Guide
Polish B1 writing exam: tasks, word counts and how it is scored
Checked against certyfikatpolski.pl on 7 October 2026
The writing part (pisanie) is the part many candidates fear most. It is also the most predictable one: the tasks follow a fixed format and examiners mark them on three published criteria. Here is exactly how it works.
Where writing fits in the exam
The B1 state certificate has a written part and an oral part. The written part has four sections: listening (30 points), reading (30 points), grammar (30 points) and writing (30 points). The oral part is worth 40 points.
To pass, you need at least 50% in every part. There is no overall average, so one weak part fails the whole exam. For writing, that means at least 15 of 30 points.
The two writing tasks
You get 75 minutes for writing. You choose one of three sets, and each set has two tasks that you must both write.
Task a is a short text, for example greetings, wishes, an invitation, a notice, an ad or a text message. Task b is a longer text, for example a letter or email, a description, a story, an account of a trip, an opinion or an essay.
Together the two tasks always add up to about 200 words. Typical splits are 25 + 175, 30 + 170, 40 + 160 or 50 + 150 words.
The three criteria examiners use
- Wykonanie zadania (task completion), 0 to 10 points: did you cover every point in the task, in the right form and register, at the required length?
- Środki językowe (language range), 0 to 10 points: vocabulary, phrasing, sentence variety and style suitable for B1.
- Poprawność językowa (accuracy), 0 to 10 points: grammar, spelling (including Polish letters) and punctuation.
Length matters
Write close to the required number of words. A text that is clearly too short loses points for length and usually for form as well, even if the Polish is good. Going a little over is safer than going under.
How to collect points fastest
- Answer every point in the task. Missing one point costs task completion points, and those are the easiest to lose.
- Use the right form: a greeting and a closing in letters and emails, a formal tone for an office, a short clear text for a notice.
- Prefer simple correct sentences to long wrong ones. Accuracy is a third of the score.
- Check verb endings, cases after prepositions, and Polish letters (ą, ę, ł, ó, ś, ż, ź, ć, ń).
- Keep 10 minutes at the end to count words and reread.
Try it on a real task
Write one task in the exam format and get points on the three examiner criteria, with every mistake explained in your language. Free, no signup.
Check my writing, freeQuestions
How many points do I need in writing?
At least 15 of 30, because every part must reach 50%.
Do I have to write both tasks?
Yes. You choose one set out of three, and you write both task a and task b from that set.
What happens if my text is too short?
You lose points for length, and usually for form too. Aim for the word count given in the task.
More guides
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