Polish Eighth Grade Exam 2025: Spotlight on Friendship

The news in Polish

1. egzamin  (m.)
   test lub sprawdzian oceniający wiedzę z określonego zakresu materiału. ↩︎
2. przyjaźń  (f.)
   stan wzajemnej życzliwości i zaufania między ludźmi. ↩︎
3. analizować
   dokładnie badać i rozważać coś w celu zrozumienia. ↩︎
4. dzieło  (n.)
   rezultat działań twórczych; utwór artystyczny lub literacki. ↩︎
5. przemówienie  (n.)
   wypowiedź ustna, skierowana do wielu osób, zwykle posiadająca strukturę retoryczną. ↩︎
6. wynik  (m.)
   rezultat działania lub przebiegu jakiegoś procesu. ↩︎

Translation

Text comprehension

Question 1: What was the main theme of the Polish eighth-grade exam in 2025?

Question 2: What could students write for the Polish exam in 2025?

Vocabulary

Polish	English
egzamin  (m.)	exam
przyjaźń  (f.)	friendship
analizować	analyse
dzieło  (n.)	work
przemówienie  (n.)	speech
wynik  (m.)	result

Read the full story

The 2025 Polish eighth grade exams, a pivotal stepping stone for students transitioning to high school, took place recently. Key subjects tested included Polish language, mathematics, and a modern foreign language. The Polish language exam, attracting much attention, placed an unexpected emphasis on the theme of friendship, sparking discussions among students and educators alike.

This year’s exam featured texts and tasks primarily revolving around the theme of friendship, with “Boys from Paul Street” by Ferenc Molnár being a focal text. While this classic is typically introduced earlier in the school curriculum, its presence in the exam caught many by surprise, prompting lively discussions on platforms like social media. Students needed to navigate both creative and analytical challenges, choosing between writing a speech and a narrative piece for their longer written tasks.

The exam stressed not only comprehension but also critical interpretation and articulation. Tasks included interpreting literary excerpts and understanding linguistic nuances, such as grammar and punctuation. Further tasks demanded students write engaging and convincing arguments, demonstrating a broad understanding of the studied literature.

Experts provided insights into the exam content shortly after its release by the Central Examination Board (CKE). They offered example solutions and analyses of key questions from the exam. Discussions centered on characters like Nemeczek from “Boys from Paul Street,” whose courage and loyalty were pivotal themes that students explored in depth. Additionally, fragments from other literary works, including “The Little Prince” and “Pan Tadeusz,” were part of the analysis, highlighting themes of bravery and moral integrity.

The Polish language exam is part of a comprehensive assessment that, while having no pass mark, holds significant importance due to its role in the high school admission process. While all eighth graders are required to participate, success is measured in points which play a crucial role in future educational opportunities. The official results of the exams are expected to be published on July 4th, facilitating the transition to high schools across the country.

As students navigate this testing phase, understanding the constraints of the examination room, particularly regarding permissible items, remains crucial. For example, during the mathematics exam, only a pen, a ruler, and identification are allowed, with strict prohibitions on calculators and other devices, underscoring the importance of being well-prepared in the basics.

As these exams continue to shape the educational landscape in Poland, the inclusion of thematic elements like friendship in literature tests helps foster critical thinking and empathy among students, equipping them for both academic and personal challenges in their forthcoming educational journeys.

Info: “Polish Learner News” is a service from “Let’s Learn Polish”, a language school dedicated to teaching individuals how to learn to speak Polish. We offer various online Polish courses, catering to different proficiency levels and learning preferences.