Who needs a B1 certificate
- Polish citizenship by recognition by the voivode (uznanie za obywatela polskiego) — Polish at B1 or higher, proven by the state certificate, a Polish school-leaving certificate or a certificate from a foreign school that taught in Polish (Dolnośląski UW).
- EU long-term resident status — also B1 or higher. Besides the state certificate, ECL, TELC, some university certificates and a Polish school or university diploma are accepted (voivodeship office).
- University in Poland — B1 is not enough any more: Polish-taught programmes require B2 from candidates from outside the EU. See How to apply to a Polish university.
Temporary and permanent residence permits (karta pobytu czasowego / stałego) have no language requirement — we say so plainly so you do not pay for preparation you do not need.
Who can take the exam
The state exams in Polish as a foreign language are open to foreigners and to Polish citizens living permanently abroad. There are two versions — for adults and for children and young people — with different tasks and maximum fees (certyfikatpolski.pl).
How the B1 exam works
The exam has a written and an oral part. The written part is four modules in a row on one day; the oral part is separate (exam structure, April 2024 exam paper).
| Module | Time | Points | Minimum to pass |
|---|---|---|---|
| Rozumienie ze słuchu — listening | up to 30 minutes | 30 | 15 |
| Rozumienie tekstów pisanych — reading | 40 minutes | 30 | 15 |
| Poprawność gramatyczna — grammar | 45 minutes | 30 | 15 |
| Pisanie — writing | 75 minutes | 30 | 15 |
| Mówienie — speaking | up to 15 minutes | 40 | 20 |
The B1 pass mark is at least 50% in each written module and in the oral part. A great score in one module does not make up for another: 49% in any part means you fail. For B2, C1 and C2 the threshold is 60% (FAQ).
Writing
You choose one of three sets and complete both of its tasks: a short text (a notice, message or e-mail of about 30–40 words) and a long one (a letter, description or story of about 160–170 words). See the official sample test.
Speaking
It opens with a short chat with the examiners. Then you draw a set, prepare for about 5 minutes and do three tasks in any order: describe a photo and the situation in it, speak on a topic (for example, what you could not imagine living without) and act out a dialogue with an examiner — say, ordering a cake by phone (sample test). You are marked on task completion, grammar, vocabulary, pronunciation and fluency.
How much the exam costs
- €150 — the maximum fee for adult B1 and B2; each exam centre sets its exact price;
- €90 — the maximum for exams for children and young people (A1–B2);
- €20 — issuing the certificate, paid separately.
When and where to register
Sessions are held several times a year, and B1 is offered at every one. The timetable is published on certyfikatpolski.pl.
You register directly with the exam centre of your choice, no earlier than two months before the exam; the centre sets the payment deadline. The list of centres is published on certyfikatpolski.pl before each session.
When the certificate arrives
The certificate is issued within 30 days of the commission receiving the exam report and the centre paying the certificate fee (FAQ). Leave a margin if you need it by a specific date.
A certificate without an exam: new rules from 9 June 2026
Some people can get a certificate without taking the exam, by applying through the NAWA system. Since 9 June 2026, its level depends on the grounds (certyfikatpolski.pl):
| Grounds | Level |
|---|---|
| Doctorate for a thesis in Polish | C2 |
| Second-cycle or long-cycle master’s in Polish | C1 |
| First-cycle degree in Polish | B2 |
| Certain Polish-language schools (Polish matura, schools at diplomatic missions, European Schools, etc.) | B2 or B1, depending on the school |
Completing a szkoła policealna (post-secondary school) or studia podyplomowe (postgraduate studies) does not qualify (certyfikatpolski.pl). Applications filed before 9 June 2026 are decided under the old rules.
Your guide to the B1 exam
Each step in detail:
- Exam format: modules, timing, points
- Where to take it: centres and sessions
- Registration and fees, step by step
- The writing task
- The speaking exam: photo, talk, role-play
- Exam day
- Results and certificate
- Failed — what next
- B1 for citizenship and EU long-term residence
How to prepare
- Know your level. From a solid B1, a few weeks of format practice is usually enough; from A2, a few months. Start with our free level test.
- Use official materials. certyfikatpolski.pl publishes a sample test and past exam papers, such as April 2024. Do them against the clock.
- Fix your weakest module. The pass mark applies to each part separately, so one weak module is riskier than several average ones.
- Write every week. A short and a long text on typical topics — and always get them checked: your own mistakes are hard to spot.
- Speak aloud against the clock. Picture description, monologue and dialogue — with a timer, ideally with a teacher or at least recorded on your phone.
Sources
- certyfikatpolski.pl — FAQ: opłaty, progi zaliczenia, wydanie certyfikatu
- certyfikatpolski.pl — arkusz egzaminacyjny B1, kwiecień 2024 (czas i punkty)
- certyfikatpolski.pl — przykładowy test B1 (część ustna i pisanie)
- certyfikatpolski.pl — certyfikat bez egzaminu
- certyfikatpolski.pl — poziomy certyfikatu bez egzaminu od 9.06.2026
- Urząd Wojewódzki — rezydent długoterminowy UE: znajomość języka B1
- Dolnośląski Urząd Wojewódzki — Uznanie za obywatela polskiego (dokumenty potwierdzające znajomość języka polskiego)
- Sejm odrzucił projekt PiS o obywatelstwie (styczeń 2026) — Bankier.pl
