Sample tasks from the B1 exam – exercises with an answer key
The official sample tests for the state exam are published by the State Commission on certyfikatpolski.pl – they are the best material, because they show the real format of the exam paper. On this page you will also find an extra set of exercises written by the Pol-Langua editorial team: one task each for listening, reading, grammar, writing and speaking, with a key and explanations. The tasks are not copies of the Commission's papers – they are meant for training the skills the exam tests. You can have your essay and speaking recording assessed by a teacher at a mock exam.
Where to find the official sample tests
You can find the official sample materials on the website of the State Commission for the Certification of Proficiency in Polish as a Foreign Language – certyfikatpolski.pl. Do them at least once in full and against the clock, because only they show the exact layout of the tasks, the instructions and the way answers are marked. We do not publish copies of the Commission's papers – instead we give you exercises that complement the official tests.
Before you start, check what the exam consists of – in the guide to the B1 exam and in the description of structure and scoring.
| Part | What it tests | Passing condition |
|---|---|---|
| Written part – listening comprehension module | understanding recordings: main idea, intention, details | at least 50% of the points in the module |
| Written part – reading comprehension module | understanding signs, announcements, practical, press and literary texts | at least 50% of the points in the module |
| Written part – grammatical accuracy module | using forms and structures from the B1 topic list | at least 50% of the points in the module |
| Written part – writing module | an independent text: letter, e-mail, announcement, description, opinion | at least 50% of the points in the module |
| Oral part | monologues and dialogues | at least 50% of the points |
The whole written part lasts no longer than 190 minutes, and the oral part no longer than 15 minutes. This is what the regulation in force in 2026 says; see what changes from 2027.
Task 1 – listening comprehension
At the exam you will hear a recording – here you read its transcript. It is best to ask someone to read it aloud to you at a normal pace, and only then answer the questions.
Voice message: „Cześć Ola, tu Kasia. Słuchaj, w sobotę nie dam rady spotkać się o dziesiątej, bo rano mam wizytę u dentysty. Może zobaczymy się później, o pierwszej? Ale nie w kawiarni na rynku, tylko w tej nowej obok dworca – tam jest więcej miejsca i mają pyszne ciasta. Aha, i nie zapomnij książki, którą pożyczyłam Ci w zeszłym miesiącu. Zadzwoń, jak odsłuchasz. Pa!”
- Why does Kasia change the time of the meeting? A. she has to go to work, B. she is going to the doctor, C. she is going to the station.
- Where will the girls meet? A. in the café in the market square, B. in the café next to the station, C. at the station.
- What time will they meet? A. at 10.00, B. at 12.00, C. at 13.00.
- What does Kasia ask for? A. that Ola give her book back, B. that Ola buy a cake, C. that Ola lend her a book.
Task 2 – reading comprehension
Read the note and decide whether the statements are true (P – prawda) or false (F – fałsz).
Czytamy po polsku
Biblioteka Miejska zaprasza dorosłych cudzoziemców na bezpłatne spotkania „Czytamy po polsku”. Spotkania odbywają się w każdy czwartek o 18.00 w czytelni na pierwszym piętrze. Uczestnicy czytają krótkie opowiadania, rozmawiają o nich i poznają nowe słowa. Nie trzeba się zapisywać ani mieć karty bibliotecznej – wystarczy przyjść kilka minut wcześniej. Organizatorzy proszą, żeby się nie spóźniać, bo spotkania zaczynają się punktualnie. Książki można wypożyczyć do domu, ale wtedy potrzebna jest karta biblioteczna, którą wyrabia się na miejscu po okazaniu dokumentu tożsamości.
- Za udział w spotkaniach trzeba zapłacić.
- Żeby wziąć udział w spotkaniu, trzeba mieć kartę biblioteczną.
- Na spotkaniach uczestnicy rozmawiają o przeczytanych tekstach.
- Kartę biblioteczną można wyrobić w bibliotece.
- Jeśli ktoś się spóźni, spotkanie zaczyna się później.
Task 3 – grammatical accuracy
Choose the correct form. In each sentence only one answer is correct.
- Nie lubię (A. zimna kawa, B. zimnej kawy, C. zimną kawę).
- Wczoraj cały wieczór (A. czekałem, B. poczekałem, C. czekam) na telefon od szefa.
- Mój brat jest (A. dobry kucharz, B. dobrym kucharzem, C. dobrego kucharza).
- Jutro (A. przychodzę, B. przyjdę, C. przychodziłem) do ciebie po pracy.
- Od dawna interesuję się (A. polska historia, B. polską historią, C. polskiej historii).
- W sklepie było dużo (A. ludzi, B. ludzie, C. człowieków).
- Gdyby było cieplej, (A. poszlibyśmy, B. pójdziemy, C. szliśmy) na spacer.
- Długo rozmawialiśmy o (A. nowy projekt, B. nowym projekcie, C. nowego projektu).
Task 4 – writing
Choose one prompt and write the text by hand, timing yourself. At the exam the prompt in the paper gives the length of the text – here treat the task as training in structure and style.
Prompt A (informal e-mail): You have moved into a new flat. Write an e-mail to a friend: describe the flat and the neighbourhood, say what you like and what you don't, and invite her to visit – suggest a date.
Prompt B (opinion): Write an opinion on an internet forum about a film or a book that has interested you recently: what it is about, what you liked and what you didn't, and who you recommend it to.
Check your text against this list: are all the points of the prompt covered, does the style suit the addressee, are the paragraphs linked with conjunctions, are the opening and closing phrases appropriate. You can see how such a text is discussed in our sample B1 letter with commentary.
Task 5 – speaking
Prepare your answers aloud and record them on your phone. Build each answer following a pattern: answer, reason, example, summary.
- Monologue: Tell us about your favourite place in the city where you live. Why do you like it?
- Conversation: You bought shoes online, but they are too small. You phone the shop (your partner plays the shop assistant). You want to exchange them for a bigger size.
- Opinion: Is it worth reading paper books today? Justify your view.
Answer key with explanations
The key contains not only the answers but also the reason – and that is what teaches you the most, especially when your answer was wrong.
| Task | Answers | Explanation |
|---|---|---|
| 1. Listening | 1 B, 2 B, 3 C, 4 A | dentysta is a doctor – a paraphrase; the café na rynku is mentioned in the recording, but in a negation; o pierwszej = 13.00; nie zapomnij książki, którą pożyczyłam Ci – Ola is to bring the book back |
| 2. Reading | 1 F, 2 F, 3 P, 4 P, 5 F | bezpłatne (free of charge); the card is needed only for borrowing; rozmawiają o nich; wyrabia się na miejscu; zaczynają się punktualnie |
| 3. Grammar | 1 B, 2 A, 3 B, 4 B, 5 B, 6 A, 7 A, 8 B | negation + genitive; cały wieczór = a process, imperfective aspect; być + instrumental; a one-off future action = perfective aspect; interesować się + instrumental; dużo + genitive, and the plural of człowiek is ludzie; gdyby + conditional mood; o + locative |
Tasks 4 and 5 cannot be checked with a key – they are assessed against criteria: completion of the task, coherence, range and linguistic accuracy. That is why it is best to give your writing and speaking to a teacher to assess.
How to work with the sample tasks
Sample tests are most useful when you do them under exam conditions and analyse every mistake. Simply "getting through" many tests gives you less than working carefully on a few.
- Do them against the clock, without a dictionary or phone – at the exam, aids are forbidden.
- Check with the key and for every mistake write down the reason: an unknown word, a missed negation, a wrong ending.
- Look for recurring mistakes. If the same reason keeps coming back, that is your topic to revise.
- Calculate percentages for each part separately. A good overall result can hide one weak part – and that is the part that will decide whether you pass.
- Have your writing and speaking assessed. Without feedback it is easy to reinforce the same mistakes.
Where to start: if you do not know your level, take the placement test first. When the sample tests go well, test yourself on a mock exam – then a teacher will also assess your writing and speaking and tell you whether you can safely register for a session.
Frequently asked questions
Do the tasks on this page come from the real exam?
No. All the tasks were prepared by us according to the requirements for level B1. Official sample materials are published only by the State Commission on certyfikatpolski.pl.
How many sample tests should I do before the exam?
Analysing your mistakes matters more than the number of tests. Do the official materials in full and against the clock, and spend the rest of your time on exercises for the part in which you are weakest.
Who will check my essay and my speaking recording?
Writing and speaking cannot be reliably assessed on your own. At the Pol-Langua mock exam a teacher assesses your writing and speaking against the exam criteria and points out what to improve.
Sources
- Państwowa Komisja do spraw Poświadczania Znajomości Języka Polskiego jako Obcego (State Commission for the Certification of Proficiency in Polish as a Foreign Language) – certyfikatpolski.pl – sample exam tests
- Rozporządzenie Ministra Nauki i Szkolnictwa Wyższego z 14 lutego 2025 r. w sprawie egzaminów z języka polskiego jako obcego (Regulation of the Minister of Science and Higher Education on examinations in Polish as a foreign language), Dz.U. 2025 poz. 217 – § 12 ust. 2, § 14 ust. 1 pkt 1 lit. c, § 17 ust. 2 pkt 1 lit. b, § 23 pkt 1 lit. b, annex 1 (level B1)
About a quarter of an hour, no sign-up. The result is an approximate level – a teacher confirms it in a trial lesson.
See also
- 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 →
- Level test24 questions from A1 to B2, an instant result and no sign-up.Read →
- B1 mock examA full timed B1 exam, then the teacher marks your writing and speaking and gives a report on what to improve.199 PLNRead →