Polish B1 Exam Preparation
B1 Level
What to expect on the exam
- Understand the main points of clear standard input on familiar matters.
- Deal with most situations likely to arise while travelling in Poland.
- Produce simple connected text on topics which are familiar or of personal interest.
- Describe experiences and events, dreams, hopes & ambitions and briefly give reasons.
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Start free trialThe B1 exam at a glance
- Parts
- Listening, reading, grammar, writing and speaking — each scored separately
- Written exam
- Up to 190 minutes
- Oral exam
- Up to 15 minutes
- Pass mark
- At least 50% in every part
- Remaining 2026 sessions
- 17–18 October and 5–6 December 2026
- 2027 sessions
- 6–7 February, 10–11 April, 12–13 June, 2–3 October, 27–28 November
- Required for
- The EU long-term residence card and Polish citizenship (B1 minimum)
Practice by skill
Reading
Practice with articles, advertisements, and everyday texts.
View exercisesWriting
Write short essays and emails with instant AI feedback.
View exercisesListening
Train your ear with native speaker recordings.
View exercisesGrammar
Master cases, verb aspects, and essential B1 structures.
View exercisesSpeaking
Record your answers and get pronunciation feedback.
View exercisesWho needs B1
B1 is the minimum for the EU long-term residence card and for Polish citizenship. For permanent residence (pobyt stały) the rules depend on the legal basis. Some jobs and universities ask for B2 or C1 instead. Confirm the level on the form you will submit, then practise that level — not a mix of all three.
How adult B1 is scored
The exam has five papers: reading, listening, grammar, writing, and speaking. Adult B1 candidates must reach 50% in each written module and in the oral part. A strong reading score cannot rescue a failed writing paper. That is why practice has to look like the exam, section by section.
A 6-week exam-format plan
If you already manage daily Polish, six weeks of timed tasks is enough to become exam-ready — not fluent from zero. Week 1 diagnoses each paper. Weeks 2–3 lock reading, two-pass listening, and high-frequency cases. Weeks 4–5 are handwritten letters and recorded speaking. Week 6 is one full mock plus logistics.
B1 preparation FAQ
- Is 50% overall enough to pass B1?
- No. Adult B1 requires 50% in each written module and in speaking. You cannot average a weak paper with a strong one.
- Is B1 enough for karta pobytu?
- For the EU long-term residence card and for citizenship, B1 is the required minimum. For permanent residence (pobyt stały), it depends on the legal basis. Confirm with the office that will read your file, then train B1 exam tasks here.
- How long should I prepare?
- Six weeks of exam-format drills works if you already function in everyday Polish. From a true beginner, plan months, not weeks. Use the 6-week plan only as an exam sprint, not a first course.
- Where are the 2026 and 2027 dates?
- The remaining 2026 sessions are on the 2026 dates page, and the 2027 schedule is already published. Registration is at your authorised centre, not on PolishReady. Confirm the weekend and level before you pay.