Speaking (B1)
At B1 level you must be able to use Polish in typical communicative situations fluently enough not to hinder communication.
You should be able to interact in conversations, give monologues on familiar topics, and actively manage the flow of dialogue.
Structure of the oral exam
- Task 1 – Image description: Describe a photograph and the situation it presents (people, place, actions).
- Task 2 – Monologue: Give a longer, structured spoken statement on a given topic (e.g. your family, hobbies, opinions).
- Task 3 – Communicative situation: Interact with the examiner in a role-play simulating everyday life (phone call, invitation, negotiation).
What examiners pay attention to
- Fluency — an appropriate (not too slow) pace and natural sentence intonation.
- Pronunciation — correct vowels (y/i/e, ą/ę), sibilant vs. soft consonants (sz/ś, ż/ź, cz/ć), r vs. l, and consonant clusters.
- Register awareness — using formal address (Pan/Pani) in official situations and informal forms with friends.
- Communication strategies — asking for repetition, clarification or spelling when needed.
Speech types
- Monologue forms: commentary on own interests/experiences/plans, press article summary, event report, description, characterization, opinion with brief justification.
- Dialogue forms: simple phone call, intentional dialogue (request, advice, proposal), thematic dialogue (family, work, home).
- Polylogue: short and simple discussion.
Preparation tips
For the image description, structure your answer from general to specific: first say who is in the picture and where, then describe what they look like and what they are doing, and finish with the mood or atmosphere.
For the monologue, sketch a brief plan during preparation time: an opening, several developed points, and a short conclusion. Use linking phrases like "najpierw", "kolejną sprawą jest", "na końcu mogę stwierdzić, że...".
For the communicative situation, read the prompt carefully and plan your role: who you are, what you want to achieve, and what arguments or questions you will use. Do not write out the full dialogue — react naturally to the examiner.