).

Background:

• Prior exposure: school French (last studied in 2017)
• Restart level: early B1
• Strongest skill: Reading; Weakest skill: Speaking
• Study time: ~3 hrs daily
  • Before work, at work, commute, post-work, weekends. You gotta squeeze in study time where you can

Timeline:

• October 2025: light study (~5 hrs/week)
• Early November 2025: consistent 3 hrs daily (real progress started)
• Late Jan/early Feb: ~2 week burnout period (reduced study time to 1-1.5 hrs/day)
• Mid feb onwards: 2 hrs/day (had a few 5-7 hour days).
• March 16, 2026: TCF exam

Note: I focused on general French until high B1, then switched to TCF prep. In hindsight, I think integrating TCF prep earlier would reduce workload later.

This post covers:

• Month-by-month progression
• Highest ROI activities
• What I would change

October 2025 – Reactivation phase (A2)