Learning a new language is always challenging. What adds to the complexity is having to take an exam. Polish GCSE revision can be frustrating. You might not know where to start or what to study.
Effective communication is the ultimate goal of the GCSE Polish course and assessment. The examiners need to see that you have gained the skills throughout the course.
You will be tested on your four language skills. But, no need to worry. We have gathered top revision tips and resources.
Understanding the Exam Format and Content
Let’s start with the GCSE Polish exam format and content. The exam contains 4 papers, each taking 25% of the GCSE.
Paper 1 assesses your listening skills, paper 2 assesses your speaking skills, paper 3 assesses your reading skills, and paper 4 assesses your writing skills.
The exam contains three main themes: culture, areas, and employment. Themes apply to all exam papers.
The papers are set in two tiers: Foundation Tier and Higher Tier. The timing of the papers differs based on tier; the higher tier usually takes longer.
The main assessment objective is to test your understanding and communication skills in Polish. Your grammar and vocabulary skills will be tested throughout four papers.
Listening Skills
You have about 40 minutes to complete this paper. You will read the question paper and then listen to the listening stimulus.
If you are in the foundation tier, you’ll answer questions in English. Higher-tier students need to answer questions in Polish.
Question Example
Listen to the conversation about weekend activities. What does Kasia plan to do on Saturday? Choose the correct option:
- A) Go to the cinema
- B) Visit her grandparents
- C) Study for exams.
How to Improve Polish Listening Skills for GCSE?
The best way to improve listening skills is through consistent exposure. Polish Music, movies, and YouTube channels are great resources.
To improve your exam skills, focus on past listening papers provided below:
- Polish GCSE Listening Foundation Past Paper
- Polish GCSE Listening Foundation Mark Scheme
- Polish GCSE Listening Higher Past Paper
- Polish GCSE Listening Higher Mark Schemes
What Are The Best Resources?
Past papers are always the number 1 GCSE resource. Practise them as much as you can. The Polish Pod podcast and Polish Pod 101 YouTube channel are great resources for improving your listening skills.
The AQA assessment resources page has sound files of previous exams.
Speaking
The assessment objective of paper 2 is your ability to communicate clearly in Polish. The paper contains three parts:
- Role play.
- Photo card.
- General conversation.
Question Example
Role Play: You are at a market in Poland. The examiner will play the role of the seller. You need to buy three items. Start the conversation by greeting the seller and asking about the price of apples.
Photo Card: Describe the scene in the photo of a Polish cultural festival. Discuss the importance of cultural traditions in modern society.
How to Improve Speaking Skills?
Besides past papers, revision books and coursebooks are great help.
GCSE Polish Speaking COMPLETE REVISION AND PRACTICE is an excellent revision book for GCSE Polish.
Engaging with native speakers is a proven method to improve speaking skills. Also, check out Quizlet’s practice flashcards for Poilsh GCSE.
Reading Comprehension
The assessment objective is to test your ability to understand and respond to different types of written language. You will have about 1 hour to complete the paper.
The paper consists of three sections:
- Section A has English questions that you need to answer in English.
- Section B has Polish questions; you need to answer them in Polish.
- Section C asks you to translate around 40 words.
Question Example
Translate the following paragraph into English: W Polsce coraz więcej ludzi angażuje się w działania na rzecz ochrony środowiska. Organizowane są akcje sprzątania lasów oraz kampanie edukacyjne.
How to Improve Reading Skills?
Review the past papers and read accordingly. Search the web for short Polish stories, news, or anything that interests you. Wolnelektury and Bilioteka are helpful resources.
Use BBC Bitesize for easy-to-understand lessons. They also provide downloadable audio files to improve your listening and speaking skills.
To improve your exam skills, focus on past reading papers provided below:
- Polish GCSE Reading Foundation Past Paper
- Polish GCSE Reading Foundation Mark Schemes
- Polish GCSE Reading Higher Past Paper
- GCSE Polish Reading Higher Mark Schemes
Writing Skills
This paper assesses your writing skills through the following:
- Translation (English to Polish): focus on accuracy and context.
- Short text: use simple, to-the-point sentences
- Structured writing task:
Plan before you write. Outline the structure of your text (introduction, main points, and a conclusion). Organise your ideas logically, and include linking phrases to make your writing flow smoothly.
- The message of the presented photo: connect the visual elements with the task’s requirements, such as expressing opinions or describing actions.
- Open-ended writing task (higher tier): Be creative, relevant, and concise.
Sample Questions
Question: “Write a short paragraph about your favourite Polish dish. Include details about when you first tried it and why you liked it.”
Translation: “Translate the following sentences into Polish: ‘I like to visit my grandparents on the weekend. They live in a small village.'”
Tips for Improving Writing Skills
GCSE Polish Writing REVISION BOOK Second edition is excellent for improving your writing skills.
Plus, you can focus on past writing papers provided below:
- GCSE Polish Writing Foundation Past Paper
- GCSE Polish Writing Foundation Mark Schemes
- GCSE Polish Writing Higher Past Paper
- GCSE Polish Writing Higher Mark Schemes
Grammar And Vocabulary of GCSE Polish Exam
The grammar and vocabulary slightly vary between tiers. Let’s take a look at what you need to know:
| GCSE Polish Grammar | |
| Topics | Items |
| Nouns | Masculine, feminine, neuter, singular and plural |
| Adjectives | How to use, including gender |
| Adverbs | Place, time, manner, number |
| Numerals | All cardinal numbers and ordinal numbers |
| Verbs | Present, past, and future tenses
Modes Voices |
| Pronouns | Personal, Possessive, Demonstrative, Numeral, Reflexive |
| Prepositions | How to use them. |
| Conjunctions | How to use them. |
How About Vocabulary?
The vocabulary of the exam is related to the themes. What are the themes?
- Identity and culture: Family and friends, technology, activities, customs and festivals in Poland.
- Local, national and global areas: Social issues, the environment, travel.
- Current and future study and employment: My studies, school life, and career choices.
Study Rocket has a comprehensive revision guide on vocabulary to learn for exams on each topic.
Also, check out the AQA specification for vocabulary and phrases list in Polish with English translation.
Achieve Your Best with Expert Guidance
Ostado is a leading tutoring platform for students around the UK. We provide personalised lesson plans and study techniques to help you get the best results.
With the help of our GCSE tutors, you will gain all the skills you need to succeed.
Tips for GCSE Polish Revision
GCSE revision is all about consistency. So, the first thing to do is create a revision plan. Dedicate daily study sessions.
- Practise contextual learning through reading Polish literature and Polish history.
- Use interactive learning tools such as flashcards. Quizlet is an excellent app for this purpose.
- Arrange vocabulary in your preferred order: under topics, alphabetically, etc.
- Use GCSE revision apps and revision books.
Polish GCSE revision FAQ
- How long is Polish writing GCSE?Depending on the tier, you need to write 180-240 words. The foundation-tier exam takes 45 minutes, while the higher-tier exam takes 1 hour.
- Can you do A-level Polish?Yes. A-level Polish takes a deeper look at the language and culture of Polish-speaking society. The course also includes Polish literature and films.
- What languages can you do for GCSE?Multiple languages are available at the GCSE level. German, French, Russian, and Spanish included. Check with your school about the availability of foreign languages.