- Guided learning hours
- 500-600
- Weeks at that pace
- 125-150
An estimate from Cambridge English's guided learning hours. For other languages it scales them with the FSI's groups, which were measured with English speakers. Every student goes at their own pace.
How many hours to reach each CEFR level
Cambridge English estimates about 500-600 guided learning hours to reach B2 from zero, and 700-800 to reach C1. Each figure counts from complete beginner, not from the level below.
| CEFR level | Cambridge exam | Hours from zero | Hours from the level below |
|---|---|---|---|
| A1 | - | 90-100 | 90-100 |
| A2 | A2 Key | 180-200 | 90-100 |
| B1 | B1 Preliminary | 350-400 | 170-200 |
| B2 | B2 First | 500-600 | 150-200 |
| C1 | C1 Advanced | 700-800 | 200 |
| C2 | C2 Proficiency | 1,000-1,200 | 300-400 |
Guided learning hours are lessons plus the homework and self-study the teacher sets. Cambridge gives them as a guideline only: some students need more time and some need less.
Other languages: how much longer for English speakers
The US Foreign Service Institute (FSI) groups languages by how long English speakers take to reach a professional level: from 600 class hours for Italian or Portuguese to 2,200 for Arabic, Chinese, Japanese or Korean.
| Languages | FSI group | Weeks | Class hours | Calculator multiplier |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Italian, Portuguese, Catalan or Dutch | I | 24 | 600 | x1 |
| Spanish or French | I | 30 | 750 | x1.25 |
| German, Indonesian or Swahili | II | 36 | 900 | x1.5 |
| Russian, Greek or Polish | III | 44 | 1,100 | x1.83 |
| Arabic, Chinese, Japanese or Korean | IV | 88 | 2,200 | x3.67 |
The calculator takes the shortest FSI course (600 hours) as 1 and multiplies Cambridge's hours by how much longer each group takes. It's a rough guide: the FSI measures English speakers on full-time courses, and its professional level is close to C1. A Spanish speaker learning Italian will likely need less.
EOI, Cambridge and CEFR levels side by side
In Spain, the Escuelas Oficiales de Idiomas (EOI) use the CEFR levels: Básico A1 and A2, Intermedio B1 and B2, Avanzado C1 and C2. A student preparing Intermedio B2 is aiming at the same level as Cambridge's B2 First.
| CEFR level | EOI level (Spain) | Cambridge exam |
|---|---|---|
| A1 | Básico A1 | - |
| A2 | Básico A2 | A2 Key |
| B1 | Intermedio B1 | B1 Preliminary |
| B2 | Intermedio B2 | B2 First |
| C1 | Avanzado C1 | C1 Advanced |
| C2 | Avanzado C2 | C2 Proficiency |
Each region organizes the Básico level its own way, so not every EOI gives an A1 or A2 certificate. From Intermedio B1 to Avanzado C2, the basic rules are the same across Spain.
From hours to weeks: how long it really takes
Divide the hours by what your student does each week, lessons plus homework. From B1 to B2 that's 150-200 hours: 38 to 50 weeks at 4 hours a week.
4 hours a week is the example Cambridge University Press uses: 2 hours of class and 2 of homework. With one hour-long lesson and no homework, your student does a quarter of that, so the same step takes four times as long. Long holidays slow things down too: students forget between terms.
What makes a student go faster or slower
The hours are an average. Cambridge University Press points to what moves them most: how intensive the course is, self-study, the student's first language and how clear their goal is.
- Intensity: several hours a week beat one lesson a week with long breaks in between.
- Self-study: students who read, listen and practise on their own between lessons move faster.
- First language: the further it is from the language they're learning (script, sounds, grammar, shared words), the longer it takes.
- A clear goal: students who can picture themselves using the language (an exam, a job, a move) keep going for longer.
- The intermediate plateau: many students feel stuck around B1 and B2. It's normal, not a sign that something's wrong.
How to use the hours with your students
Use the estimate to agree on a plan, not to promise a date. Check the starting level first, then review progress every few months.
Start with a level check: our free English placement test gives you a starting point. Turn the hours into a lesson plan your student can see. Then, every term, show them where they are with a progress report, so the next level feels close instead of far away.
Turn the hours into a lesson plan
Schedule the lessons, keep notes after each one and let students see their lessons and attendance in their portal. Try SmartCookie for 14 days, no card needed.