A single learner. Three goals. 3–4 hours a day. This is the full plan — phases, weekly schedules per phase, session-level resource mapping, and a month-by-month progress tracker. Built on learning science, not guesswork.
Short answer: yes. Here's the full math — and how the three goals fit together without cannibalising each other.
3–4 hrs/day over 18 months = ~1,900–2,500 total study hours. German B2 from A1 requires approximately 600–800 hours (the biggest investment). The Shorter GRE to 310–320 needs 200–280 focused hours. IELTS 7.0+ with an existing English background needs 120–160 hours of targeted practice. Total real need: ~920–1,240 hrs — comfortably within budget, with significant buffer for revision, mock tests, and life. The sequencing is the art: front-load German and GRE simultaneously, ramp IELTS only in Phase 3. There is also substantial natural overlap — GRE Verbal and IELTS both develop academic vocabulary and argument-reading skills. Every hour spent on one cross-trains the other.
GRE Format (Effective Sept 22, 2023 — still current): The Shorter GRE is now 1 hr 58 min, 55 questions total. The "Analyze an Argument" essay is permanently removed — only "Analyze an Issue" remains (one essay). No experimental/unscored section. On-screen calculator and mark-and-review tools included. Score scale unchanged: 130–170 per section. Pre-2023 prep books are still fully content-valid — only the quantity of questions and one essay type changed. Use them freely.
IELTS Key Updates: The One Skill Retake (OSR) is now globally available at computer-delivered centres — retake one underperforming module (Writing or Speaking) within 60 days of the full exam. This changes strategy significantly. Also: IELTS anti-template algorithms now actively penalise memorised essay openers, vocabulary-dumping (overusing "plethora", "myriad", "burgeoning"), and scripted Speaking answers. Authentic, specific reasoning is rewarded over polish.
German Timeline Reality Check: Research consistently estimates 600–800 hours to reach B2 from A0/A1 for English speakers. At 90 min/day of active German study, that's approximately 14–18 months — fitting snugly within the 18-month window, but only with consistent daily practice. Missing weeks compounds. The plan accounts for this: German gets the largest single daily block throughout all four phases.
The daily and weekly structure is not arbitrary. It is built on what the learning-science literature actually shows works for multi-subject study over extended timeframes.
Research consistently shows that distributing practice over time produces dramatically better long-term retention than cramming the same material in one session. This is why Anki is non-negotiable in this plan — vocabulary reviewed at expanding intervals sticks; vocabulary read once from a list does not. A 2022 meta-analysis in Language Learning confirmed spaced practice significantly outperforms massed practice across L2 vocabulary studies.
Studying different subjects within the same day (interleaving) appears harder in the moment but produces superior long-term learning compared to blocked practice (doing only one subject per day). The discomfort of switching is the productive difficulty. Research from CALL-EJ (2024) and Suzuki et al. (2021) show interleaved task repetition outperforms blocked practice for L2 fluency development. This is why GRE and German both appear every day.
You identified this yourself from experience, and it is correct. Writing notes in detail activates the feeling of learning while often reducing actual encoding. Retrieval practice — attempting to recall information without looking — consistently outperforms re-reading and note-taking for long-term retention (Strong, 2023). This plan replaces re-reading with active problem-doing and flashcard recall.
With variable work hours, a rigid time-of-day schedule is unsustainable. Instead, this plan uses a fixed session order: hardest cognitive task first (GRE), then German active study, then IELTS rotation, then passive immersion. The sequence is load-bearing; the clock time is not. This protects the plan from schedule disruption while maintaining cognitive prioritisation.
On "Is this the best approach for all three simultaneously?" Community evidence from learners completing GRE + a second language simultaneously (r/GRE, r/languagelearning) consistently shows: parallelism works when subjects have different cognitive modes. GRE Quant and German grammar tap different mental systems. IELTS and GRE Verbal genuinely overlap in academic vocabulary and argument comprehension — every GRE verbal hour cross-trains IELTS reading. The riskiest combination is GRE Verbal + IELTS Writing in the same session (semantic satiation); this plan keeps them in separate daily slots for this reason.
One universal daily session order, adaptable to any clock time. Hardest cognitive work first. Lightest at the end. Adjust times, not sequence.
Peak focus slot. Never passive reading here. Do problems, check error log, analyse wrong answers. In Phases 1–2: topic-based drills. In Phases 3–4: timed full sections and mocks only.
Open: ETS PowerPrep (mock) · GregMat YouTube (strategy) · Manhattan 5lb (drills)
Grammar study, textbook chapter + exercises, writing output, or shadowing. Duolingo is a 10-min warmup only. Phase 1: Netzwerk Neu A1. Phase 2: Nicos Weg B1 + grammar workbook. Phase 3–4: authentic German media + writing practice.
Open: DW Nicos Weg (series) · Goethe exercises · Anki German deck · Grammatik Aktiv (textbook)
Rotates by day of week (see Weekly Schedule section). Never script answers. Use unseen prompts only. Record speaking attempts and listen back.
Open: IELTS Liz (writing/speaking) · British Council Practice Tests · Cambridge IELTS books
Review due Anki cards (GRE vocab deck + German frequency deck — both). Then 15 min: Easy German YouTube, DW slow German podcast, or any German audio while doing nothing else. This compounds silently across 18 months.
Open: Anki (desktop/mobile) · Easy German YouTube · DW Langsam gesprochene Nachrichten
Saturday: 2–2.5 hrs. Morning: Anki cards + any overdue error-log review (all 3 subjects, 45 min). Afternoon: Light German immersion — watch an episode of a German show, read a short German text, or use DW's news in simple German (1 hr). No GRE or IELTS deep work. This is consolidation, not new input.
Sunday: Rest. Optional 20-min Anki only if cards are due. One full IELTS mock test once per month on a Sunday afternoon (takes about 2.5 hrs). Do not skip rest — cognitive consolidation happens during downtime. Overtraining study is as real as overtraining exercise.
Each phase has a distinct character and purpose. The sequence is load-bearing — do not skip ahead.
MONTHS 1–4 · BUILD THE BASE · ~480 HRS TOTAL
MONTHS 5–9 · DEEPENING ALL THREE · ~600 HRS TOTAL
MONTHS 10–14 · RAISING THE CEILING · ~600 HRS TOTAL
MONTHS 15–18 · LOCK IN THE SCORES · ~480 HRS TOTAL
Each phase has its own weekly template reflecting the changing priorities. The resource column tells exactly what to open for each session.
| DAY | SESSION 1 · 75 MIN · GRE | SESSION 2 · 75 MIN · GERMAN | SESSION 3 · 45 MIN · IELTS | SESSION 4 · 25 MIN · ALL |
|---|---|---|---|---|
Monday |
Quant Manhattan 5lb Ch.1–2: Arithmetic basics. Do all practice problems — no skipping. | DW Nicos Weg Episode 1–3 + A1 exercises. Goethe free exercises: Nouns & Articles. | Writing T2 IELTS Liz: Read 2 band-7 essays. Identify structure. Do NOT write yet — analyse only. | Anki: GRE vocab (10 new) + German (10 new). DW slow news podcast (15 min). |
Tuesday |
Verbal GregMat YouTube: Text Completion strategy video #1. Then 20 practice questions from Manhattan 5lb. | Grammar Deutsch für Euch YouTube: Present tense conjugation episode. Write 10 sentences using new verbs. | Speaking IELTS Liz: Part 1 question bank. Record a 90-second response to 3 questions. Listen back. | Anki review due cards only. Easy German YouTube: one short video (subtitle on). |
Wednesday |
AWA ETS.org: Read "Analyze an Issue" task overview + 2 sample essays. Outline (don't write) a response to 1 prompt. | DW Nicos Weg Episodes 4–6. Then Goethe exercises: Verbs in present tense section. | Reading Cambridge IELTS 14 Test 1: Reading Section 1 only, timed. Score yourself. Review wrong answers. | Anki review. German journal: 3 sentences describing your day in German. |
Thursday |
Quant Manhattan 5lb Ch.3–4: Fractions, decimals, percentages. Complete all exercises. | Vocab Anki German deck: 15 new frequency words. Build sentences with each. Goethe: Vocabulary A1 games. | Listening Cambridge IELTS 14 Test 1: Listening Section 1–2, timed. Transcript review after. | Anki review. Duolingo 10-min (warmup, habit reinforcement only). |
Friday |
Verbal GregMat: Sentence Equivalence strategy. 20 SE practice questions. Log all errors. | DW Nicos Weg Episodes 7–10. Focus on listening comprehension — turn off subtitles for one re-watch. | Writing T2 IELTS Liz: Write ONE full Task 2 essay (40 min, timed, unseen prompt). Don't edit — just write. | Anki review. German journal entry (longer — 5–6 sentences). |
Saturday |
🌿 Review day (2 hrs): Anki all due cards (40 min). Re-read German error notes (20 min). Review IELTS essay written on Friday — identify 3 improvements. Watch 1 Easy German video for immersion. No new material. | |||
Sunday |
Rest. Anki only if cards are due (20 min max). Once per month (Month 2): Take ETS PowerPrep Practice Test 1 — full 2 hrs, real conditions. | |||
| DAY | SESSION 1 · 75 MIN · GRE | SESSION 2 · 75 MIN · GERMAN | SESSION 3 · 45 MIN · IELTS | SESSION 4 · 25 MIN |
|---|---|---|---|---|
Monday |
Quant Manhattan 5lb: Geometry chapter. Complete all problems. Log errors with reason. | DW Nicos Weg A2 2 episodes + exercises. Goethe: Dative case exercises. | Writing T2 IELTS Liz: Write a full Task 2 essay — 40 min timed, unseen prompt. No template. | Anki (15 GRE + 15 German new). DW Langsam Nachrichten (15 min). |
Tuesday |
Verbal GregMat: Reading Comprehension strategy. Do 3 RC passages from Manhattan 5lb. | Grammar Grammatik Aktiv B1: Perfekt chapter. Build 15 sentences in Perfekt tense. | Speaking Full Part 1+2+3 mock. Record. Listen back and note disfluencies. IELTS Liz Speaking tips. | Anki review. Easy German YouTube (subtitle off for first 1 min, then on). |
Wednesday |
AWA Write ONE full Issue essay (45 min timed). Then post to r/GRE for feedback OR self-score against ETS rubric. | DW Nicos Weg B1 Start B1 episodes. German writing journal: short paragraph (6–8 sentences). | Reading Cambridge IELTS 15: Full Reading section timed. Score + detailed review of every wrong answer. | Anki review. Tandem text exchange (15 min with German partner). |
Thursday |
Quant Manhattan 5lb: Statistics + Probability. These are high-GRE-frequency topics — do every exercise. | Vocab Anki German frequency deck: review + 10 new. DW slow news: read article, translate 5 unknown words. | Writing T1 Cambridge IELTS 15: Write 1 Task 1 (graph/chart description, 20 min timed). Review model answer after. | Anki review. German podcast (Der Podcast der Deutschen, slow episodes). |
Friday |
Verbal GregMat: Sentence Equivalence advanced + hard Text Completion. 30 questions, log all errors. | DW Nicos Weg 2 episodes. Then one Easy German video at B1 level with full subtitles + vocabulary list. | Speaking IELTS Liz: Part 2 cue card practice. Record 5 different Part 2 responses — time them (2 min each). | Anki review. German journal: 10-sentence entry, try to use new grammar from this week. |
Saturday |
🌿 Review day (2–2.5 hrs): Anki all due cards. Weekly error-log review (GRE + German + IELTS). Watch 1 full Easy German episode. Optional: Tandem voice call (20 min). Month 7: Take ETS PowerPrep Practice Test 2. | |||
Sunday |
Rest. Anki only if due. Month 8: First full timed IELTS mock (Cambridge IELTS 15 or 16) — 2.5 hrs, real conditions. | |||
| DAY | SESSION 1 · 70 MIN · GRE | SESSION 2 · 70 MIN · GERMAN | SESSION 3 · 60 MIN · IELTS | SESSION 4 · 25 MIN |
|---|---|---|---|---|
Monday |
Full Quant Section Timed (35 min) from PowerPrep Plus or Manhattan mock. Then full error review (35 min). | Easy German 2 videos (no subtitles first pass). Grammatik Aktiv B2: Konjunktiv II chapter. | Writing T2 Unseen prompt, 40 min timed. Then self-score using official IELTS band descriptors (on IELTS.org). | Anki review. DW short news article in German — summarise in 2 sentences (in German). |
Tuesday |
Full Verbal Section Timed (35 min). Error review + GregMat: revisit any weak question type. | Tandem / Exchange 20-min voice call with language partner. Prepare 3 conversation topics in advance. | Speaking Full 3-part mock (record). Part 3 focus: abstract opinions. IELTS Liz: Band 7 Speaking descriptors. | Anki review. Easy German: short clip. Note 5 new German expressions. |
Wednesday |
AWA Full Issue Essay (45 min timed). Focus on argumentation clarity. Avoid complex vocabulary for its own sake. | Authentic Content Read a full DW article. Write a 200-word German opinion paragraph on the topic. | Reading Cambridge IELTS 17: Full section timed. Review every wrong answer — identify question-type patterns. | Anki review. Tandem: text exchange reply. |
Thursday |
Targeted Quant Khan Academy: geometry, probability or data interpretation — whichever is weakest from error log. | DW Nicos Weg B1 Final episodes. Then Goethe B1 online test (free) — diagnostic benchmark. | Writing T1 Two graph descriptions back-to-back (10 min + 10 min). Compare your language to model answers from IELTS Liz. | Anki review. German podcast: Slow German (langsam.com) — 1 episode with transcript. |
Friday |
Mixed Verbal 30 mixed questions (TC + SE + RC) — no topic grouping, random order. Log all errors. | German Writing Write a 250-word German essay on a B2-level topic. Use Konjunktiv II at least once. | Speaking Part 1 + Part 2 practice (Part 2: 5 different cue cards). Time every response. Record + review. | Anki review. German journal: reflect on week's progress in German. |
Saturday |
🌿 Review day (2 hrs): Full Anki review. Error log: top 3 recurring mistakes per subject — plan for next week. Watch German film or show (Easy German, Deutsche Welle drama) for immersion. Month 12: Take PowerPrep Plus Practice Test 3 (official, paid — $40). | |||
Sunday |
Rest. Optional Anki. Monthly full IELTS mock (Cambridge 17–18, rotated). Track your band score each time. | |||
| DAY | SESSION 1 · 65 MIN · GRE | SESSION 2 · 65 MIN · GERMAN | SESSION 3 · 65 MIN · IELTS | SESSION 4 · 25 MIN |
|---|---|---|---|---|
Monday |
Mock Review Review Saturday's full mock errors in depth. Every wrong answer: identify the gap, not just the answer. | Immersion 2 Easy German videos (no subtitles). Write 10 key phrases heard for the first time. | Writing T2 Full essay (40 min) + 20 min self-review against band descriptors. Aim for Band 7 structure and specific examples. | Anki review only (no new cards now — just maintaining). German news article. |
Tuesday |
AWA Write 2 Issue essays (45 min each). Practice coherence and logical signposting. No fancy vocab. | Tandem 30-min voice session with partner. Prepare a mini-presentation (2 min) on any topic in German. | Speaking Full Part 1+2+3 mock (recorded). Focus on Part 3 abstract extension. IELTS Liz: Band 7 vs 8 Speaking samples — what is the difference? | Anki review. German journal. DW audio news. |
Wednesday |
Quant Gaps Khan Academy: only the specific topic type that is still appearing in error log. 30 min targeted. Then 30 min mixed practice. | German Writing Formal 300-word letter or essay in German. Use Konjunktiv II, passive, and subordinate clause variety. | Reading Full Cambridge Reading test, timed. Compare score to Month 8 baseline — track progress. Review every wrong answer. | Anki review. Listen to 1 German podcast episode (Slow German or Easy German audio). |
Thursday |
Verbal Review Review remaining Anki GRE vocab: all "hard" flagged cards. 30 min. Then 20 RC questions — mixed difficulty. | Authentic Content Read a full German newspaper article (Spiegel.de, Zeit Online). Summarise in German (5 sentences). | Listening Cambridge IELTS 18: Full Listening section. Score it. Focus on Section 4 (academic monologue) if weak. | Anki review. German immersion TV (with German subtitles — not English). |
Friday |
Light Verbal 20 mixed questions (no time pressure). Calm revision session — preserve energy for Saturday mock. | Goethe B2 Mock Goethe Institut online B2 practice materials. Review results. Target areas only. | Speaking 5 Part 2 cue cards (2 min each). Then practice 5 Part 3 follow-up questions without preparation — spontaneity is the skill. | Anki review. Light immersion only. Rest brain for Saturday. |
Saturday |
🎯 Full GRE Simulation Day (Month 15 onwards, fortnightly): Start at the exact time the real exam would start. No phone. 2 hrs strict. Full conditions. Score and log. Also: if Month 17, book actual GRE + IELTS exam dates this week. | |||
Sunday |
Rest. Anki review if due. Fortnightly: Full IELTS mock (2.5 hrs, Cambridge 17–18). Note current band score. Plan final 2-week review sprint before exam. | |||
All resources listed here are free or freely available. Phase tags indicate when each resource is most relevant.
Target: 310–320 · Shorter GRE format (Sept 2023+) · 1 hr 58 min
The only truly official GRE practice tests. These are the gold standard — use them sparingly (not until Month 2 and Month 7). The most accurate predictor of real exam performance.
ets.org → PowerPrepOfficial adaptive tests — worth buying in Phase 3–4 when approaching target score. Nothing simulates the real exam better. Buy Test 3 in Month 12, Test 4 in Month 16.
ets.org → PowerPrep PlusThe best free GRE strategy channel — covers every question type with clear methods. Start with the "GRE Math" and "Text Completion" playlists. Used by thousands to hit 160+ per section.
youtube.com/GregMatUse for Quant concept gaps only — geometry, statistics, probability. ETS officially recommends it. Do not use for GRE strategy; use GregMat for that. Khan fills conceptual holes.
khanacademy.org1,000+ GRE words, categorised by difficulty. Available as a free app and web version. Use alongside Anki — Magoosh for new words, Anki for long-term spaced repetition of mastered ones.
gre.magoosh.com/flashcardsThe spaced-repetition engine that makes vocabulary stick. Create two decks: GRE Vocab and German Frequency. Review both every day without fail. AnkiDroid (Android) and AnkiMobile (iOS, paid) available.
apps.ankiweb.netThe best drill book for both Quant and Verbal. 1,800+ questions, thoroughly explained. Pre-2023 editions are fully content-valid (the question types did not change). Look for 3rd or 4th edition PDFs.
Three official ETS books combined: Official Guide + Verbal Workbook + Quant Workbook. Contains official retired questions — the most accurate difficulty representation. Strongly recommended for Phase 3.
Target: B2 CEFR · A1 → B2 · ~600–800 hrs of active study
Deutsche Welle's complete free German course. A full narrative video series (Nico's journey in Germany) that takes you from A1 to B1 with integrated exercises, grammar notes, and vocabulary. The backbone of Phases 1–3. Probably the best free structured German course online.
learngerman.dw.com → Nicos WegThe official German cultural institute offers free online grammar and vocabulary exercises at every level (A1–C2). High-quality, authoritative material. Use for grammar drilling after each new concept learned from DW or textbooks.
goethe.de → ÜbenKatja explains German grammar concepts clearly in English. Perfect for Phase 1–2 when encountering confusing grammar topics like case endings, verb conjugation, and word order. Use as a supplement to DW, not a replacement.
YouTube → Deutsch für EuchStreet interviews and cultural content with both German and English subtitles. Authentic, natural speech at varying speeds. Use from B1 onwards (Phase 2+). Try watching once with German subtitles, then once without. Excellent for listening comprehension and vocabulary in context.
YouTube → Easy GermanDeutsche Welle's "Slowly spoken news" — real news read at a reduced pace, with full transcript. Available daily. Perfect for B1–B2 listening practice. Use the transcript to review unknown words after listening.
learngerman.dw.com → Slow NewsShort episodes about German culture and everyday topics, spoken slowly and clearly. Transcripts available on the website. Excellent for B1 learners. About 5–10 min per episode — perfect for Session 4 passive immersion.
slowgerman.comFind German native speakers who want to learn English. Free text + voice exchange. Start with text in Phase 2, upgrade to voice calls in Phase 3. No money needed — pure language swap. Much more authentic than any app or textbook for spoken German.
tandem.netFree placement tests from the official examining body — the most accurate benchmark for where you actually are. Take the B1 test at end of Phase 2, B2 test at end of Phase 3 and 4. Do not take them early — use them as real diagnostics.
goethe.de → Placement TestThe most popular German grammar workbook series. Clear explanations with extensive exercises. Focus on the A2–B1 volume for Phases 1–2. Find the PDF on archive.org or Libgen. Use alongside DW Nicos Weg, not instead of it.
The B2 volume — covers Konjunktiv II, passive constructions, complex subordinate clauses, advanced word order. The grammar backbone of Phase 3–4. Same series, higher level.
Target: 7.0+ Overall · Academic · One Skill Retake available
The best single free IELTS website. 300+ pages of free lessons, model answers, tips, and topic banks targeting Band 7, 8, and 9. Primary resource for Writing and Speaking in all phases. Run by a veteran IELTS teacher since 2008. Use this before any other writing resource.
ieltsliz.comOfficial preparation materials from one of the IELTS co-owners. Free sample questions, video lessons, and practice tests. Use for Listening and Reading in Phases 2–3. More conservative and authoritative than third-party sites.
britishcouncil.org/exam/ieltsExtensive free practice with model answers for all four skills. Good for Task 1 writing templates (understand the structure without memorising). Speaking question banks are especially comprehensive. Supplement to IELTS Liz.
ieltsbuddy.comOfficial IELTS website with free sample test questions and academic writing topics. The only authoritative source for IELTS band descriptors (download the public version — crucial for self-scoring Writing and Speaking).
ielts.org → ScoringThe official Cambridge practice test books — each contains 4 full IELTS tests with answer keys and audio. These are the closest to the real exam. Use one test per month from Phase 2 onwards, saving newer books for Phase 3–4. Find PDFs on Libgen or Z-Library; audio on YouTube.
Focused entirely on IELTS Writing Tasks 1 and 2. Useful for understanding the full range of essay types and graph/chart genres. Use in Phase 2 once a solid writing foundation is established. Not a substitute for Cambridge tests.
One Skill Retake (OSR) changes the risk calculus. The anti-template shift changes how to practice writing. Both matter.
Take all four sections (Listening, Reading, Writing, Speaking) on the same day. Computer-delivered preferred for OSR eligibility.
Results within 5–13 days. Identify if any single band is dragging the overall score below 7.0. Writing is most common culprit.
Within 60 days, sit only that one section. If it goes up, your overall score updates. If it goes down, only that section changes (the lower score replaces the old one).
Preparing for Speaking specifically in Phase 4, and having an OSR slot available, effectively gives two attempts at the weakest skill with one exam sitting fee.
Use these as checkpoints, not ceilings. Click the circle to mark a month complete.
Most of what is needed is completely free. For the books that aren't, these sources are widely used by students globally.
Several reputable resources exist for finding free PDFs of academic and language books. These are widely used by students, researchers, and self-learners worldwide — especially in countries where textbook costs are prohibitive.
Most useful for this plan: Manhattan 5lb GRE, Official GRE Super Power Pack, Cambridge IELTS 14–18, Grammatik Aktiv A1–B2, Barron's IELTS Writing.
⚠ This plan does not encourage copyright infringement. The above sources are listed for informational purposes. Many books listed (Cambridge IELTS audio, Goethe materials, all DW content) are legally and freely available directly from their publishers.
What actually needs to be paid for in this plan: ETS PowerPrep Plus Tests 3 & 4 ($40 total — worth it, only in Phase 3–4). Everything else — DW, Goethe, Khan Academy, GregMat, IELTS Liz, Magoosh flashcards, Anki, Tandem, Easy German — is 100% free. The plan is designed to be completable with zero mandatory purchases.
The listening audio for Cambridge IELTS practice tests is freely available on YouTube. Search "Cambridge IELTS [number] Test [number] Listening" — the official recordings have been uploaded and are easy to find for books 12–18.
Anki (free on desktop, AnkiDroid on Android) + Duolingo (10-min warmup only) + DW Learn German app (free, iOS + Android) + Tandem (free) = the complete mobile toolkit for this plan. No paid apps needed.
DW Nicos Weg (complete A1–B1 video course), Goethe exercises, Easy German YouTube, Slow German podcast, DW Slow News, and Tandem exchanges cover the entire German journey at zero cost. The Grammatik Aktiv workbooks are the only German books worth finding as PDFs.
Post GRE Issue Essays to r/GRE for community scoring. Post IELTS Writing Task 2 essays to r/IELTS or use the free AI feedback on IELTS Liz's writing tool. For German writing, post to r/German for corrections — native speakers regularly help learners.