Failed the Polish B1 Exam? What to Do Next

First, go easy on yourself

Thousands of people take B1 every year — 21,830 in 2025 (Commission statistics). The Commission does not publish pass rates, so ignore the "statistics" in chat groups. What we do know is how the threshold works: 50% in every module. Often a candidate speaks and understands at B1 but falls short in one module — grammar or writing, say — and loses the whole exam.

Step 1: read your result module by module

See which module fell short and by how much. Some centres send unsuccessful candidates a detailed score for each module (e.g. Politechnika Białostocka). Note the modules you passed only narrowly too — they are at risk next time.

Step 2: look at your paper

Within 21 days of receiving your result you can ask the centre for a copy of your paper (Procedury). It is the best preparation material there is: your actual mistakes, not guesses about them.

Step 3: decide whether to appeal

If you believe the written part was marked wrongly, within the same 21 days you can ask the State Commission for a re-check. The fee is €20; the decision comes within 30 days, or up to 60 in justified cases (Procedury). The speaking part cannot be re-checked. It is worth it if you missed by a little and can point to specific disputed answers.

Step 4: choose when to try again

There is no compulsory waiting period — you can register for the following session (Commission FAQ). However, the rules make no provision for carrying passed modules over: you register again, pay the fee again and take every part. The realistic choice is the first session that leaves you at least 6–8 weeks of focused preparation.

Step 5: change how you prepare

• Weak module: 60% of your time. Keep the others ticking over with one past paper a week from the Commission’s archive.
• Do not repeat the same approach. If you prepared alone, add marked writing and a mock speaking exam with a teacher. If grammar let you down, drill the exam’s own task types.
• Build stamina. The written part runs in one go, and many people reach the writing module tired. Do full mock exams, not fragments.
• Work on nerves. If your mind went blank, rehearse in realistic conditions: a timer and a stranger playing the committee. Tips in the B1 speaking exam.

What not to do

• Do not buy a "certificate without an exam". Only the State Commission issues certificates — after the exam, or on application through NAWA for graduates of Polish-language schools and universities. Anything else is a scam.
• Do not register for the nearest session "just in case" if it is two weeks away and nothing has changed in your preparation. That is a lost fee and needless stress.