TIMETABLE FOR TCF EXAM:
Creating a study timetable for a complete beginner aiming to prepare for the TCF (Test de Connaissance
du Français) requires a well-structured plan. Here’s a suggested 12-week timetable, assuming daily study
sessions. Each week focuses on specific skills and builds gradually from basic to more advanced content.
Week 1-2: Foundations
Monday to Friday (1 hour/day)
o Vocabulary: Basic greetings, numbers, days of the week, and common nouns.
o Grammar: Introduction to articles (le, la, les), subject pronouns (je, tu, il/elle, etc.), and
the present tense of être and avoir.
o Listening: Simple dialogues, introductions.
o Speaking: Basic self-introduction, simple questions (e.g., “Comment t'appelles-tu?”).
Saturday & Sunday (1 hour/day)
o Revision: Review vocabulary and grammar, practice through exercises.
o Cultural Exposure: Watch a French movie or listen to French songs with subtitles.
Week 3-4: Expanding Basics
Monday to Friday (1 hour/day)
o Vocabulary: Family, professions, and common adjectives.
o Grammar: Present tense of regular -er verbs (e.g., parler, aimer), negation (ne... pas),
and basic questions (e.g., “Où habites-tu?”).
o Listening: Short conversations, basic instructions.
o Speaking: Describe yourself and your family, simple descriptions using adjectives.
Saturday & Sunday (1 hour/day)
o Revision: Focus on verb conjugation and forming questions.
o Cultural Exposure: Read simple texts or children’s books in French.
Week 5-6: Building Confidence
Monday to Friday (1 hour/day)
o Vocabulary: Food, daily activities, and common places.
o Grammar: Introduction to the passé composé, using regular verbs, and learning about
direct and indirect object pronouns.
o Listening: Simple stories, everyday activities.
o Speaking: Talk about your daily routine, order food in a restaurant role-play.
Saturday & Sunday (1 hour/day)
o Revision: Practice forming sentences in the past tense.
o Cultural Exposure: Explore French cuisine and discuss your favorite dishes.
Week 7-8: Intermediate Skills
Monday to Friday (1 hour/day)
o Vocabulary: Travel, shopping, and weather.
o Grammar: Introduction to the future tense (futur proche and futur simple), and reflexive
verbs (e.g., se lever).
o Listening: Travel dialogues, weather reports.
o Speaking: Plan a trip, discuss future plans.
Saturday & Sunday (1 hour/day)
o Revision: Focus on reflexive verbs and future tense.
o Cultural Exposure: Learn about French-speaking countries and their cultures.
Week 9-10: Advanced Beginner
Monday to Friday (1 hour/day)
o Vocabulary: Emotions, health, and hobbies.
o Grammar: Introduction to the imperfect tense (imparfait) and comparatives.
o Listening: Health advice, hobby discussions.
o Speaking: Describe past experiences, compare different things (e.g., “C’est plus grand
que...”).
Saturday & Sunday (1 hour/day)
o Revision: Combine past tenses and compare using adjectives.
o Cultural Exposure: Watch a French documentary or a more complex film.
Week 11-12: TCF Preparation
Monday to Friday (1 hour/day)
o Vocabulary: Review all previous vocabulary.
o Grammar: Mixed exercises, focus on tricky areas (e.g., pronouns, tense agreement).
o Listening: Practice with TCF listening samples, focus on understanding gist and details.
o Speaking: Practice speaking tasks from TCF, simulate test conditions.
Saturday & Sunday (1 hour/day)
o Mock Tests: Take full TCF practice tests, review your mistakes.
o Final Revision: Address any weak areas, focus on fluency and comprehension.
Additional Tips:
Daily Practice: Even 15-20 minutes of daily revision outside the main study sessions can
significantly boost retention.
Language Partner: Practice speaking with a language partner or tutor weekly.
Immersion: Try to immerse yourself in the language through media, social interactions, and even
thinking in French as much as possible.
This timetable covers all key areas of language learning: vocabulary, grammar, listening, speaking, and
cultural knowledge, ensuring a well-rounded preparation for the TCF exam.
To help a complete beginner prepare for the TCF (Test de Connaissance du Français) and aim for a B2
level, here’s a structured timetable spanning approximately 9 months. This plan assumes you’re
dedicating about 10-12 hours per week to studying.
Months 1-2: A1 Level (Basic Knowledge)
Weekly Schedule (10-12 hours)
Day 1-2:
o Grammar: Basic sentence structure, articles, present tense of regular verbs (2 hours)
o Vocabulary: Common nouns, adjectives, and phrases (1.5 hours)
Day 3:
o Listening: Simple dialogues, everyday expressions (1.5 hours)
o Reading: Short texts, signs, and advertisements (1.5 hours)
Day 4-5:
o Speaking: Introducing yourself, basic questions (1.5 hours)
o Writing: Simple sentences, daily routines (1.5 hours)
Day 6:
o Review and Practice: A1 level exercises and mock tests (2 hours)
Months 3-4: A2 Level (Elementary Knowledge)
Weekly Schedule (10-12 hours)
Day 1-2:
o Grammar: Imparfait, futur proche, reflexive verbs (2 hours)
o Vocabulary: Daily activities, food, and shopping (1.5 hours)
Day 3:
o Listening: Longer dialogues, basic interviews (1.5 hours)
o Reading: Simple articles, short stories (1.5 hours)
Day 4-5:
o Speaking: Talking about your past, future plans (1.5 hours)
o Writing: Simple paragraphs, emails (1.5 hours)
Day 6:
o Review and Practice: A2 level exercises and mock tests (2 hours)
Months 5-6: B1 Level (Intermediate Knowledge)
Weekly Schedule (12 hours)
Day 1-2:
o Grammar: Plus-que-parfait, conditionnel présent, subjonctif présent (3 hours)
o Vocabulary: Travel, work, and technology (2 hours)
Day 3:
o Listening: Radio shows, news clips (2 hours)
o Reading: Newspaper articles, longer stories (2 hours)
Day 4-5:
o Speaking: Expressing opinions, discussing experiences (2 hours)
o Writing: Essays, formal letters (2 hours)
Day 6:
o Review and Practice: B1 level exercises and mock tests (1 hour)
Months 7-8: B2 Level (Upper-Intermediate Knowledge)
Weekly Schedule (12 hours)
Day 1-2:
o Grammar: Passé simple, subjonctif passé, advanced sentence structures (3 hours)
o Vocabulary: Politics, society, and culture (2 hours)
Day 3:
o Listening: Debates, podcasts (2 hours)
o Reading: Opinion pieces, essays (2 hours)
Day 4-5:
o Speaking: Debating, formal discussions (2 hours)
o Writing: Argumentative essays, critiques (2 hours)
Day 6:
o Review and Practice: B2 level exercises and mock tests (1 hour)
Month 9: Exam Preparation and Practice
Weekly Schedule (12 hours)
Day 1-3:
o Comprehensive Review: Revise grammar, vocabulary, and key concepts (6 hours)
Day 4-5:
o Mock Tests: Full-length TCF practice exams (4 hours)
Day 6:
o Speaking and Listening: Focus on oral and listening comprehension sections (2 hours)
Additional Tips
Consistent Practice: Dedicate a bit of time each day to French, even outside structured study
time. Watch French films, listen to music, or read articles.
Use Resources: Utilize TCF preparation books, online platforms, and language apps.
Join a Conversation Group: Engage in regular speaking practice with others, preferably with a
tutor or language exchange partner.
Take Mock Tests: Regularly take practice exams to gauge your progress and adapt your study
plan as needed.
This timetable is designed to be flexible; feel free to adjust it based on your progress and availability.
