Polish language certification exam

The Polish as a Foreign Language Certificate Examination is held four times a year, at different levels of language advancement. The next session organized by the VARIA Polish Language Center will be held on November 15–16, 2025.

The dates of the 2026 certification exams will be published as soon as they are officially published on the website of the State Commission for the Certification of Proficiency in Polish as a Foreign Language. We will share this information immediately on our website and in social media.

📝 Registration for the B1 Krakow certificate exam – pre-booking: https://forms.gle/6CuWfBt4fRwbSkAc9

Registration for the Polish as a foreign language certificate exam in Krakow is done through authorized examination centers – such as Varia Centrum Języka Polskiego in Kraków. We are an official center authorized to organize certificate exams in Krakow, so we cordially invite you to register with us!

What does it look like step by step?

1. Choose your exam level – the most common exam levels are B1, B2 and C1. On our website you will find detailed descriptions of each of them to help you choose.
2. Check the available date – exams are held several times a year and the number of places is limited, so it is worth signing up in advance. The nearest date you can sign up for is November 15-16.
3. Complete the online application form – link to the form below. It’s a quick and easy process!
4. Pay for your exam – after completing the form, we will send you detailed payment instructions.
5. Receive confirmation of participation – once the fee has been paid, we will send you confirmation and all necessary organizational information.

📝 Registration for the B1 Krakow certificate exam – pre-booking: https://forms.gle/6CuWfBt4fRwbSkAc9

If you have any questions or need help with registration, our team will be happy to help. Contact us by email (info@kurspolskiego.pl) or by phone +48 664 092 374

Let’s start with the most important thing – if you are looking for a place where you will pass the Polish language certification exam, you are in the right place.

We are an official examination center with authorizations granted by the Ministry of Science and Higher Education. Our team is not only great teachers, but also certified examiners – people with passion and vast experience in working with people from all over the world. The exam is held in a professional but very friendly atmosphere – without unnecessary stress, but with clear rules and full support.

We have been teaching Polish as a foreign language for over 20 years, and you will find hundreds of positive opinions about our school on the Internet. Students value us for our effectiveness, atmosphere and individual approach. We are also a licensed TELC examination center and a winner of the Orły Edukacji award – and this means quality you can trust.

The exam is open to all adults who want to officially confirm their knowledge of Polish as a foreign language. It is open to both foreigners and people of Polish origin living in Poland or abroad. It does not matter whether you have been learning the language for years or have only recently started – the important thing is that you feel ready to test your skills. It is also not required to complete any specific course – anyone over 18 years of age who wants to obtain an official, state certificate of knowledge of the Polish language can take the exam.

The Polish as a foreign language certificate exam can be taken by anyone, regardless of their place of residence, nationality or purpose of study. It is an official confirmation of language proficiency, recognized in Poland and abroad. The exam is used by people in various life situations:

• For citizenship – if you are applying for Polish citizenship, you need a certificate at least at B1 level. This is the level that most adult candidates choose.
• For studies and career – universities and employers in Poland increasingly require language skills at a minimum level of B2. A certificate is a clear signal that you can handle studying, formalities and everyday communication at work.
• For yourself – are you learning Polish out of passion, want to better understand your family or are you simply interested in language development? A certificate is a way to measure progress, gain motivation and confirm your own achievements.

Before you decide to take the exam, it is worth considering what level you actually are. This is not always easy – many people do not know whether their skills meet the requirements of a specific certificate level.

The Common European Framework of Reference for Languages ​​(CEFR) can help, as it describes what you should be able to do at each stage, from beginner to advanced. It is against these criteria that language proficiency is assessed in the exam.

If you are not sure which level to choose, contact us. We will help you initially assess your language skills and advise you on which exam is best to take.

The Polish as a foreign language certification exam consists of several parts and is designed to reliably assess how well you use the language in everyday situations – both orally and in writing.

Each exam consists of five main sections:

• Listening – tests how well you understand oral statements (e.g. conversations, announcements, broadcasts).
• Reading – what counts here is understanding articles, announcements, instructions, and short utility texts.
• Writing – involves creating short written forms such as emails, letters, notes, or argumentative statements.
• Speaking – the oral part of the exam during which you talk to the examiner and/or answer questions.
• Grammar and vocabulary – knowledge of language structures and a range of vocabulary appropriate to the level are tested.

B1 level

The B1 level exam is intended mainly for people applying for Polish citizenship. It tests the ability to communicate in typical, everyday situations. The texts and recordings are quite simple, and full linguistic correctness is not required in written and oral statements – it is important that the message is understandable.

B2 level

This level is required, for example, for studies in Poland. Texts are longer and more varied, and written statements should be more structured and grammatically correct. The ability to argue and express opinions is also assessed.

C1 level

The advanced level exam tests the ability to use the language fluently in academic and professional situations. Very good language skills are required – both in terms of rich vocabulary and grammatical correctness. The oral and written parts also assess the ability to conduct a coherent, logical statement.

The Polish language certificate exam may sound serious and official, but it takes place in a calm and friendly atmosphere that promotes concentration and allows you to focus on your tasks in comfortable conditions. Everything, step by step, is carefully planned and transparent, and there is a committee, an individual exam sheet and clear instructions waiting for you on site. Thanks to this, everyone can approach the exam without stress and calmly focus on what is most important – showing your language skills.

The written part of the exam lasts from 190 to 250 minutes (depending on the level) and includes the following modules: – listening comprehension, – reading comprehension, – grammatical correctness, – writing.

⏱ Exam duration: – B1 – up to 190 minutes – B2/C1 – up to 250 minutes

Each candidate has a designated seat and an individual exam sheet. The chairperson of the committee explains in detail how to fill in the sheet, how long each module lasts and when the next part starts.

During the exam, there are clear rules: – you are not allowed to talk to other participants, – you are not allowed to ask questions about the content of the tasks, – the committee cannot comment on or explain the tasks.

If you need to leave (e.g. to go to the toilet), you may only do so with the permission of the committee chairperson, and the conditions will be organised so that you do not have contact with other people.

If you finish earlier, you can calmly hand over your work to the committee and leave the room.

The exam is conducted in a quiet, orderly atmosphere. Everyone – both the candidate and the examination committee – are focused on one thing only: they want to give you the best conditions to pass the Polish language exam.

The oral part of the Polish language certification exam usually takes place on the same day as the written part or the day after. This is the moment when you can show how you can speak Polish – it is about freely formulating statements and communicating in various situations. You do not have to know the ready-made answers – it is important to speak clearly, logically and in your own way. The topics are real-life: everyday situations, your experiences, opinions, ideas for the future.

The duration of the oral part varies depending on the level of advancement and the group of candidates:

• At levels B1 and B2 – up to 15 minutes,
• At level C1 – up to 20 minutes,
• At level C2 – up to 30 minutes.

Sample topics for the oral part:

Below you will find sample topics that often appear in the exam at various levels.

Level B1–B2:

• Description of favorite places in Poland or abroad,
• Talking about your plans for the future,
• Discussion about a healthy lifestyle,
• Description of a cultural event you attended,
• Statement on ecological problems,
• Describe your day at work or at school,
• Conversation about traditions and holidays in Poland.

During the Polish language certificate exam, each part – written and oral – is carefully assessed by the examination committee. The committee awards points for tasks from individual modules of the written part and enters them into the examination paper. In the oral part, the committee prepares an assessment card, where it states the number of points obtained and the justification for the assessment. The result from each module of the written part and the oral part is expressed as a percentage – as the ratio of points obtained to the possible points.

At level B1, the pass requirement is to obtain at least 50% of the points in each module of the written part and in the oral part. For higher levels – B2, C1 and C2 – a minimum of 60% of the points in each module and in the oral part is required. Such rules ensure that each candidate has clear and transparent assessment criteria and an equal chance of a positive result.

1. Assessment of exam papers: After the exam is completed, the papers are assessed by the examination committee at the place where the exam was conducted. The assessed exam sets are then forwarded to the State Commission for the Certification of Proficiency in Polish as a Foreign Language (PKdsPZJPjO).
2. Audit of papers: PKdsPZJPjO orders an examination of the correctness of the assessment of examination papers, made by members of the examination committee in a given center (at least 20% of papers from each center). The results of the examination of the correctness of the assessment of examination papers are then forwarded to the centers
3. Determination of final results: The chairman of the examination committee determines the final results of the examination, taking into account the comments resulting from the audit. Information about the results is provided to the candidates by the examination center within 3 days of receiving the protocol with the final results from the chairman of the examination committee.
4. Issuance of certificate: After receiving the examination report and payment of the certificate fees by the examination center, PKdsPZJPjO issues certificates within 30 days.

So exactly how long does one have to wait for the result?

The entire process—from taking the exam to receiving the certificate—can take 4.5 to 5 months. Keep this in mind when planning for times when you’ll need the certificate, such as when applying for citizenship or college.

If you have any additional questions or need help preparing for the exam, please contact us. We’d be happy to help! 😊

Good preparation for the Polish language certification exam makes a difference, especially when it comes to level B1 – most often chosen by people applying for, among other things, Polish citizenship. The exam consists of several parts, so it is worth getting to know its structure and typical tasks in advance.

At Varia Centrum Języka Polskiego, we run specialist preparatory courses that will help you master all the required skills step by step – reading, writing, listening and speaking. The courses are run by experienced teachers who are also examiners – so they know exactly how to prepare you. With practical exercises, a mock exam and individual tips, you will approach the test with greater peace and confidence.

More information about the B1 exam preparation course can be found here: https://varia-course.com/courses-online/b1-exam-preparatory-course-online/