Polish B1 Exam Day: What to Bring and What Happens

A few days before: the centre’s e-mail

The centre sends a confirmation with the address, start time and the details of your speaking part. One university’s rules, for example, promise it at least five days before the exam (Uniwersytet Rzeszowski rules). If nothing has arrived a week before, contact the centre.

Checklist: what to bring

• Photo ID — shown at the entrance. Some centres want two documents: Politechnika Białostocka, for instance, asks for a passport and a second photo ID. Check your centre’s rules.
• Several pens. Pencils and correction fluid are not allowed.
• The confirmation e-mail with the address and times (you can show it on your phone before entering the room).
• Documents for special arrangements, if you requested them when registering.

The morning: entering and checking in

Arrive early and exactly as the centre’s schedule says. Candidates enter one by one in list order, and the chair of the committee checks your identity. You are shown to your seat and given the papers, which you sign and fill in where indicated.

The written part: four modules in a row

The modules always come in this order: listening → reading → grammar → writing, up to 190 minutes of work in all. After each module the chair announces the end, the papers are collected, everyone leaves the room and there is a break of at least 10 minutes. The start of the next module is announced in advance (Wskazówki dla zdających).

• The committee does not explain or comment on tasks — read the instructions carefully.
• No talking to other candidates, and no getting up or leaving during a module, except in justified cases with permission.
• Finished early? Hand in your paper and leave. You may also withdraw from the exam; this is noted on your paper.

The speaking part

The centre schedules it separately, on the same or a different day. A short chat with the committee, then you draw a set of tasks, prepare for about 5 minutes and do three tasks (sample test). Details: the B1 speaking exam.

After the exam

There are no results on the day: the centre’s committee marks the papers and the State Commission re-checks a share of them. One centre’s rules say the whole process may take up to 10 weeks (UR rules). How and when results and the certificate arrive: B1 results and certificate.