The Polish B1 exam – rules, dates, fees and preparation
The state B1 exam in Polish as a foreign language confirms a threshold level of Polish, and the certificate is issued by the State Commission for the Certification of Proficiency in Polish as a Foreign Language. The exam has a written part (listening, reading, grammar and writing – up to 190 minutes in total) and an oral part (up to 15 minutes); you pass if you score at least 50% in each of the five parts. Until the end of 2026, an exam centre may charge no more than €150 for the B1 exam, and B1 sessions take place five times a year – the next one is on 5–6 December 2026. Not sure how far you are from B1? We will check at a trial lesson with a level diagnosis.
Who takes the B1 exam and what it is needed for
A B1 certificate is required in several official matters, but not in all of them – before you start studying, check what your case really requires. The table below lists the most common situations; we explain the details and legal basis in our guide to language requirements for residence and citizenship.
| Matter | Language requirement |
|---|---|
| Recognition as a Polish citizen | a state certificate of at least B1, or a school-leaving certificate from a school in Poland or from a school abroad where Polish is the language of instruction |
| EU long-term resident | at least B1 – a state certificate or another document from the official list (e.g. ECL, telc) |
| Post-secondary school | a certificate of at least B1 |
| Doctors and dentists under the simplified procedure | a document confirming at least B1 |
| Studies in Polish | the level is set by the university, but not lower than B2 |
| Permanent residence | no language requirement |
| Karta Polaka | at least a basic knowledge of Polish, assessed in an interview – not B1 |
The levels of the state exam
The state exam for adults is held at six levels: A1, A2, B1, B2, C1 and C2. In the regulations, B1 is the "threshold level" – you cope on your own in everyday life, at work and at the office, you describe events and give reasons for your opinion. Higher levels are usually chosen by people who go on to study in Polish (the B2 exam) or who want to confirm a very good command of the language (the C1 exam). You will see how the levels differ in our description of levels A1–C2.
What the B1 exam consists of
The B1 exam for adults has five separately assessed parts. You take the written part in one block with short breaks, and the oral part on the same day or the next.
- Listening comprehension – recordings of conversations, announcements and extracts from radio programmes.
- Reading comprehension – notices, articles, letters and simple official texts.
- Grammatical accuracy – inflection, aspect and syntax in sentences.
- Writing – e.g. a formal or informal personal letter, a notice, a description or an opinion.
- Speaking – a set of tasks drawn at random in front of the examination board.
How long each part lasts, how many points you need and what the exam day looks like – you will find all this in our description of the exam structure and scoring.
Dates, fees and changes from 2027
You register for the exam directly at the exam centre, not at a language school. We have collected all the sessions for this year and next in the exam calendar, and the fee limits and registration steps in our guide to fees and registration. From 1 January 2027, the age groups, the way fees are calculated and the role of NAWA change – we describe this in the article on changes to the exam.
How to prepare for the B1 exam
The most effective way to prepare is to know your level first and only then choose a session. Each part of the exam has to be passed separately, so your study plan must cover all five skills – including writing and speaking, which you cannot check with online tests.
- Check your level with the placement test or at a trial lesson with a diagnosis.
- Estimate how much study stands between you and B1.
- Study according to the exam requirements – on the online B1 exam preparation course, in a group of up to 5 people or one-to-one, with explanations in Polish, English, Russian or Spanish.
- Before the session, take a mock exam – the teacher will assess your writing and speaking according to the board's criteria.
In this section
- Exam datesAll state exam sessions this year and next – with levels and registration dates.Read →
- Fees and registrationHow much you will pay for the exam, what changes in the fees from 2027 and how to register at a centre – step by step.Read →
- Structure and scoringThe five parts of the exam, its duration, the 50% pass mark in each of them and how the exam day runs – no surprises in the exam room.Read →
- ListeningWhich recordings you will hear in the listening module, how to spot the traps and how to practise at home for 20 minutes a day.Read →
- ReadingWhich texts appear in the reading module and how to read them faster and more accurately.Read →
- GrammarWhat grammar B1 requires, which topics cause the most trouble, and a short exercise with a key.Read →
- WritingTypes of written text at B1, ready-made phrases for formal and informal letters and a step-by-step writing plan.Read →
- SpeakingHow the oral part runs, the types of speech, rescue phrases and an answer pattern that works for every topic.Read →
- Sample tasksA short set of exercises for each part of the exam, an answer key with explanations and a tip on where to find the official tests.Read →
- Common mistakesThe mistakes that most often cost points – in strategy, grammar, writing and speaking – with corrections and ways to avoid them.Read →
- How long to reach B1How many study hours you need to reach B1 – from zero, from A1 and from A2 – and how to convert them into weeks.Read →
- Results and certificateWhen and how you learn your result, what is on the certificate and in the supplement, and what to do after the exam – even if it does not go well.Read →
- Exam changesWhat the amendment to the Polish Language Act changes for candidates: age groups, fees, the certificate, NAWA and exam centres.Read →
- Certificate without an examHave a Polish diploma? Check whether you can get a certificate without an exam, at what level, and how to apply through NAWA.Read →
- ECL, telc or stateWhich B1 certificate is accepted for citizenship and which for EU long-term resident status – a comparison of documents before you register for an exam.Read →
Frequently asked questions
Can I take the B1 exam outside Poland?
Yes. The exam is organised by centres authorised by the State Commission, including some abroad. The Commission publishes the list of centres for each session on certyfikatpolski.pl.
Do I need a B1 certificate for permanent residence?
No. The rules on permanent residence do not contain a language requirement. Level B1 is needed, among other things, for citizenship and for an EU long-term resident permit.
Is a diploma from a Polish university enough instead of the exam?
In some cases, yes – a person who completed their education in Polish can receive a certificate without taking the exam. We explain the rules and levels in the article about the certificate without an exam.
Where should I start if I don't know whether I am at B1 level?
Start with the placement test, which gives an approximate result, and then take a trial lesson. The teacher will also check your speaking and writing, which an online test does not measure.
Sources
- State Commission for the Certification of Proficiency in Polish as a Foreign Language – certyfikatpolski.pl – session dates and information on the exams
- Ustawa o języku polskim (Polish Language Act), consolidated text, Dz.U. 2026 item 81 – Article 11g(5) (fee limits until 31.12.2026)
- Rozporządzenie w sprawie egzaminów z języka polskiego jako obcego (Regulation on exams in Polish as a foreign language), Dz.U. 2025 item 217 – § 14, § 17, § 23 (parts, duration, pass mark)
- Ustawa o obywatelstwie polskim (Polish Citizenship Act), consolidated text, Dz.U. 2025 item 1611 – Article 30
- Ustawa o cudzoziemcach (Act on Foreigners), consolidated text, Dz.U. 2025 item 1079 – Article 211
- Act of 4 April 2025 amending certain acts to eliminate irregularities in the visa system, Dz.U. 2025 item 622 – B2 level for studies, Article 7 (B1 in post-secondary schools)
- Ustawa o zawodach lekarza i lekarza dentysty (Act on the Professions of Physician and Dentist), consolidated text, Dz.U. 2026 item 37 – Article 7(23)
- Ustawa o Karcie Polaka (Karta Polaka Act), consolidated text, Dz.U. 2026 item 76 – Article 2(1)(1)
Online B1 course with mock exams and feedback on writing and speaking. Start with a trial lesson and a level diagnosis.
See also
- B1 courseA programme covering every part of the state exam and two mock exams marked by the teacher.1 490 PLNRead →
- Language and residenceWhich level of Polish and which document you need for your case – with the legal basis.Read →
- B2 examGoing to study in Polish? Check the parts of the B2 exam, the 60% threshold, sessions for adults and fees.Read →