Many many lodges here in the UK meet about 4 times a year, one of those being the Installation. The speed of progression from EA to FC to MM depends on how many candidates the Lodge has to put through. If a Lodge has only one brother going through, then he may well progress from EA to FC to MM within a year at three different meetings. Conversely I know some very busy lodges where FC to MM can take up to two years, simply because there’s a queue. Lodges sometimes carry out double or triple passings and raisings at their discretion, or even ask friendly neighbouring Lodges with less work at hand to help out with carrying out a ceremony.