How this calculator works
The Common European Framework of Reference divides language ability into six levels. Cambridge English publishes approximate cumulative guided learning hours from a complete beginner to each level, and those ranges are the basis here. The calculator takes the lower bound of each range and subtracts the hours for the level you start from, so the answer is the study that still lies ahead. Guided learning hours mean taught time plus directed homework, not passive exposure such as watching television. A learner who is already at A2 has spent roughly 180 hours and needs about 170 more to reach B1.
Formula
hours still to study = cumulative hours for the target level - cumulative hours for the current level. Cumulative hours by level are A1 90, A2 180, B1 350, B2 500, C1 700 and C2 1000. Weeks = hours / weekly study hours. Months = weeks / (52 / 12).
Worked example
From A2 to B2 at 5 hours a week: 500 - 180 = 320 guided hours, or 64 weeks, about 14.8 months. The milestone table shows B1 first at 170 extra hours (34 weeks) and then B2 at 320 hours (64 weeks).
Advertisement
Frequently asked questions
Why does each level need more hours than the one before?
Cambridge English notes that progress slows as levels rise: the vocabulary and grammar gained from A1 to A2 come more quickly than the precision demanded between C1 and C2. The published ranges reflect around 200 hours per level at the top end.
Do lessons alone count?
Guided learning hours include homework and directed practice. Two hours of class with an hour of homework a week is three guided hours, not two.
How accurate are these numbers?
They are planning estimates, not guarantees. Prior languages, immersion, age and motivation move the figure a great deal, and Cambridge publishes a range rather than a single value for every level.
What about the IELTS or TOEFL score I already have?
Those tests map onto the same CEFR scale through published concordance tables, so convert your test score to a CEFR level first and then use this page.