Eighth-grade exam 2026: three days, more than 393,000 registered pupils

The three-day plan

According to the Central Examination Board (CKE), 393,338 pupils from 12,953 schools are registered for this year's eighth-grade exam. It lasts three days and starts at 9:00 each time.

• Monday 11 May: Polish — 150 minutes. The paper has two parts: tasks on two texts (25 points) and an essay (20 points), 45 points in total.
• Tuesday 12 May: mathematics — 125 minutes.
• Wednesday 13 May: modern foreign language — for English last year 110 minutes and 55 points.
• Pupils with adjustments may have extra time.

Rules in the room

Pupils should arrive early, as instructed by the school, with a black pen (ideally two) and — for maths — a ruler. Phones and other electronic devices stay outside. Sitting the exam is required to finish primary school, but there is no pass mark — the result is used for admissions and as information about skills.

If someone falls ill

Pupils who cannot sit the exam in May for health or other unforeseen reasons take it in the additional session: 8–10 June. There is no way to retake to improve a result — the exam is taken once.

What comes next

CKE will announce results on 3 July. The same day schools will issue detailed result certificates needed for secondary school admissions — together with the school report they must be delivered to the chosen school by the date set by the education superintendent (in Mazowsze: 3–7 July).

A reminder for parents: after each exam day, ask how your child feels rather than analysing answers. There's another day ahead, and then — time to rest.