From A2 to B1 – Becoming Conversational in English
Hey English learner 👋
You’re not a beginner anymore—amazing job! At the B1 level, you're ready to start expressing yourself with more confidence.
This guide is your complete roadmap from CEFR A2 to B1, helping you become conversational, handle real-life situations, and take your English to the next level.
This post includes:
✅ What B1 learners can actually do
✅ Complete grammar and vocabulary checklist
✅ Study tips to help you move up faster
✅ How long it takes to reach B1
✅ A printable checklist to track your progress – Download now!
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🎯 What Can You Do at B1?
At the B1 level, you can communicate more independently in everyday and some work-related situations. You can:
Handle conversations on familiar topics
Share opinions and justify them
Describe experiences, plans, and ambitions
Talk about feelings, dreams, hopes, and routines
Understand the main idea of longer conversations or texts
Write detailed paragraphs, emails, and basic essays
Express likes, dislikes, advice, and suggestions
Manage common travel or work-related tasks
🗣️ Example:
“I’ve been learning English for two years. I usually study in the evenings because that’s when I’m free, and I love watching English shows to practice.”
⏱️ How Long Does It Take to Reach B1?
📈 Estimated study time: 150–180 hours
📚 Vocabulary size: 2,000–3,000 words
You’ll reach B1 faster if you:
Use English regularly (daily practice is best!)
Focus on all four skills (reading, listening, writing, speaking) weekly
Take classes or work with a tutor
Start using English in real-world contexts (emails, podcasts, meetings)
✨ Want help building a B1 study routine? ➡️Book a free consultation with me here!
🔤 How Many Words Should You Know at B1?
By B1, your vocabulary should include around 2,000–3,000 words.
These help you:
Join conversations about your life, work, and interests
Read short articles, blog posts, or simple news stories
Watch and understand shows with subtitles
Write about your experiences, preferences, or opinions
🎯 Remember: Real fluency comes from using common words well, not using rare words once.
🧠 What B1 Means for Your English Skills
🎧 Listening: You understand the main points of conversations, short lectures, or podcasts—even with some unknown words.
📖 Reading: You can read short articles, messages, or instructions and get the key ideas. You might use a dictionary for some details.
🗣️ Speaking: You can join conversations, give opinions, ask for clarification, and explain things. Mistakes still happen, but your meaning is clear.
✍️ Writing: You can write connected text on familiar topics, describe events, and explain your opinions clearly with some detail.
📚 B1 Grammar Topics
At B1, you're using English more flexibly. These grammar points will help you speak more clearly about the past, future, opinions, and possibilities.
📅 Verb Tenses
Present Simple vs Present Continuous
Past Simple vs Present Perfect
Present Perfect Simple vs Present Perfect Continuous
Past Simple, Past Continuous, Past Perfect
Future Forms: Will, Going to, Present Continuous
🧠 Modals, Obligation & Advice
Have to, Must, Should (rules, advice, necessity)
Can, Could, Be Able To (ability and possibility)
Modal Verbs of Deduction: Must, Might, Could, Can’t
Had Better, It’s Time
Would Rather
🔀 Phrasal Verbs & Verb Patterns
Common Phrasal Verbs (transitive/intransitive)
Usually, Used To, Be/Get Used To
Reported / Indirect Speech
Gerunds vs Infinitives (e.g., like doing, want to go)
Defining & Non-Defining Relative Clauses
Question Tags (e.g., isn’t it?, don’t you?)
Active vs Passive Voice
🔄 Conditionals & Hypotheticals
First Conditional & Future Time Clauses
Second Conditional: Unreal Situations
First vs Second Conditionals
Third Conditional: Unreal Past
📖 Articles, Pronouns & Determiners
A(n), The, or No Article?
Reflexive Pronouns: myself, yourself
Quantifiers: much, many, a lot, few, little, some, any, no
More Quantifiers: all, both, either, neither, none
Other/Another: other, another, the other(s)
✨ Adjectives, Adverbs & Intensifiers
Comparatives & Superlatives (adj/adv)
-ed vs -ing adjectives (bored vs boring)
So, Such, So Much, So Many
🧭 Clauses & Conjunctions
Contrast: although, though, however
Purpose & Reason: so, because, in order to
📍 Prepositions
Verb + Preposition (listen to, depend on)
Adjective + Preposition (good at, afraid of)
🔤 B1 Vocabulary Topics
At the B1 level, you can express yourself in more detail. You’ll be able to describe past experiences, future plans, feelings, and opinions with confidence. These topics are great for conversation practice, writing, and building fluency.
🎯 Personal Life & Free Time
Hobbies and weekend activities
Describing routines and changes in habits
Expressing preferences and opinions
Feelings and emotions
Talking about goals and ambitions
🏖️ Travel & Holidays
Describing past trips and future travel plans
Booking travel and accommodations
Talking about transportation preferences
Giving travel advice and sharing experiences
📚 School, Education & Work
School subjects, study habits, and exams
Talking about teachers and school life
Future educational plans
Jobs, careers, and part-time work
Workplace routines and job satisfaction
🧠 Health & Lifestyle
Healthy habits and fitness routines
Diet, exercise, and mental health
Stress and how to manage it
Visiting the doctor, describing symptoms
Advice for a healthy lifestyle
⚽ Sports & Activities
Team and individual sports
Talking about exercise and staying fit
Extreme sports and physical challenges
Describing wins, losses, and experiences
💻 Technology & Communication
Using smartphones, gadgets, and apps
Internet habits and online safety
Social media and digital communication
New technology and its impact
🌍 Environment & Nature
Pollution, climate change, and recycling
Saving energy and using renewable resources
Protecting animals and nature
Comparing city life vs countryside living
🛍️ Shopping & Consumer Life
Online vs in-store shopping
Making choices and expressing preferences
Talking about prices, sales, and value
Describing your favorite shops or items
📺 Media & Entertainment
Movies, music, and TV shows
Books vs films
Reality TV and news media
Choosing entertainment and giving reviews
☁️ Weather, Places & Daily Life
Talking about the weather and seasons
Describing your home, town, or city
Daily routines, time expressions (past/future)
Living in different places and lifestyles
🧠 Study Tips to Reach B1 Faster
As a fluency coach, here’s what I always tell my intermediate learners:
✅ Embrace challenges & mistakes
At B1, you're using the language, not just studying it. Mistakes are opportunities—when you don’t understand, it’s a chance to grow. Embrace them and don’t let frustration stop you.
Watch my video for tips on embracing mistakes.
✅ Stop trying to translate everything
Avoid looking up translations. To be an independent user, you need to communicate even when you don't have the "perfect" word. Try to explain it using gestures, images, or other methods.
Watch my video for tips on how to think in English
✅ Have real conversations regularly
B1 requires the ability to speak independently. Practice with a tutor, language partner, or friend through video calls, voice messages, or in-person conversations.
✅ Apply grammar in real life
At B1, you don’t just know grammar rules—you know how to apply them. Practice grammar through speaking and writing. Get feedback to refine your grammar and boost your confidence.
✅ Read books in English
At B1, you won't understand a lot of words, but you should be able to read a book and understand the main ideas. Try reading children's novels, self-help books, or biographies.
Watch my video for book suggestions.
✅ Develop your writing
At B1, your writing should go beyond short paragraphs. You should be able to write 3-5 paragraph essays. Use AI for writing prompts and challenge yourself to write longer pieces.
Join the student portal for weekly writing prompts
✅ Engage with content you love
Choose TV shows, podcasts, or articles that interest you—whether it’s travel, self-development, or crime. Enjoyable content keeps you motivated and helps you stay consistent with your learning.
🌟 Need help reaching B1 level?
You can join my self-study community, private classes, or conversation club. I’ll help you achieve B1 with weekly lessons, strategies, and real conversation practice.
➡️ Book a Free Consultation with Me
🎁 Get My Free B1 Checklist + Weekly English Tips
📋 Download my printable CEFR B1 Checklist to track your grammar, vocabulary, and fluency progress from A2 to B1.
👉Download the B1 Checklist PDF
✨ Join My FREE Newsletter:
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🎧 Want to Learn More about the CEFR Levels in English?
🎥 Watch my YouTube video where I explain all 6 CEFR levels for you one by one.
🎓 What’s Next?
If you’ve reached B1—congratulations! 🎉
Now it’s time to push yourself toward fluency, independence, and confidence in all areas of English.
➡️ Check out how to reach B2 fluency:
From B1 to B2 – Achieving fluency
➡️ Not quite A2 level yet? Find out how to get there:
From A1 to A2 – Building a Foundation
