Skills for English B2 study plan

Skills for English B2 · Give each week a clear focus.

8 weeks · About 6 hours per week

Week 1

Reading & Listening

Skim three 500-word B2-level articles in 15 minutes each and underline the sentence that carries each paragraph's main point
Identify the function of 20 linking words (however, therefore, whereas, despite) inside full sentences rather than in isolation
Listen to two 3-minute monologues once at normal speed and note two facts and one opinion from each without pausing
Build a personal error log with 15 entries recording the reason each reading or listening answer was wrong

A dated error log of 15 entries plus a one-page list of 20 discourse markers with your own example sentence for each

Week 2

Complete two timed 20-minute reading sets of 10 questions each and record accuracy per question type
Practise matching headings to paragraphs across four texts, justifying each choice with a quoted phrase
Take dictation of five 30-second news clips and check spelling and punctuation against the transcript
Predict answers before listening by reading the question stems and writing the expected word class for each gap

A question-type accuracy table from 20 timed reading questions showing your weakest type and the count of correct answers

Week 3

Scan four texts for specific detail under a 90-second limit per text and mark the exact line that answers each question
Distinguish fact from opinion in three opinion pieces by labelling 30 statements as F or O
Listen to one 5-minute discussion and summarise the speakers' positions in five bullet points from memory
Review the error log and rewrite five entries as rules you can apply next time

A fact-versus-opinion worksheet with 30 labelled statements and a five-bullet summary written from memory

Week 4

Sit a full timed reading and listening mock under exam conditions with no dictionary and no replay
Analyse every wrong answer by cause: vocabulary, inference, speed, or misread instruction
Re-attempt the same mock after three days and target a 20 percent accuracy gain on your weakest type
Speed-read two long texts at 250 words per minute and answer three global questions on each

A mock score sheet with first and second attempt percentages plus a written cause analysis for each incorrect item

Week 5

Record three 90-second monologues on familiar topics and score each against fluency, range, and accuracy criteria
Write two 120-word formal emails using a clear purpose statement, two supporting points, and a closing request
Practise five two-minute picture or prompt descriptions using a fixed structure: overview, detail, comparison, opinion
Compile a personal bank of 30 B2 phrases for giving opinions, hedging, and linking ideas

Three recorded monologues with a self-assessment sheet scoring each on four criteria out of five

Week 6

Hold three 5-minute spoken exchanges with a partner or language app covering agreeing, disagreeing, and asking for clarification
Write one 150-word opinion essay with a clear thesis, two developed reasons, and a conclusion that does not repeat the introduction
Reduce filler by re-recording one monologue and counting hesitations before and after
Edit three pieces of your own writing to remove repetition and replace five basic words with precise alternatives

A 150-word opinion essay plus a before-and-after hesitation count from two recordings of the same monologue

Week 7

Deliver a 3-minute prepared talk with notes only, then answer four follow-up questions aloud
Write two 100-word summaries of a listening clip, each keeping the main idea and two supporting details
Practise pronunciation of 15 problem words and record the corrected versions
Complete a 45-minute writing task under timed conditions and self-mark it with a checklist

A recorded 3-minute talk with follow-up answers plus a marked timed writing sample with checklist scores

Week 8

Run a full four-skill mock across two sessions and log scores against your week 4 baseline
Re-record your week 5 monologue and compare fluency and range side by side
Rewrite your weakest timed writing piece and list the specific changes made
Write a one-page exam-day routine covering timing, note-taking, and how you will handle an unknown prompt

A final score comparison table against the week 4 baseline plus a one-page exam-day routine

Week 2: You can complete a 10-question timed reading set at 60 percent or better and name your weakest question type with evidence

Week 4: Your full mock shows reading and listening each at 60 percent or above, and every wrong answer has a written cause

Week 6: You can speak for 90 seconds with fewer than eight long hesitations and write 150 words with a clear thesis in under 25 minutes

Week 8: All four skills sit at or above 65 percent on the final mock, with at least a 10-point gain over your week 4 baseline