How long does it take to learn Polish – from zero to B1 and B2

What the pace of learning depends on

Five factors set the pace of learning – and only some of them are under your control. Two people on the same course can reach B1 in very different times.

1. Native language. Ukrainian, Russian, Belarusian, Czech and Slovak have cases, aspect and many similar words. A speaker of English, Spanish or Hindi learns these mechanisms from scratch.
2. Number of hours and regularity. Five times 30 minutes gives more than one two-and-a-half-hour session on Sunday.
3. Contact with the language. Working in a Polish team, shopping, talking to neighbours – each such situation is an extra, free lesson.
4. Experience of learning languages. Someone who has already learned one foreign language usually organises learning the next one faster.
5. Goal. A conversation in a shop needs less than the B1 exam, where you also have to write correctly.

We explain what takes the most time in Polish in the article Is Polish hard?

Estimated time to each level

The table below shows the total number of hours of study from zero – lessons with a teacher and independent work together. These are ranges for an adult who studies regularly. We use the same scale on the pages about preparing for B1 and B2.

The hours in the table are a rough teaching estimate, not measured data or school results. You can check what each level means in our description of levels from A1 to C2.

How many months at your pace

You work out the number of months by dividing the hours from the table by the time you really spend studying each week. For level B1 from zero, it looks roughly like this:

Remember: daily contact with Polish at work and at home shortens learning, and long breaks lengthen it. If you are preparing for an exam, check how much study stands between you and B1 – there we describe a plan for people who start from A0, A1 or A2.

What level you need for your goal

Before you count the months, decide on your target level – for many everyday goals less than B1 is enough, while some matters require a specific document. The table links typical goals with the language requirements in the regulations (as of 3 October 2026).

You will find the details and legal bases in our guide to language requirements for residence and citizenship.

What speeds up learning

People learn fastest when they combine lessons with using the language every day. A few habits make a big difference:

• Short daily reviews of words and phrases – 15 minutes a day instead of two hours before a lesson.
• Speaking from the start – even simple sentences, even with mistakes.
• Polish on your phone – set the language of your apps, listen to Polish podcasts and radio on your way to work.
• Writing short texts – a message to a colleague, a note about your day – and correction by a teacher.
• A clear goal with a deadline – a job interview, an exam, a visit to an office. A deadline motivates more than “someday”.

What slows learning down

Most people who are “standing still” do not have a problem with talent, but with one of these habits:

• breaks longer than two or three weeks – part of the material then has to be repeated;
• learning only from an app – you recognise words but do not build sentences from them;
• avoiding speaking for fear of making mistakes;
• lists of single words with no gender and no example in a sentence;
• skipping levels – materials that are too hard discourage you faster than ones that are too easy.

How to check how much learning is still ahead of you

To estimate your time, you need to know your starting point. The simplest way is in two steps:

1. Take the placement test – in about a quarter of an hour it will show your approximate level.
2. Book a trial lesson with an assessment – the teacher will also check speaking and writing, which the test does not measure, and draw up a plan with a realistic deadline.

If you are starting from zero, you will find a ready schedule for the first weeks in the 12-week study plan.