New exam rules are being introduced in Poland: what will change for schoolchildren from Ukraine
After the start of the full-scale war, many Ukrainian children found refuge in Poland. They face numerous difficulties in learning and adaptation, including the language barrier, changes in the educational program and the need to take exams according to Polish standards. In addition, a significant part of Ukrainian schoolchildren continues distance learning according to the Ukrainian program, which creates an additional burden.
From January 30, 2025, new rules for taking exams for eighth-graders, which also apply to Ukrainian students, will come into force in Poland. According to the order of the Minister of Education, the duration of the exams will increase by 25%. In particular, 150 minutes are now allocated to the Polish language exam instead of 120, 125 minutes to mathematics, and 110 minutes to modern foreign language. For foreign students, in particular Ukrainian students, additional time is provided: 225 minutes for the Polish language, 190 minutes for mathematics and 110 minutes for a foreign language.
Special conditions will apply to schoolchildren who arrived in Poland after February 24, 2022. For them, the time for the Polish language exam has been increased to 265 minutes, while for mathematics and a foreign language it remains unchanged at 125 and 110 minutes, respectively.
The Polish Ministry of Education explains that these changes are aimed at making the exam process easier for students who may have difficulties due to language barriers and adaptation challenges. The extra time should allow them to better distribute their efforts, re-read the tasks carefully and check their answers.
These innovations are an important step in supporting Ukrainian children studying in Polish schools. However, despite the expanded conditions for taking exams, many students and their parents are worried about other difficulties, including the loss of social benefits. More than 20,000 Ukrainian children recently lost financial aid in Poland, which puts additional pressure on families and their ability to provide comfortable learning conditions.
