Polish 8th-grade exam (egzamin ósmoklasisty) for foreign pupils in 2027: exam paper, time and dictionary
A foreign pupil who finds it difficult to understand written texts due to limited proficiency in Polish can take the Polish 8th-grade exam (egzamin ósmoklasisty) with exam accommodations. The basis for this is a positive opinion from the teachers' council (all teachers at the school). The council may recommend, among other things, a separate exam paper (arkusz) for Polish and maths – in which case maths lasts up to 165 minutes instead of 125 – as well as a bilingual dictionary and a separate room.
Parents can request this opinion themselves. It is best to do this now: the school informs parents about accommodations by 20 November 2026, and parents reply by 25 November 2026.
In short
- Who – a pupil without Polish citizenship who finds it difficult to understand written texts due to limited proficiency in Polish.
- Basis – a positive opinion from the teachers' council; parents can request it.
- Possible accommodations – a separate exam paper for Polish and maths, a bilingual dictionary, a separate room.
- Time with a separate exam paper – maths up to 165 minutes, Polish up to 195 minutes.
- Deadlines – information from the school by 20 November 2026, parents' reply by 25 November.
- Exam – maths on 11 May 2027, results on 6 July 2027.
Who counts as a foreign pupil in the Polish 8th-grade exam (egzamin ósmoklasisty)?
Under the regulations concerning the exam, a foreign pupil is a pupil who does not hold Polish citizenship (Article 165(1) of the Education Law (Prawo oświatowe)). The announcement by the Director of the Central Examination Board (CKE) provides for exam accommodations for a foreign pupil whose limited proficiency in Polish makes it difficult for them to understand the text they read. The basis for this is a positive opinion of the teachers' council (opinia rady pedagogicznej).
In practice, this means: exam accommodations are not granted automatically on the grounds of citizenship. The teachers' council assesses how difficult it is for the pupil to read in Polish. Parents can submit an application for this opinion themselves – there is no need to wait for a proposal from the school.
What exam accommodations can the teachers' council indicate?
According to the CKE announcement (Table 1.10), the teachers' council may indicate the following exam accommodations, among others:
| What changes | Standard conditions | With exam accommodations |
|---|---|---|
| Exam paper (arkusz) | standard | separate exam paper (arkusz) for Polish and maths (marked O*-C00) |
| Time – maths | 125 minutes | up to 165 minutes (with a separate exam paper) |
| Time – Polish | 150 minutes | up to 195 minutes (with a separate exam paper) |
| Dictionary | none | bilingual, paper or electronic without internet access (for the modern foreign language exam – not a dictionary of that language) |
| Examination room | shared | separate room for the Polish and maths exams |
| Reading texts | pupil reads independently | during the Polish exam, a teacher in the room reads long texts (250 words and more) out loud once – only if the teachers' council's opinion indicates severe reading difficulties |
In practice, this means: the council does not have to indicate everything at once. Parents receive a letter with a list of indicated exam accommodations and reply whether the pupil will use them.
What if the child has returned to Poland after studying abroad?
The CKE announcement (Table 1.15) provides for separate exam accommodations for a pupil who, in the current school year, is receiving psychological and pedagogical support at school due to adaptation difficulties after studying abroad. This also applies to children with Polish citizenship – Table 1.10 does not cover them because they are not foreigners. A positive opinion of the teachers' council is also the basis here.
These pupils take the standard exam paper in the standard time (maths 125 minutes). Extra time is only possible if the pupil already has extended time at school for this reason and it is recorded in the documents. A bilingual dictionary, a separate room, and – for the Polish exam – open-ended question marking rules as for pupils with dyslexia are also possible.
In practice, this means: Table 1.10 provides a separate exam paper and extra time, while Table 1.15 does not. Which option applies to your child depends on their citizenship and the opinion of the teachers' council; ask your form tutor (wychowawca) about this.
What are the deadlines for the 2026/2027 school year?
| By when | Who | What |
|---|---|---|
| before 20 November 2026 | parents | application for the teachers' council's opinion (if the school has not proposed it itself) – a practical deadline, not one from the announcement |
| 20 November 2026 | school | informs parents in writing about the exam accommodations indicated by the teachers' council |
| 25 November 2026 | parents | submit a declaration – a letter stating whether the pupil will use the exam accommodations |
| 10–12 May 2027 | pupil | exam (maths – 11 May); additional date (termin dodatkowy) 9–11 June |
| 6 July 2027 | CKE and school | results and certificates (zaświadczenia) |
If the need for exam accommodations arises after 25 November 2026 (e.g., the child arrives in Poland later), the school shall immediately inform the parents in writing about the exam accommodations indicated by the teachers' council.
In practice, this means: if the child finds it difficult to read in Polish, submit the application for the teachers' council's opinion as soon as possible so that the council can hold a meeting before 20 November.
How to prepare for maths when your Polish is still weak?
- Application to the teachers' council. Talk to your form tutor as soon as possible – the council needs time to hold a meeting before 20 November.
- Glossary of words from tasks. Write down words with your child that change the operation: obniżka, podwyżka, o ile więcej, ile razy więcej, pole, obwód – with translation.
- Past exam papers. Practise using CKE exam papers – if the council indicates a dictionary, use the exact same dictionary that will be available during the exam.
- Lessons with Polish subtitles. Watch lessons with subtitles and read their text on the website – this is learning maths and Polish words at the same time.
- Clock practice. Practise the whole exam paper within the time that the child will have during the exam (125 or 165 minutes).
How many days are left until the exam? Check the countdown to the exam.
Parents’ questions
Does a foreign pupil have to take the Polish 8th-grade exam?
Can the exam be taken in Ukrainian or Russian?
How much time does a foreign pupil have for the maths exam?
Who submits the application for the teachers' council's opinion?
Do these rules apply to children from Ukraine?
Read next
Sources
- Komunikat dyrektora CKE w sprawie szczegółowych sposobów dostosowania warunków i form przeprowadzania egzaminu ósmoklasisty w roku szkolnym 2026/2027 – Central Examination Board (CKE), 20.08.2026. Point B.7 (who is eligible), point 12 (who applies for the opinion), points 19–21 (deadlines), table 1.10 (foreign pupils), table 1.15 (adaptation difficulties).
- Komunikat dyrektora CKE w sprawie harmonogramu egzaminów w 2027 r. – Central Examination Board (CKE), 20.08.2026. Exam dates, additional session dates, and results; standard exam duration.
- Ustawa o systemie oświaty – tekst jednolity, art. 44q i 44zza – Dziennik Ustaw 2025 poz. 881, 11.06.2025. Sitting the exam as a condition for graduating from school; the result does not affect graduation.
- Prawo oświatowe – tekst jednolity, art. 134 i art. 165 ust. 1 – Dziennik Ustaw 2026 poz. 820, 12.06.2026. Exam result in admissions (Art. 134(2)(1)); foreign pupil – a person without Polish citizenship (Art. 165(1)).
This article describes the exam rules based on the CKE announcement. This is not legal advice – regarding a specific pupil, please contact the headteacher.
Found a mistake or outdated information? Write to: [email protected].