Polish B1 language exam — frequently asked questions
Two Polish-language exams matter for residence and citizenship in Poland: the state certificate exam and the TELC exam. Below — in short — how they differ, what they consist of, how to pass, when and where you can sit them, and what they cost, with a focus on which certificate is accepted for which immigration purpose.
State exam vs TELC — comparison
| Feature | State exam | TELC exam |
|---|---|---|
| Valid for citizenship | Yes | No |
| Valid for EU long-term resident permit | Yes | Yes (since 24 Jun 2023) |
| Duration | ~190 min written + ~15 min oral | ~115 min written + ~16 min oral |
| Passing (B1) | ≥50% in each module and the oral | score decides B1/B2 level |
| Dates | 5 sessions a year (Feb, Apr, Jun, Oct, Dec) | monthly |
| Where to take it | accredited centres across Poland + abroad | private language schools in big cities |
| Wait for certificate | ~5–6 months | ~6–8 weeks |
| Cost (B1) | ~730 PLN (exam + certificate) | ~1200 PLN |
Frequently asked questions
Which Polish-language exams exist — the state exam and TELC?
Two main exams certify Polish: the state certificate exam in Polish as a foreign language (run by the State Commission) and the TELC exam (telc GmbH, delivered by licensed language schools). The state certificate is accepted for every purpose, including citizenship. The TELC certificate is accepted for, among others, the EU long-term resident permit, but not for citizenship.
Official source: certyfikatpolski.pltelc.net
State exam or TELC — which should I take?
If you are applying for Polish citizenship, you must take the state exam — TELC will not be accepted. If you only need to prove your Polish for the EU long-term resident permit, either works, and TELC is usually shorter, easier, available more often and issued faster. For a permanent residence permit a language certificate is usually not required at all.
Which certificate is required for Polish citizenship?
Citizenship by recognition (decided by the voivode) requires an official confirmation of Polish at a level of at least B1 — that is, the state certificate from the State Commission, or a diploma from a school taught in Polish. The TELC certificate is not an official confirmation and is not accepted for citizenship (Art. 30 of the Citizenship Act). Citizenship granted by the President of Poland has no formal language requirement.
Official source: Language requirement for citizenship (voivodeship office)
Which exam is enough for a residence card (EU long-term resident)?
The EU long-term resident permit requires Polish at a level of at least B1. Since 24 June 2023 (Regulation of the Minister of Interior, Dz.U. 2023 item 1076), both the state certificate and TELC are accepted, as well as ECL and diplomas from Polish schools and universities. A permanent residence permit does not require a language certificate.
Official source: Rule change — gov.pl (Office for Foreigners)Regulation Dz.U. 2023 item 1076
What does the B1 state certificate exam consist of?
The written part lasts up to 190 minutes and has four modules of 30 points each. There is also an oral part (speaking) — up to 15 minutes, a maximum of 40 points. The written modules are:
- Listening comprehension — 25 min, 30 pts
- Reading comprehension — 45 min, 30 pts
- Grammatical correctness — 45 min, 30 pts
- Writing — 75 min, 30 pts
Official source: Exam structure — certyfikatpolski.pl
What does the oral part of the state exam look like?
The oral part lasts up to 15 minutes (about 5 minutes to prepare after drawing a set). It has three tasks: photo description (0–7 pts), a monologue (0–7 pts) and a communicative situation (0–6 pts), plus a language-correctness assessment: grammar (0–8), vocabulary and style (0–8) and pronunciation and fluency (0–4). That is 40 points in total.
How many points do you need to pass the B1 state exam?
An adult must score at least 50% in each module of the written part and at least 50% in the oral part — this threshold applies to each module separately, not as an overall average. At B2, C1 and C2 the threshold is 60%. For children and youth, 50% of the written part as a whole counts.
How is the state exam run?
The exam usually takes place over two days: the written part on day one and the oral part on day two (the oral part may be held on the same day after a break if the commission chair agrees — the request is made at least 7 days in advance). The certificate usually arrives in about 5–6 months.
What are the 2026 state exam dates?
State exam sessions in 2026 (Saturday–Sunday). B1 for adults is available at all five sessions. The 2027 dates have not been announced yet, and you usually need to register about 2 months in advance. Dates:
- 14–15 February 2026
- 25–26 April 2026
- 27–28 June 2026
- 17–18 October 2026
- 5–6 December 2026
Official source: 2026 session dates — certyfikatpolski.plCentres & registration
Where can you take the state exam?
The state exam is run by accredited centres in many Polish cities and abroad. The exact list of centres for a given session is published as a PDF on certyfikatpolski.pl (not every centre runs every session). You can most often take it in cities such as:
- Warsaw
- Kraków
- Wrocław
- Gdańsk
- Poznań
- Lublin
- Łódź
- Szczecin
- Katowice
- and others (e.g. Białystok, Bydgoszcz, Rzeszów, Toruń)
Official source: List of exam centres — certyfikatpolski.pl
How much does the B1 state exam cost?
The fee for the B1 exam for adults is about 643 PLN, and issuing the certificate costs about another 86 PLN — about 730 PLN in total. This is the statutory maximum (centres may charge less); the amount is set as the equivalent of an official rate, so it can vary slightly between centres and sessions.
Official source: Exam fees — certyfikatpolski.pl
What does the TELC Polish exam (B1–B2) consist of?
The TELC "Polish B1·B2" exam is dual-level: one exam yields either a B1 or a B2 certificate, depending on your score. The written part lasts about 115 minutes and covers listening comprehension, reading comprehension, language elements (grammar and vocabulary) and writing (a letter or e-mail). The oral part lasts about 16 minutes (about 20 minutes to prepare) and is usually held in pairs.
Official source: telc Polish B1·B2 — telc.net
How is the TELC exam graded and how long for the certificate?
TELC is a dual-level exam — your points decide whether you get B1 or B2, and you must pass both the written and the oral part. It is worth confirming the exact point thresholds with your chosen centre. The certificate usually arrives in about 6–8 weeks.
What are the TELC exam dates?
TELC exams are held far more often than the state exam — in practice monthly, on dates set by individual licensed centres throughout the year. You will find specific dates and registration on your chosen centre’s website.
Official source: TELC exam dates — telc.net.pl
Where can you take TELC and how much does it cost?
The TELC Polish exam is run by private licensed language schools; it usually costs about 1200 PLN (depending on the centre). You can most often take it in cities such as:
- Warsaw
- Kraków
- Wrocław
- Łódź
- Poznań
- Lublin
Official source: TELC centres & dates — telc.net.pl
Do children and youth follow different rules?
Yes. For children and youth the pass threshold for the written part is calculated for the whole part, not per module. In addition, people under 16 are exempt from the Polish-language requirement for the EU long-term resident permit.
Who runs the state exam?
The state certificate exam is run by the State Commission for the Certification of Proficiency in Polish as a Foreign Language (administratively serviced by NAWA). The first state certificate exams were held in 2004.
Official source: State Commission — certyfikatpolski.pl
How do you prepare for the Polish B1 exam?
The best approach is to practise every part of the exam in its real format: listening, reading, grammar, writing and speaking. On Polski B1 you will find free sample tests in the exam format plus writing and speaking exercises with AI evaluation.
Practise for the B1 exam for free:
Important
This is not legal advice. Polish immigration and language rules change (2025 reforms are under way). Before booking an exam, always confirm the current requirements with the voivodeship office handling your case. Dates, prices and centre lists are for 2026 and are set annually.