The oral part of the B1 exam – how it runs and how to prepare
The oral part of the B1 exam for adults lasts no longer than 15 minutes and takes place after the written part – on the same day or the next. You draw one set of tasks and speak in front of the board: you tell a story, describe, express and justify an opinion and hold conversations in typical situations. To pass the exam, you need at least 50% of the points in the oral part. What helps most is a fixed pattern for answers and a few phrases that let you get out of a difficult moment. At a trial lesson we will check how you do in a conversation in Polish.
How the oral part runs
The oral part is a conversation with the examination board based on the drawn set of tasks. The regulation sets out the most important rules, and the details – including the time for individual tasks – are given by the Commission on the set.
| Element | Rule |
|---|---|
| Date | after the written part, on the day it is held or on the following day |
| Duration | no longer than 15 minutes |
| Tasks | the candidate draws one of the sets of tasks |
| What is tested | the ability to produce an oral statement |
| Assessment | the board draws up an assessment sheet with the number of points and a justification |
| Pass mark | at least 50% of the points in the oral part (and in each module of the written part) |
This description concerns the exam under the regulation in force in 2026. From 1 January 2027, the changes introduced by the amendment to the Polish Language Act begin to apply – check what changes in the exam. You can read about the other parts of the exam in the guide to the B1 exam.
Which kinds of speech you need at B1
The standard of requirements for the B1 level lists two kinds of oral statements: monologues and dialogues. Each requires different skills, so it is worth practising both.
| Kind | Example | What you need |
|---|---|---|
| A statement about yourself: interests, experiences, plans, dreams | Co lubisz robić po pracy? Jakie masz plany na przyszły rok? (What do you like doing after work? What are your plans for next year?) | the present, past and future tenses; specific examples |
| A summary of a book, film or article with a comment | Opowiedz o filmie, który ostatnio widziałeś. (Tell me about a film you have seen recently.) | the past tense, the words chodzi o…, główny bohater, your own assessment |
| An account of an event, a story | Opowiedz o ważnym dniu w swoim życiu. (Tell me about an important day in your life.) | aspect, the order of events: najpierw, potem, w końcu |
| A description and a character sketch | Opisz swoje mieszkanie albo bliską osobę. (Describe your flat or a person close to you.) | adjectives, the instrumental (jest lekarzem), the locative |
| An opinion with reasons | Czy warto uczyć się języków obcych? (Is it worth learning foreign languages?) | phrases for opinions, an argument, an example |
| A phone call, a dialogue in a situation | Dzwonisz do przychodni, żeby przełożyć wizytę. (You are phoning a clinic to change an appointment.) | the pan/pani form, a request, a suggestion, a reaction to a refusal |
| A short discussion | Rozmowa o zaletach i wadach pracy zdalnej. (A conversation about the advantages and disadvantages of remote work.) | agreeing and disagreeing, a counter-argument |
In dialogues, you also need to be able to begin and end a conversation, join in and control its course – for example to ask for something to be repeated or to make sure you have understood correctly. These are skills that are assessed, not a weakness to be ashamed of.
A pattern for a good answer
A good answer to an open question has four elements: a direct answer, a justification, an example and a short summary. This pattern works for every topic and protects you from two extremes – a one-sentence answer and a chaotic monologue.
- Answer directly: Moim zdaniem lepiej mieszkać w mniejszym mieście. (In my opinion it is better to live in a smaller town.)
- Give a reason: Przede wszystkim dlatego, że życie jest tam spokojniejsze i tańsze. (Above all because life there is calmer and cheaper.)
- Add an example from your own life: Kiedy mieszkałem w dużym mieście, codziennie stałem godzinę w korkach. (When I lived in a big city, I sat in traffic jams for an hour every day.)
- Sum up or show the other side: Oczywiście w dużym mieście łatwiej znaleźć pracę, ale dla mnie spokój jest ważniejszy. (Of course it is easier to find a job in a big city, but for me peace is more important.)
See sample questions for the B1 oral exam – with answers built on this pattern.
Rescue phrases – what to say when you lack words
The worst thing you can do in the oral part is fall silent. The phrases below let you gain time, ask for help or get round a missing word – and in themselves show skills at B1 level.
| Situation | What to say |
|---|---|
| You did not hear the question | Przepraszam, czy mogłaby pani powtórzyć pytanie? (Excuse me, could you repeat the question?) |
| You are not sure what is meant | Czy dobrze rozumiem, że chodzi o…? (Do I understand correctly that this is about…?) |
| You need a moment | To ciekawe pytanie, muszę się chwilę zastanowić. (That is an interesting question, I need a moment to think.) |
| You lack a word | Nie pamiętam, jak to się nazywa – to taka rzecz, której używamy do… (I don't remember what it is called – it's a thing we use for…) |
| You want to correct yourself | Przepraszam, chciałem powiedzieć… (Sorry, I meant to say…) |
| You give an opinion | Uważam, że… / Wydaje mi się, że… / Jestem przekonana, że… (I think that… / It seems to me that… / I am convinced that…) |
| You present two sides | Z jednej strony…, z drugiej strony… (On the one hand…, on the other hand…) |
| You disagree | Rozumiem ten argument, ale nie do końca się zgadzam, bo… (I understand that argument, but I don't entirely agree, because…) |
| You finish your statement | Podsumowując, … / Dlatego uważam, że… (To sum up, … / That is why I think that…) |
Pronunciation and fluency
At B1 level, an accent from your mother tongue is acceptable if it does not get in the way of understanding. You do not have to speak like a native speaker – you have to speak so that the board understands you without effort. In practice this means above all:
- clearly distinguishing the sounds that change meaning: kasza – kasa, czy – ci, cześć – sześć;
- stress on the second-to-last syllable: u-ni-wer-SY-tet, ko-le-ŻAN-ka;
- a calm pace – it is better to speak slowly and correctly than quickly and unintelligibly;
- full sentences rather than single words, even if they are simple.
If pronunciation is your weak point, you can practise it separately on our pronunciation and stress course.
How to practise speaking before the exam
You learn to speak by speaking – reading lists of phrases is not enough. The most effective things are regular conversations with a teacher and recording your own answers.
- Record yourself. Choose a topic, speak for two minutes, listen back. Write down three mistakes and repeat the statement without them.
- Prepare a "bank of stories". A few true stories from your life (a trip, a move, the first day at work) fit many questions.
- Practise dialogues in roles: customer – shop assistant, patient – receptionist, tenant – landlord.
- Talk regularly with a teacher. In conversation classes you practise fluency, and in an oral exam simulation – the whole course of the oral part with assessment by the criteria.
The structures you practise in speaking – opinion, argument, example – will also be useful in writing, especially in a review and an essay. At a trial lesson we will check which of them you have already mastered and which are worth practising before the session.
In this section
Frequently asked questions
Can I correct myself if I say something wrong?
Yes. A short correction, e.g. Przepraszam, chciałem powiedzieć…, shows that you are in control of your statement. Do not correct every small thing, though, because you will lose fluency.
Does a foreign accent lower the speaking score?
At B1, the influence of the pronunciation of your mother tongue may be noticeable, but it should not disrupt the understanding of what you say. An accent in itself is not a problem – the problem is pronunciation because of which the board does not understand the words.
How can I control stress before the oral part?
What helps most is getting used to the situation: a few simulations of the exam with a person you do not know and a prepared first sentence with which you will begin every answer. If you run out of words, reach for the rescue phrases instead of staying silent.
Can I address the board informally, with "ty"?
No. You address the examiners with the forms pan, pani. If the task is a conversation with a friend in a role-play scene, then the "ty" form is appropriate – using both registers is part of the requirements.
Sources
- Regulation of the Minister of Science and Higher Education of 14 February 2025 on exams in Polish as a foreign language (Rozporządzenie w sprawie egzaminów z języka polskiego jako obcego), Dz.U. 2025 item 217 – § 17, § 22(2), § 23(1)(b), Annex 1 (B1 level, speaking)
- Act of 30 April 2026 amending the Polish Language Act and the Act on the National Agency for Academic Exchange, Dz.U. 2026 item 676 – changes to the exam from 1 January 2027
A full online B1 exam. A teacher marks your writing and speaking against the State Commission's criteria, and you get a report with recommendations.
See also
- Oral simulationOne meeting: the oral part as in a real session and specific feedback from the teacher.89 PLNRead →
- WritingTypes of written text at B1, ready-made phrases for formal and informal letters and a step-by-step writing plan.Read →
- ConversationFour meetings a month in a small group: you speak a lot, about matters from life in Poland.149 PLN / monthRead →