The oral Polish matura 2026: how the exam works and how to prepare in the final weeks

When and how long

According to the CKE schedule, oral Polish exams take place in May 2026 — the school tells each candidate the exact day and time. After drawing a set, the candidate has up to 15 minutes to prepare. The exam itself lasts about 15 minutes: a monologue of up to 10 minutes and a conversation with the examining team of up to 5 minutes. Dictionaries are not allowed and you may not write on the task printout; notes go on a separate sheet.

To pass you need at least 30% of the points — it is one of the compulsory exams for the matura certificate.

Two tasks in a set

A set contains two tasks. The first comes from the pool of published questions (pytania jawne) — for 2026–2028 the list has 76 topics (previously 68), covering among others the Bible, Parandowski's 'Mythology', the 'Iliad', 'Antigone', Part III of 'Forefathers' Eve' (Dziady), 'Przedwiośnie' and 'Crime and Punishment'. The second task is unpublished: it concerns an issue in literature or other works of culture and is discussed on the basis of an attached text — literary, non-literary or an image.

The conversation may cover the issue in the task, the attached text and anything the candidate said in the monologue, including works they referred to.

Working with the published questions

76 questions is a lot, but many concern the same books and motifs. Rather than memorising ready answers, prepare flexible 'building blocks'.

• Group the questions by book — one book usually appears in several topics.
• For each book prepare three or four specific scenes or quotations that fit different topics.
• For each question write a one-sentence thesis and two arguments from different works or contexts.
• Practise aloud with a timer: 15 minutes to prepare, then 10 minutes of speaking.

The unpublished task: a 15-minute method

With an unfamiliar text, a fixed routine practised several times beforehand helps.

• Minutes 1–3: read the instruction twice and note the key words.
• Minutes 4–8: read the text or look at the image and jot down three observations linked to the instruction.
• Minutes 9–13: choose a work or context you know well that fits the problem.
• Minutes 14–15: order your answer: thesis, analysis of the text, example, conclusion.

The conversation with the examiners

The conversation isn't an interrogation but a chance to develop your thoughts. If you don't understand a question you can ask for it to be repeated. It's better to admit you don't remember something and refer to another example you know than to guess. Practise with a friend or parent who asks 'why?' and 'can you give an example?'.