What the Polish B1 certificate exam looks like
3 min read
The state Polish B1 exam has five parts — listening, reading, grammar, writing and speaking — usually spread over two days; to pass, you need at least 50% in each part separately.
Below is exactly what to expect on the certificate exam in Polish as a foreign language at B1 level: how long it lasts, what it consists of, how it is scored and how many points you need to pass.
The exam at a glance
- Five parts: listening comprehension, reading comprehension, grammatical correctness, writing and speaking.
- Two days: the written part (four modules) usually on day one, the oral part (speaking) on day two.
- Pass threshold (B1): at least 50% in each written module and 50% in the oral part — counted separately, not as an average.
- Organiser: the State Commission for the Certification of Proficiency in Polish as a Foreign Language (administrative support: NAWA).
The written part — four modules
The written part lasts up to about 190 minutes in total and covers four modules, each scored independently out of 30 points:
| Module | Time | Points | Threshold (B1) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Listening comprehension | 25 min | 30 | 15 |
| Reading comprehension | 45 min | 30 | 15 |
| Grammatical correctness | 45 min | 30 | 15 |
| Writing | 75 min | 30 | 15 |
What to expect in each module
- Listening comprehension — recordings (dialogues, announcements, short statements) and tasks that check your understanding: true/false, multiple choice, gap-filling.
- Reading comprehension — everyday and press texts with questions about them, matching tasks and tasks that test your grasp of details.
- Grammatical correctness — inflection (cases, verbs), correct forms, gap-filling, sentence transformations.
- Writing — shorter and longer practical forms, e.g. an e-mail, a letter, an announcement, a short piece on a given topic.
The oral part — speaking
The oral part lasts up to 15 minutes (about 5 minutes to prepare after you draw a set) and is scored out of a maximum of 40 points. It consists of three tasks plus an assessment of language correctness:
- Photo description — 0–7 pts
- Monologue on a given topic — 0–7 pts
- Communicative situation (dialogue/role-play) — 0–6 pts
- Grammar — 0–8 pts, vocabulary and style — 0–8 pts, pronunciation and fluency — 0–4 pts
The oral part usually takes place on day two (with the commission chair's consent it may be held the same day after a break — the request is submitted at least 7 days in advance).
How many points do you need to pass?
An adult must score at least 50% in each module of the written part and at least 50% in the oral part. This is the key rule: the overall average does not count — a weak result in one module means you fail, even with high scores in the others. At levels B2, C1 and C2 the threshold is 60%. For children and youth, 50% of the written part as a whole counts.
The certificate itself usually takes about 5–6 months to arrive.
State exam vs TELC
This is not the only Polish exam. The state certificate exam is accepted for every purpose, including citizenship. The TELC exam is accepted for, among others, the EU long-term resident permit, but not for citizenship. We compare the details, dates and costs of both exams in the frequently asked questions (FAQ).
Where to practise
The best way to get comfortable with the format is to do tasks in its structure. On Polski B1 you'll find free sample exam tests covering all five parts, plus writing and speaking exercises with AI evaluation. If you're just starting out, begin with the course for beginners.
Dates, fees and centre lists are set annually and may change. You'll find current information for 2026 in our FAQ and on the official certyfikatpolski.pl website. This is not legal advice — before registering, confirm the requirements with the office handling your case.