· 7 min read
Polish Language Test: Levels, Dates, Fees
By Language Lab editorial team
The Polish language test explained: the state certificate exam in Polish as a foreign language, its levels, pass marks, fee caps and all 2027 session dates.
The official Polish language test is the state certificate examination in Polish as a foreign language, overseen by the State Commission for the Certification of Proficiency in Polish as a Foreign Language. Adults can currently sit it at A2, B1, B2, C1 and C2, and young people aged 14 to 17 at B1 and B2. It has a written part and a spoken part, and you need at least 50% of the points in each part at B1, or 60% in each part at B2 and above. Sessions are held on set weekends at authorised centres. The remaining 2026 session is on 5 and 6 December, and five sessions are announced for 2027, starting on 6 and 7 February. The law caps the adult fee at 150 euros for B1 and B2.
The exam at a glance
| State certificate examination in Polish | |
|---|---|
| Overseen by | State Commission for the Certification of Proficiency in Polish as a Foreign Language |
| Who can sit it | Foreigners, and Polish citizens permanently resident abroad |
| Adult group | Candidates aged 18 or over on the day of the exam |
| Youth group | Candidates aged 14 to 17 |
| Levels offered now | Adults: A2, B1, B2, C1, C2. Children and youth: B1, B2 |
| Parts | A written examination and a spoken examination |
| Where | Centres authorised to hold the exam; the list is published by Poland's Ministry of Science and Higher Education |
| Preparation required | None: you may sit it however, wherever and for however long you prepared |
Length and pass marks by level
| Level (adults) | Written exam | Spoken exam | To pass |
|---|---|---|---|
| A1 | Up to 120 minutes | Up to 10 minutes | At least 50% in the written part and 50% in the spoken part |
| A2 | Up to 160 minutes | Up to 10 minutes | At least 50% in the written part and 50% in the spoken part |
| B1 | Up to 190 minutes | Up to 15 minutes | At least 50% in each part of the exam |
| B2 | Up to 250 minutes | Up to 15 minutes | At least 60% in each part of the exam |
| C1 | Up to 250 minutes | Up to 20 minutes | At least 60% in each part of the exam |
| C2 | Up to 290 minutes | Up to 30 minutes | At least 60% in each part of the exam |
From B1 upwards the written examination has four modules: listening comprehension, reading comprehension, grammatical correctness and writing. A1 has three, without a separate grammar module, and at A2 grammar is tested inside the reading paper. The Commission's table describes A1 as well, though it is not among the levels currently offered.
B1 in detail
| Module | Time | Tasks | Points |
|---|---|---|---|
| Listening comprehension | 25 minutes | 4–5 | 30 |
| Reading comprehension | 45 minutes | 4–5 | 30 |
| Grammatical correctness | 45 minutes | 8 | 30 |
| Writing | 75 minutes | 3 | 30 |
| Speaking | Up to 15 minutes | 3 | 40 |
The four written modules add up to 190 minutes and 120 points. B1 is the level most people need: Poland's Citizenship Act asks applicants for recognition as a citizen to prove Polish at B1 or higher.
Session dates
| Session | Adults | Children and youth |
|---|---|---|
| 5–6 December 2026 | B1 | B2 |
| 6–7 February 2027 | B1, B2 | None |
| 10–11 April 2027 | B1, B2, C1 | None |
| 12–13 June 2027 | B1, B2 | B1, B2 |
| 2–3 October 2027 | B1, C2 | None |
| 27–28 November 2027 | B1, C1 | B2 |
B1 is offered at every session; the other levels rotate, so check the level before you plan. The 2027 schedule was announced on 14 July 2026. You register with a centre that is holding the exam on that date, not with the Commission. A session is also running on 17 and 18 October 2026, for B1, C1 and C2.
Fees
| Exam | Maximum fee set by law |
|---|---|
| A1 to B2, children and youth | 90 euros |
| A1 and A2, adults | 120 euros |
| B1 and B2, adults | 150 euros |
| C1 and C2, adults | 180 euros |
| Issue of the certificate | The equivalent in zloty of 20 euros |
Each examination centre sets its own fee, up to these maximums, so prices differ from centre to centre.
How to prepare
- Work through the Commission's sample tests and the examination papers from previous years, published on its site.
- Use its self-assessment page to choose your level before you register.
- Give grammar its own time. From B1 it is a separate module with its own pass mark.
- Practise the spoken exam aloud; at B1 it has three tasks in up to 15 minutes.
- Test yourself instead of rereading. A 2013 review of learning research rated practice testing and distributed practice as high utility.
How long to get there
The US State Department places Polish in Category III, hard languages, at about 44 weeks or 1,012 class hours for English speakers to reach a speaking and listening score of 3 on the Interagency Language Roundtable (ILR) scale. B1 comes well before that. Language Lab's Polish course is built around voiced real-life scenarios with an AI tutor, useful practice for the spoken examination.
Frequently asked
What is the official Polish language test?
The state certificate examination in Polish as a foreign language, overseen by the State Commission for the Certification of Proficiency in Polish as a Foreign Language.
When is the next Polish language exam?
The next sessions are on 5–6 December 2026 and 6–7 February 2027. B1 for adults is offered at both.
How much does the Polish B1 exam cost?
The law sets a maximum of 150 euros for B1 and B2 in the adult group; each centre sets its own fee up to that. Issuing the certificate costs the equivalent of 20 euros.
What is the pass mark for the Polish B1 exam?
At least 50% of the points in each part of the examination. From B2 upwards it is 60% in each part.
How long is the Polish B1 exam?
The written examination lasts up to 190 minutes, in four modules, and the spoken examination up to 15 minutes.
Who can take the Polish state exam?
Foreigners and Polish citizens permanently resident abroad. The adult exam is for candidates aged 18 or over; the youth exam is for ages 14 to 17.
Can I take the Polish exam at A1?
Not at present. The Commission states that exams can currently be taken at A2, B1, B2, C1 and C2 by adults, and at B1 and B2 by children and youth.
Sources: State Commission for the Certification of Proficiency in Polish as a Foreign Language (certyfikatpolski.pl): Struktura egzaminu, Kto może zdawać egzamin, Opłaty za egzamin, and session dates for 2026 and 2027 (read on 13 October 2026); Act of 2 April 2009 on Polish Citizenship; US Department of State, National Foreign Affairs Training Center, Foreign Language Training; Dunlosky et al., Psychological Science in the Public Interest, 2013. Checked on 13 October 2026. Photo: Wawel Castle above the Vistula, Kraków, Jakub Hałun / CC BY-SA 3.0 (Wikimedia Commons).
