Polish certificate exam level B1 and institution / few questions about the Polish language

@Braveheart16

That doesn't help the OP, who wanted to be able to use a certificate from a private language school instead of the one issued by the government.. The schedule for exams would still be the same. It's not like he can walk into any language school and take the exam when he wants. He has to take it on the dates dictated by the government, and under the watchful eye of a government examiner, not a school employee. And no, it is not possible, as you said, to find a school that is able to "run" the state exam. The school's role would be strictly limited to providing a physical space, and school employees would not be allowed to participate in the process.

I think your under the impression that private language schools are authorized to administer tests like the FCE, CPE or IELTS. They are not. They just provide the space, and the British Council arranges for their own certified examiners to administer the test. The same for tests in German or French. The examiners are not school employees.

Also, you have to take these exams on certain dates, two or four times a year or so, and not whenever you like. The school plays no role in the exam except for providing the physical space.

I agree, the certificate would probably have to be issued by some government department, and yes private language schools do provide the space and resources to deliver lessons leading up to students taking the FCE Exam etc....I am perfectly aware that come the day of exam there are likely to be certified examiners overseeing things, but accredited private schools could possibly provide lessons to prepare the student to take the state exam given that something similar to accreditation for FCE level training/lessons, could be agreed. Just a thought.


Actually my suggestion was really for private language schools to provide the lessons to enable the student to take the state exam....that's all.

Actually, you're completely wrong. The new system allows approved institutions (which can be universities, language schools, etc.) to conduct examinations at a time they choose, with approved examiners conducting the exams. It's identical to the system used by Cambridge.


Of course they are. I can even introduce you to one if you want. There are numerous non-BC test centres - IH Wrocław, IH Torun, in fact, the BC only has two test centres as far as I'm aware. The British Council handle payments and process candidates information, but they don't provide examiners except for exams that they administer themselves.

No, no, and again no Braveheart. Call it my natural cynicism, but, rather like the wholly subjective Polish driving test, which is designed to be taken at least three times before quotas allow people to actually pass it, there is little chance that the government would pass on earning their wedge. If any foreigner has the temerity to apply for residence, then the state is jolly well going to dip it's snout into the trough. All those state teachers can also be put to work on the criminally low salaries that they seem to be resigned to.

Quite baffling.


Fair enough Delph. You mean my theory of government desperate to fleece people doesn't hold water?:))

@Braveheart16

I see. I was thrown by the word "run".

As far as the government is concerned, it doesn't matter how you learn Polish, or where you take lessons, or even if you take lessons at all. All they care about is the result of the actual proficiency test. Whether any private schools offer lessons specifically geared to the government exam, I don't know. There is nothing to stop them from doing so, or anyone else for that matter. I doubt that there are any "government approved" courses, though.

As far as I know, there is no "accreditation" for schools to teach language lessons preparing for the FCE or similar exams, either. Any school or individual can provide that service. Again, the testing authorities do not require any course to take the exam. They just perform the competency test. How you became competent is no concern of theirs.


There is a bit of a scam element to these tests. But the main element is to discourage people who are unwilling or unable to pass the exam to apply for citizenship. It is another hoop to jump through to weed out what they consider the non-serious applicants. The approximately 1000 PLN price tag is more designed to scare them off rather than make serious money for the government. It's not like Poland is inundated with applicants for citizenship.

The British tests are a bit more scammy, especially the FCE, which was marketed really hard in the early 2000s. There is no real value in examining students at that level. Certainly none that would justify the rather hefty price tag. I always discouraged anyone from wasting their time and money on these exams unless they were specifically required by an employer or academic institution, a situation that I never encountered. Neither of my students who went on to study at LSE and Kings were required to take any language exam beyond matura, and the same for my students who went to study in the States.

The bigger fleecing is done by the language schools, who prolong the learning process to maximize their profits. You could easily prepare someone to take the FCE in a year, but they stretch it out over four or five years by discouraging independent study and focusing solely on in-class time. Why kill the goose that lays the golden egg before it's time. I also discourage anyone from taking lessons at a private language school. Why pay big bucks for something you can do a lot better and faster for little cost on your own at home?

Incidentally, I'm curious as to whether there is (or ever will be, do you think) a kind of mandatory Polish language "test" for foreigners entering Poland to seek employment, as there is at present in Germany, for example.

Non-EU citizens are not allowed to enter Poland to seek employment. It is specifically forbidden for anyone on a tourist or visitors visa to seek employment during their stay. Just like in the US or Canada. Are you sure that Germany allows non-EU citizens to enter Germany to seek work? That does not sound right.

Yes, 360 hours odd, and the CAE a year after, and CPE 18 months after that, if they like the work that is. Don't know if I agree about the school thing - people might need a team competition element, and the hourly rate works for some.

All of which I'm currently aware (although things might well have changed) is that ANY foreigner who wishes to work in Germany, except perhaps for some unpaid day laborer or equally isolated situation, is required to take, and pass adequately, a German language test (Sprachpruefung) in order to attest to at least basic proficiency in German.

About anything else, I'm frankly not sure, you probably know better.