How does the B1 exam differ from the B2 exam?

At B2 the written part is longer (up to 250 minutes instead of 190), and to pass you need at least 60% of the points in each module and in the oral part, not 50%.

Does level C2 mean I speak like a Pole?

C2 is the highest level of the scale – you understand almost everything and choose your style deliberately. An accent or isolated mistakes may remain, however, and do not prevent you from reaching C2.

Is level B1 enough for work in Poland?

For most manual and service jobs B1 is usually enough. In positions with a lot of conversation, writing or customer contact, B2 is useful.

From what level is it worth preparing for the B1 exam?

Deliberate preparation – with exam tasks and mock exams – makes the most sense when you communicate freely at level A2. Before that it is better to build the foundations in an ordinary course.

Polish levels A1–C2 – what you can do at each and which one you need

The six levels in brief

Each level is a set of skills: what you understand, what you say and what you write in Polish. The levels are common to many languages (the European CEFR scale), and the state exams in Polish use the same designations – from A1 to C2.

Levels of knowledge of Polish
Level	In brief	What you can do
A1	first steps	you introduce yourself, give personal details, shop, ask for directions and prices
A2	everyday matters	you talk about what happened, make an appointment, understand short announcements
B1	independence	you handle matters without help, describe a problem, write a simple formal letter
B2	fluency	you discuss and argue, understand the press, work in a Polish team
C1	professional proficiency	you write and speak precisely about specialist matters, study in Polish
C2	mastery	you understand nuance, irony and style, and freely change register

What you can do at each level – with examples

The easiest way to recognise a level is by the sentences you can build on your own. For each level we give an example and the grammar you usually learn at that stage.

A1 – first steps

At level A1 you talk about yourself in simple sentences and understand slowly spoken questions.

Mam na imię Ana. Jestem z Kolumbii. Mieszkam w Polsce od miesiąca.

Grammar: the present tense, the gender of nouns (ten dom, ta ulica, to okno), the accusative in the most common phrases (mam brata, piję kawę).

A2 – everyday matters

At level A2 you tell what happened and handle simple matters in a shop, at the doctor's or at work.

W zeszłym tygodniu byłam u lekarza, bo bolało mnie gardło.

Grammar: the past and future tense, cases in the singular, verbs of motion (idę – jadę – chodzę – jeżdżę).

B1 – independence

At level B1 you cope on your own in most life situations: you explain a problem, ask for something politely, express an opinion and understand the main points of a message.

Chciałbym zapytać, czy mogę przełożyć wizytę na przyszły tydzień, ponieważ w czwartek pracuję do późna.

Grammar: verb aspect (robić – zrobić), the conditional mood (chciałbym, mógłbyś), the plural in all cases, complex sentences.

B2 – fluency

At level B2 you defend your opinion, understand press articles and longer statements, and write texts with argumentation.

Uważam, że praca zdalna ma wiele zalet, choć nie każdy potrafi sam zorganizować sobie dzień.

Grammar: participles (czytając, przeczytawszy, napisany), the passive voice, formal and informal style.

C1 – professional proficiency

At level C1 you use Polish precisely at work and at university: in reports, presentations and difficult conversations.

Choć argumenty zarządu wydają się przekonujące, nie uwzględniają kosztów, które poniosą najmniejsi dostawcy.

C2 – mastery

At level C2 you understand what is said between the lines – allusions, irony, wordplay – and you choose your style deliberately.

Jego wypowiedź, z pozoru żartobliwa, była w istocie zawoalowaną krytyką całego projektu.

What level the regulations require

The regulations require a specific level of Polish only in some matters – most often it is B1. The legal position as of 3 October 2026. You will find the details of each matter in our guide to language requirements for residence and citizenship.

Language requirements in the regulations
Matter	Required level	Which document
Recognition as a Polish citizen	at least B1	a certificate from the state exam or a certificate from a school in Poland or from a school with Polish as the language of instruction abroad (a post-secondary school certificate is not enough)
EU long-term resident	at least B1	a document from the list: among others a state certificate, ECL, telc, a university certificate after a Polish course; or a certificate from a Polish school (not a post-secondary one) or a diploma of studies in Polish
Permanent residence	no requirement	–
Karta Polaka	at least basic knowledge – no B1 requirement	without a school document or certificate the language is assessed by the consul (or the voivode) in a conversation
Studies in Polish	set by the university, not lower than B2	according to the university's admission rules
Post-secondary school	at least B1	a certificate
Doctors and dentists under the simplified procedure	at least B1	a document from the Minister of Health's list

Note: the B1 requirement does not apply to an ordinary permanent residence permit or to the Karta Polaka. On the internet you can often read that it is otherwise – the regulations do not provide for this.

State exams at the individual levels

The state exam in Polish as a foreign language can be taken at every level from A1 to C2, and the higher the level, the longer the written part and the higher the passing threshold. The data concern the exam in the group for adults.

The written part and the exam passing condition (adults)
Level	Written part – at most	Modules of the written part	Passing condition
A1	120 minutes	listening, reading, writing	50% of the written part and 50% of the oral part
A2	160 minutes	listening, reading with recognition of grammatical structures, writing	50% of the written part and 50% of the oral part
B1	190 minutes	listening, reading, grammatical accuracy, writing	50% of each module and of the oral part
B2	250 minutes	listening, reading, grammatical accuracy, writing	60% of each module and of the oral part
C1	250 minutes	listening, reading, grammatical accuracy, writing	60% of each module and of the oral part
C2	290 minutes	listening, reading, grammatical accuracy, writing	60% of each module and of the oral part

Most people take level B1 – we have collected the dates, fees and ways to prepare in the guide to the B1 exam. Graduates of some university programmes and schools can receive a certificate without an exam; since 9 June 2026 also at new levels – check who can get a certificate without an exam.

How to check your level

You can check your level in two steps: first a quick test, then a lesson with a teacher. The placement test covers levels A1–B2 and tests grammar, vocabulary and comprehension – in a dozen or so minutes you get an approximate result. Your speaking and writing will be assessed by a teacher at a trial lesson, where you will also set a study plan for the chosen level.

Polish language levels from A1 to C2 – which one do you need?