About certification exam
Who can take the State Polish language certificate exam
The key participation rules: who is allowed to register, what age matters on exam day, and what makes the youth-oriented B2 version different.
There is no single required path to the State Certificate Exam in Polish as a Foreign Language. It does not matter where a candidate studied, how long they prepared, or whether they used a course, a tutor, or self-study.
What matters most are the formal eligibility rules and the candidate’s age on the day of the exam. Organizers separate the adult format from the solutions designed for children and teenagers.
Eligible candidates
Foreigners and Poles abroad
The exam is open to foreigners and to Polish citizens who live permanently outside Poland.
Adult format
18+
Candidates must be at least 18 years old on the day of the exam.
Youth format
Ages 14-17
The youth-oriented track is designed for candidates aged 14 to 17.
Who is eligible regardless of the preparation path
Foreigners and Polish citizens permanently residing abroad may register for the exam. The way they prepared is not a restriction: study in Poland or abroad, formal classes, and independent preparation are all acceptable.
How the age groups work
Registration depends not only on language level, but also on the candidate’s exact age on the day the exam takes place.
Adult format
The exam format adapted to adult candidates is available to people who have already turned 18 on the day of the exam.
- The minimum age is 18 on the day of the exam.
- This variant is intended for adult candidates taking the certificate exam.
Children and youth format
The children and youth group covers candidates aged 14 to 17 and is designed with younger examinees in mind.
- The age bracket covers candidates from 14 to 17 years old.
- For younger candidates, the exam format is adapted more closely to school-age learners.
What matters about the B2 exam for children and youth
The youth-oriented B2 version does not lower the target language level, but it presents content and tasks in a way that better fits the age of the candidates.
Assessment basis
Proficiency is still judged according to CEFR B2 descriptors and the official Polish standards used for certification requirements.
Format adapted to school-age learners
Compared with the adult exam, the differences are mainly in the text topics, task types, and wording of instructions so they match the needs and abilities of teenage students.
Passing rule
To pass the B2 format for children and youth, candidates need at least 50% of the points from the whole written part and at least 50% from the oral part.