The state B1 exam in Polish is a test that many people fear. However, if you are a foreigner, living in Poland and planning your future here, sooner or later the moment may come when you will need a certificate of proficiency in the Polish language.
Until recently, the national state exam was the only way to obtain an international certificate. The good news, however, is that from 2023, the Polish language TELC exam may be an alternative to the state exam. The TELC certificate has been included on the list of documents confirming knowledge of Polish required when applying for long-term resident status in the European Union, and is also recognized by Polish universities and employers.
Why is it easier to obtain a B1 or B2 certificate through the TELC exam than to take the state exam? Because these two exams differ in their formula and organization.
CERTIFICATION LEVELS
🡆 The TELC Polish exam is a dual exam - this means that your result will indicate whether you have reached level B1 or B2. You do not have to declare your level before taking the exam!
🡆 The state exam confirms certain levels (e.g. B1). If after passing the B1 exam you need a B2 certificate, you will have to take another, much more difficult exam.
ORGANIZATION AND SCHEDULING
🡆 The TELC exam is organized by licensed institutions throughout the country. In Poznań, TELC can be taken, among others, at our Easy Polish Language School. Each school organizing the exam sets the date independently and there are no limits to the number of exam sessions during the year, which means flexibility and more available dates.
🡆 The state exam is organized only 4 times a year. The dates of the exam sessions are set in advance and if you fail to register for a given date, you will have to wait for the next one.
RESULT AVAILABILITY
🡆 You will find out the results of your TELC exam after 4-5 weeks.
🡆 The results of the state exam are available after 3-4 months.
EXAM FORMAT
🡆 The dual B1-B2 TELC exam is definitely more friendly to candidates. It tests language skills in communicative situations, so the most important part of the exam is speaking. Also important are: reading comprehension and listening comprehension. The limitation of grammar tasks to just two makes things easier for candidates. The task testing your writing skills is an even nicer surprise. All you need to do is correctly formulate an email using semi-formal language.
🡆 The state exam is most challenging in its written part. Firstly, two forms are required during the written part of the exam: short and long. Secondly, the long form is chosen randomly. This means that the candidate must master the ability to write various types of longer essays (e.g. reviews or essays). The part testing knowledge of grammar in the state exam is also not easy. In this category, we will receive as many as 8 tasks to solve!
TELC EXAMINATION IN OUR SCHOOL
We have been teaching Polish for many years, so we know the needs and capabilities of our students. We unanimously decided that the TELC exam is an exam that we will be happy to introduce to our offer. A friendly, more modern formula and an emphasis on communication skills make the B1 certificate available to anyone who uses Polish on a daily basis. Of course, after solid preparation for the exam. ;)
If you are not sure what your Polish level is, check out our quick placement test: placement test
Want to know more about the TELC exam at our school? Check here: certification exam