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From B2 to C1 in French: A 10-Week Study Plan for Uni Students in London

  • Writer: Sazzadur Rahman
    Sazzadur Rahman
  • Sep 17
  • 6 min read

If you’re a strong B2 student who can study 5–8 focused hours/week and get weekly feedback, you can reach C1 in about 10 weeks. This plan shows exactly what to do—day by day—and how we (Gaëlle & French Tutors, sometimes searched as “Galley French Tutor”) can coach you in London or online.

From B2 to C1 in French: A 10-Week Study Plan for Uni Students in London

Who this guide is for

You’re a university student in London who needs C1-level French for: a term abroad, internships, seminars, or just to finally speak with precision and confidence. You don’t want another vague to-do list—you want a structured, time-boxed plan that fits your timetable, pushes your speaking and writing, and tells you what “good C1” looks like.

B2 vs C1—what actually changes

B2 = you communicate well, argue your point, and handle most topics. C1 = you shape arguments, synthesize sources, adapt register, and speak fluidly with nuance. In practical terms:

  • Listening/Reading: long, dense content; you summarise and infer.

  • Writing: structured essays (thesis → 2–3 arguments → concession → conclusion) with natural linking and precise register.

  • Speaking: 2–3 minute monologues without strain, followed by controlled Q&A (reformulate, concede, pivot).

How to use this plan

  • Daily cadence: 25–40 minutes Monday–Friday (micro-drills) + one 60–90 min session for speaking and essay feedback.

  • Two full mocks: Weeks 7 and 10.

  • One error log: note every repeat mistake (agreement, prepositions, register) and fix it with targeted micro-drills.

  • Resources: one podcast + one news/op-ed source you like; a notebook or Notion page; a timer.

  • Accountability: at least one live conversation or mock oral per week—peer or tutor.

The 10-Week B2→C1 study plan (overview)

Week

Focus

Listening/Reading

Speaking

Writing

Grammar/Vocab Sprint

Output Target

1

Baseline & structure

20–30′/day: podcast + article

2× monologue → Q&A

1× 250-word response

sequencing, core connectors

5–6′ fluent monologue

2

Fluency ramp

editorial + 5-sentence summary

2× debate prompts

1× formal email

discourse markers

precise reformulations

3

Argument depth

interview + note-taking

2× debates

1× essay (300–350)

concession language

90-second opening stance

4

Register control

op-ed + 150-word synthesis

2× role-plays

1× formal letter

subjonctif, conditionnel

formal tone without stiffness

5

Source-based speech

long lecture → outline

3× presentations

1× synthesis draft

academic collocations

accurate paraphrase

6

Cohesion & style

documentary + headline rewrite

2× presentations

1× timed synthesis

referencing devices

natural linking

7

Mock #1

full set (timed)

20′ mock oral

1× timed essay

error log audit

baseline score

8

Error surgery

targeted sets

corrective drills

rewrite essay

articles, preps, gender

cleaner output

9

Domain specialism

field-specific sources

2× domain talks

1× brief/commentary

domain lexis

precise jargon use

10

Mock #2

full set (timed)

20′ mock oral

final timed essay

consolidation

exam-ready performance


Weeks 1–2 — Reset & structure

Goal: build a clean scaffold so everything you say/write “snaps” into place.

  • Speaking (2×/week): 2–3 min monologue → Q&A on student life, housing, study habits, work-study. Record yourself once; in the second session, reformulate weak points (Si je vous suis, vous proposez…).

  • Writing (weekly): Week 1 = 250-word opinion; Week 2 = formal email (internship query, admin request).

  • Listening/Reading (daily): short podcast + article → 5-sentence summary that preserves the author’s stance.

  • Grammar/Vocab: tense sequencing; high-value connectors: cependant, en revanche, par ailleurs, en somme.

  • Output target: hit 5–6 minutes of continuous, coherent speech without long pauses.

Mini template—PREP (B1-friendly but still useful): Point → Reason → Example → Point (restate).

Weeks 3–4 — Argumentation & register

Goal: speak and write like a university-level communicator.

  • Speaking: two debate sessions/week (education policy, tech ethics, student housing). Practise: polite disagreement (Je ne partage pas cet avis…), concession (Je reconnais que… toutefois…), pivoting back to your thesis.

  • Writing: Week 3 = 300–350-word argued essay; Week 4 = formal letter (complaint/request) with clean openings and closings.

  • Input: one editorial + one interview each week → 150-word synthesis.

  • Sprint: advanced linkers and structures: néanmoins, de surcroît, afin que (+ subj.), bien que (+ subj.); indirect speech; hypothetical patterns.

  • Output target: 90-second opening statement with a clear stance, 2 arguments, and a controlled register.

Template—PEEL (perfect for C1 essays): Point → Evidence → Explanation → Link (to the question/next point).

Weeks 5–6 — Synthesis & precision

Goal: summarise sources and speak precisely without losing nuance.

  • Speaking: three presentations/week (2–3 min) drawn from sources (one article + one audio). Structure: summary → 2 insights → concession.

  • Writing: one synthesis each week (350–450 words) combining 2–3 sources. Focus on cohesion, referencing (selon l’auteur… / le reportage souligne que…), and tone.

  • Input: a long-form documentary or lecture → an outline with a clear hierarchy (headings → bullets → evidence).

  • Sprint: collocations (academic and workplace), hedging (il semblerait que, dans une certaine mesure), and discourse markers that add subtlety (soit dit en passant, tout compte fait).

  • Output target: accurate paraphrase and register shifts without translation-sounding phrasing.

Week 7 — Full mock #1 (timed)

Speaking: 20-minute mock with 30-minute prep. You: present, defend, reformulate, concede, and close. Writing: one timed synthesis/essay (45–60 min). Review: get a score breakdown (fluency, range, accuracy, coherence, register). Create an error surgery list for Week 8.

London tip: if you’re near campus (UCL/KCL/LSE/Imperial), schedule this mock right after a quiet study slot—your performance spikes when you arrive “warmed up.”

Week 8 — Error surgery & lexical depth

Goal: remove what’s holding you back from C1.

  • Speaking: targeted drills + shadowing (articles/gender, prepositions, awkward phrasing).

  • Writing: rewrite your Week-7 essay with smoother linking, cleaner paragraph openers, and varied syntax (relative clauses, participles, concessive structures).

  • Input: purpose-built listening sets with note-taking constraints (mind-map, keyword ladder, headline rewrite).

Week 9 — Domain specialism (university context)

Pick a track: Humanities (literature/culture), Social Sciences (policy/economy), or STEM (research communication).

  • Speaking: two domain presentations with figures or examples; practise describing data and situating sources (dans le cadre de…, selon l’enquête…).

  • Writing: one domain-specific commentary or project brief.

  • Lexis: field-specific collocations; contrast formal vs neutral synonyms.

Week 10 — Full mock #2 & launch plan

Repeat the full mock with timing. Compare to Week 7 for measurable gains (words per minute, errors per minute, argument clarity). Create a maintenance plan: two 30-minute sessions/week + one writing/month, plus a monthly 20-min mock to keep pressure-tested.

Ready-to-use templates & phrase packs

Speaking openers:

  • Je soutiens que… / À mon sens… / Pour cadrer le problème… Reformulation & turns:

  • Si je vous suis bien… / Autrement dit… / Permettez-moi de préciser… Concession & pivot:

  • Je reconnais que… toutefois… / Certes… mais… Closers:

  • En somme… / En pratique, cela implique…

Writing skeleton (C1 essay):

  • Intro: accroche + problématique + plan annoncé

  • Dév. 1 & 2: argument → preuve → explication → mini-bilan

  • Contre-argument : concession intelligente + réfutation

  • Conclusion : bilan + proposition/action

Connector pack (pin these): d’une part / d’autre part, toutefois, en revanche, par ailleurs, de surcroît, en somme, afin que (+ subj.), bien que (+ subj.), quoique (+ subj.)

Common pitfalls (and our quick fixes)

  1. Register drift. Writing sounds too informal or too stiff. → Keep a register ruler: swap très important → déterminant, très bien → tout à fait pertinent.

  2. Long sentences with weak logic. → Use PEEL and read aloud: if you run out of breath, split the sentence.

  3. Lack of concession. C1 expects nuance. → Add one concession + refutation per essay or debate.

  4. Translation phrasing. → Build collocation lists (e.g., mener une enquête, poser un cadre, soulever une question).

  5. Timing panic. → Practise under exam-style clocks from Week 3 onward; don’t cram timing in Week 10.

How we can help (London & online)

We’re Gaëlle & French Tutors—yes, that’s us; people sometimes type “Galley French Tutor” when they search for us—and we specialise in turning B2 skills into C1 performance for university students:

  • C1 Accelerator (10 weeks): weekly mock oral, weekly essay marking, vocabulary sprints, and a personal dashboard to track errors and wins.

  • Express add-ons: 48-hour essay marking with annotated feedback; 20-minute viva simulation for presentations/seminars.

  • In person across London (home/office/campus) or online worldwide.

Book a free consultation and we’ll map your timetable, pick your domain focus, and give you a clear Week-1 checklist to start today.


 
 
 

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