My First Attempt at the Polish B1 Exam: A Journey of Struggles, Strategies, and Surprises

Introduction

16/11/2024

Hi Everyone,

I recently took my first shot at passing the Polish B1 exam! While I won’t know my results until February, I wanted to share my journey, my struggles, and the strategies I used to prepare for the test. If you’re also on this path, I hope my experience can offer you some insights (and maybe a few laughs along the way)!

My Background: No Slavic Roots, Just a Love for Challenges

Unlike many language learners who might already have experience with European or Slavic languages, my native tongue is from South Asia. English, which I learned in school, has been my primary language for communication. Because of this, understanding complex grammatical structures like cases in Polish has been an uphill battle for me.

I moved to Poland nine years ago, and from day one, I was fascinated by the language. However, my university studies and later my job (which primarily involves international clients) left me with little time and opportunity to practice Polish. For the first six years of my stay, my Polish knowledge was embarrassingly limited to basic greetings, vegetable names, and a few commonly used words.

The Turning Point: Duolingo and Realizing the Need to Learn

In 2021, I finally decided to take Polish more seriously. My journey started with Duolingo. What began as a casual attempt soon turned into a daily habit, and as of today, I have an impressive 975-day streak!

But despite my consistency on Duolingo, I still couldn’t hold a proper conversation. Over time, I started feeling awkward when Polish friends asked about my language skills, knowing I had been in Poland for so long yet still couldn’t speak properly. To change that, I enrolled in an A1-level Polish course. Unfortunately, due to time constraints, I had to drop it, but I kept learning through Duolingo and other online resources.

2023: The Year I Had No Choice but to Learn Polish

By 2023, I knew a bit more Polish but still not enough to function independently in the language. However, my motivation skyrocketed when I realized I needed Polish proficiency for my immigration status. I had to pass the B1 exam.

Determined to make it happen, I bought several books, but self-study proved to be a challenge. Procrastination got the better of me, and before I knew it, it was already 2024. Desperate to speed up my learning, I completed a month-long A2 course, which was extremely helpful. But even after that, I still couldn’t hold a conversation without the help of Google Translate.

The B1 Exam Challenge: A Strategic Approach

In September, I made a bold move—I registered for the B1 exam in November. This decision pushed me into serious study mode, but instead of focusing on learning Polish naturally, I started looking for hacks to crack the exam. And who did I turn to for guidance? ChatGPT.

Step 1: Memorizing Verbs

ChatGPT suggested that a B1-level speaker should know at least 300-500 verbs. So, I created flashcards and memorized 400 verbs, pulling lists straight from AI-generated suggestions. While ChatGPT isn’t always the most reliable source, I figured I had nothing to lose!

Step 2: Mastering Adjectives and Nouns

Polish has an interesting feature—once you learn adjectives, you automatically understand adverbs with just minor changes to endings. That was a win! Instead of memorizing nouns, I shifted my focus to grammar, knowing that structured thinking would help me more.

Step 3: Finding Logic in Grammar

Polish grammar can be overwhelming with its numerous cases and exceptions. But since I wasn’t aiming for perfection, I ignored most exceptions and instead built a set of conditional rules to follow. I created formula sheets for:

• All grammar cases
• Prepositions
• Possessive pronouns
• Conjunctions (which, thankfully, don’t change)

Step 4: Practicing with Exam Materials

I started working through the book Bądź na B1 and solved as many practice tests as I could find. I also enrolled in a 20-hour B1 exam preparatory course to boost my confidence.

Exam Day: How It Went

Listening: Manageable with Guesses

Out of 30 points, I feel confident about at least 17. That’s already a passing score! For the parts I didn’t understand, I took my best guesses and hoped for a few extra points.

Reading: Surprisingly Easy

In my practice exams, I usually scored between 14-17 points. But thanks to my 400-verb memorization strategy, I believe I did much better this time—probably over 20 points!

Grammar: The Deciding Factor

Despite all my formula sheets and practice, the grammar section felt challenging. I might score between 16-17, or it could be a close miss with just 14 points. This section will likely determine whether I pass or fail.

Writing: Flashcards Paid Off

For short writing tasks like ogłoszenie and pozdrawiam, I had studied multiple formats and executed them well. In the long text, my memorized verbs and adjectives helped. I don’t expect a high score, but I should pass.

Speaking: Nerve-Wracking but Doable

This was the part I dreaded the most. Since my grammar formulas require thinking time, speaking fluently felt impossible. But somehow, I managed! The examiners even laughed at some of my attempts, which I hope was a good sign. I believe I did enough to pass.

Final Thoughts: The Journey Continues

Taking this exam was a worthwhile experience. Passing doesn’t necessarily mean I’m truly at a B1 level—I have immense respect for those who are. But this attempt has given me a structured learning path, and I’m not stopping here. I will continue learning Polish until I genuinely reach a solid B1 level, purely for my own satisfaction.

Since my results won’t be out until February, I’ve already decided to register for the next B1 exam in February 2025. If I pass this one, great! If not, I’ll have another shot in just a few months.

Thank you to everyone who wished me luck and supported me on this journey. Dziękuję bardzo!