B2 Polish for university – the minimum level for applicants from abroad

Who the B2 requirement applies to

The requirement applies mainly to foreigners from outside the European Union who apply for admission to first-cycle (bachelor’s), long-cycle master’s or second-cycle (master’s) studies on the basis of a school certificate or diploma issued abroad. The university verifies knowledge of the language in which the programme is taught – for studies in Polish, that means Polish. We have collected the other language requirements in our guide to Polish in residence and citizenship matters.

You can find out which document a particular university accepts and what level it has set in its admission rules – the act requires universities to make this information public.

The state B2 exam – what you have to pass

The B2 exam is clearly harder than B1 – not only in the level of the texts, but also in the pass mark. Under the regulation on the exams (Dz.U. 2025 item 217), the written part of B2 for adults lasts no more than 250 minutes and includes four modules: listening comprehension, reading comprehension, grammatical accuracy and writing. On top of that there is the oral part. To pass, you need at least 60% of the points in each module of the written part and in the oral part (at B1 – 50%).

There are no more B2 sessions for adults until the end of 2026 (5–6 December – B2 for young people only). In 2027, level B2 is offered in the sessions on 6–7 February, 10–11 April and 12–13 June, and in the 27–28 November session – for young people only. You can read more in our guide to the B2 Polish exam.

How B2 differs from B1

At B1 you talk about yourself and handle everyday matters. At B2 you discuss, argue and understand opinion pieces and popular science texts – which is exactly what you need in lectures and seminars.

Academic language – phrases worth mastering

At university and in the B2 exam, the ability to build an argument is what counts. These structures help you organise what you say or write:

A typical problem of university applicants is good fluency in conversation combined with poor accuracy in writing: missing commas before ‘że’ and ‘który’, confusing aspect (‘*Jutro będę napisać referat’ instead of Jutro napiszę referat or Jutro będę pisać referat) and informal vocabulary in an argumentative text.

A B2-style exercise: planning an argumentative text

At university and at B2 level you need to be able to write a text in which you present a position and defend it with arguments. A good text has a predictable structure – you can practise it on the topic ‘Czy studia zdalne mogą zastąpić zajęcia na uczelni?’ (Can online studies replace classes at university?):

1. Introduction – thesis: Uważam, że studia zdalne mogą uzupełniać zajęcia na uczelni, ale nie powinny ich całkowicie zastąpić.
2. Argument 1 – with an example: Przede wszystkim kontakt z wykładowcą i innymi studentami ułatwia zrozumienie trudnego materiału.
3. Argument 2: Ponadto zajęcia praktyczne, na przykład w laboratorium, trudno przeprowadzić przez internet.
4. Counter-argument and your response: Zwolennicy nauki zdalnej podkreślają, że oszczędza ona czas. Trzeba jednak pamiętać, że…
5. Conclusion – restating the thesis in other words: Reasumując, najlepszym rozwiązaniem wydaje się połączenie obu form.

The most common weaknesses of such texts: no counter-argument, repeating the same linking words (‘i’, ‘ale’, ‘bo’) instead of ponadto, jednak, ponieważ, w rezultacie, and colloquial fillers (‘no’, ‘w sumie’) that do not fit a formal style.

A certificate without an exam after graduation

Following the amendment to the Act on the Polish Language (Dz.U. 2026 item 676), a certificate can be obtained without an exam on the basis of completed studies – at level B2 after first-cycle studies, and at level C1 after second-cycle and long-cycle master’s studies. This option is for graduates, not for applicants. Check how to get a certificate without an exam.

What to avoid when planning B2 for university

• Registering for the exam too late – admissions have their own deadlines, and you register for the state exam at an exam centre well in advance. Compare both calendars before you choose a session.
• Preparing for B1 instead of B2 – at B2 the pass mark is higher, and the texts are longer and harder.
• Neglecting grammatical accuracy – it is a separate module of the written part, so gaps in grammar can ruin the whole exam.
• No discussion practice – at B2 it is not enough to describe a picture; you have to defend your view and respond to counter-arguments.

A three-step plan for preparing for B2

1. Check the university’s requirements – the level and the type of document it accepts.
2. Assess how far you are from B2 – a placement test or a trial lesson with a level assessment.
3. Practise argumentative writing and discussion – these are the parts that most often decide the result with a 60% threshold. On our B2 course the teacher marks your texts and teaches online, with explanations in Polish, English, Russian or Spanish.

You can take the second step right away – book a trial lesson, and the teacher will assess your level and tell you how much time you need to reach B2.