The Polish B1 exam does not test how many words you know. It tests whether you can complete specific tasks within a set time. That is why fluent speakers sometimes fail while learners with a smaller vocabulary pass comfortably. The difference is preparation for the format. Here are 12 tips we give our students at Go For Polish.
If you are new to the topic, start with our complete guide to the Polish B1 exam.
Overall strategy
1. Remember the 50% rule for every part
You pass only if you score at least half the points in each of the five parts. Start with a diagnosis: which part is your weakest? That is where most of your time should go.
2. Do at least three full mock exams
Full papers, not fragments, and always timed. The first shows where you lose points. The second shows whether you fixed them. The third builds confidence that you will finish on time.
3. Study every day, even briefly
Thirty minutes a day for eight weeks beats weekend marathons. Your brain needs spaced repetition for grammar forms to become automatic.
Listening
4. Read the questions before the recording
Before you hear the text, you already know what to look for: a date, a place, a reason, an opinion. Underline the key words in the questions. You then listen with purpose instead of trying to catch every word.
5. Get used to natural speed
Exam recordings sound like real conversations. Listen to Polish radio, podcasts and the news. Use transcripts at first, then go without them.
Reading
6. General meaning first, details second
Read the text once quickly to catch the topic and the author’s intention. Then go back to the specific questions. Do not stop on unfamiliar words if you do not need them for the answer.
Grammar
7. Learn cases through real phrases
Instead of memorising tables in isolation, learn whole phrases: idę do lekarza (I am going to the doctor), mieszkam w Krakowie (I live in Kraków), rozmawiam z koleżanką (I am talking to a friend), nie mam czasu (I have no time). You remember the case together with the context where you use it.
8. Practise verb aspect in pairs
Pairs such as robić / zrobić (to do), pisać / napisać (to write) and kupować / kupić (to buy) appear in the exam very often. A simple rule: the imperfective describes a process or a habit, the perfective describes a result. Codziennie kupuję chleb (I buy bread every day). Wczoraj kupiłam nowy telefon (Yesterday I bought a new phone).
Writing
9. Do exactly what the task asks
If the task lists three points to cover, address all three. Leaving one out costs more than a few small language errors. Before writing, list the points from the task and tick them off one by one.
10. Learn safe set phrases
Fixed phrases for letters and emails are always correct:
- Szanowni Państwo, (Dear Sir or Madam) to open a formal letter,
- Piszę w sprawie… (I am writing regarding…) to introduce your topic,
- Z góry dziękuję za odpowiedź. (Thank you in advance for your reply.) before closing,
- Z poważaniem (Yours faithfully) or Pozdrawiam serdecznie (Kind regards) to sign off.
Well practised phrases earn points for form and save time.
Speaking
11. Speak in full sentences and develop your answers
The examiners want to hear you express yourself, not just answer. Instead of one word, give an answer, a reason and an example: Wolę mieszkać w mieście, bo mam blisko do pracy. Na przykład do biura dojeżdżam tramwajem w piętnaście minut. (I prefer living in the city because work is close. For example, I get to the office by tram in fifteen minutes.)
12. Rehearse common topics out loud
Typical B1 speaking topics include work, housing, health, shopping, travel, free time, holidays and traditions, and life in Poland. Prepare a few flexible sentences for each. Practise out loud, ideally with someone who corrects you as you go. In a small group everyone gets speaking time, and speaking is exactly what self study usually lacks.
An 8 week plan before the exam
| Week | Goal |
|---|---|
| 1 | Diagnosis: first full mock exam |
| 2 and 3 | Your weakest part: intensive work |
| 4 | Grammar: cases and aspect |
| 5 | Writing: set phrases and two texts per week |
| 6 | Second mock exam and review |
| 7 | Speaking: topics and role plays |
| 8 | Third mock exam, revision and rest before the exam |
Prepare with us
The Go For Polish B1 exam preparation course runs for 8 weeks: 16 classes of 90 minutes in small groups of up to 6 students, with a mock exam. It covers every part of the exam and comes with a 50% money back guarantee under the terms of the guarantee rules.
These are two separate steps:
– registering for the state exam: certyfikatpolski.pl (Go For Polish does not register anyone for the exam),
– signing up for the prep course: Polish B1 exam preparation course
Frequently asked questions
Which part of the Polish B1 exam is the hardest?
Most candidates struggle with grammar and writing, where precise word forms matter. Still, every part must be passed separately with at least 50%, so do not neglect any of them.
How many hours a day should I study for the B1 exam?
Studying regularly for 30 to 60 minutes a day works better than a few hours once a week. Daily contact with the language builds the automatic responses you need under time pressure.
Can I prepare for the Polish B1 exam on my own?
Partly, especially for listening and reading. Writing and speaking need feedback from a teacher who knows the marking criteria. Without it, it is easy to build habits that cost you points.