School Subjects & My Studies (AQA GCSE Polish): Revision Note
Exam code: 8688
School subjects and my studies
When talking about 'Life at school', you could mention:
what subjects you study
your teachers and other people at school
what a typical school day looks like
what facilities your school has
You can add opinion phrases, adjectives and comparatives to say what you like and dislike about life at school
School subjects and my studies: vocabulary
Some useful words and phrases to talk about the topic of life at school are:
Mój ulubiony przedmiot to..... - My favourite subject is…
Uczę się - I learn / I study
Tam jest..../ tam są.... - There is… / There are…
Noszę..... - I wear ...
Note: Studenci means to people who study at university. For school-level study, use uczniowie
Category | Polish | Part of speech | English |
|---|---|---|---|
School subjects | biologia | n(f) | biology |
chemia | n(f) | chemistry | |
fizyka | n(f) | physics | |
geografia | n(f) | geography | |
historia | n(f) | history | |
język | n(m) | language | |
matematyka | n(f) | maths | |
muzyka | n(f) | music | |
plastyka | n(f) | art | |
przedmiot | n(m) | subject | |
religia | n(f) | religious studies | |
technologia | n(f) | technology | |
w-f | n(m) | PE | |
School facilities | aula | n(f) | assembly hall |
budynek | n(m) | building | |
liceum | n(nt) | secondary school | |
hala sportowa, gimnastyczna | n(f) | sports hall, gymnasium | |
laboratorium językowe | n(nt) | language lab | |
pokój nauczycielski | n(m) | staffroom | |
szkolne podwórze | school playground | ||
szkoła podstawowa | n(f) | primary school | |
szkoła średnia | n(f) | high school | |
People at school | dozorca | n(m) | caretaker |
dyrektor/ka | n(m) | headteacher, principal | |
nauczyciel/ka | n(m/f) | teacher | |
uczeń | n(m) | pupil, school student (m) | |
uczennica | n(f) | pupil, school student (f) | |
The school day | egzamin | n(m) | exam, test |
egzamin ósmoklasisty | n(m) | school leaving exam | |
klasa | n(f) | class | |
lekcje | n(pl) | lessons | |
mundurek | n(m) | uniform | |
przemoc rówieśnicza | n(f) | bullying | |
przerwa | n(f) | break | |
świadectwo (szkolne) | n(m) | report | |
stopień, ocena | n(m), n(f) | mark, grade | |
zadanie domowe | n(nt) | homework | |
wakacje, ferie | n(f) | holidays |
Higher tier
Polish | Part of speech | English | Example | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
świadectwo ukończenia szkoły, dyplom | n(nt) n(m) | school leaving certificate, diploma | Jakie kwalifikacje chcesz zdobyć? | What qualification do you want to do? |
egzamin końcowy, matura | n(m) n(f) | school leaving exam, A levels | Po maturze chciałabym pójść na uniwersytet. | After my A levels I would like to go to university. |
wymiana | n(f) | exchange | Biorę udział w wymianie szkolnej. | I am taking part in a school exchange. |
szkoła podstawowa | primary school | Jako dziecko chodziłam do szkoły podstawowej. | As a child I went to primary school. | |
Liceum ogólnokształcące | grammar school | Chodzę do liceum ogólnokształcącego. | I go to a grammar school. | |
praktyka zawodowa | n(f) | apprenticeship | Po szkole chciałby zrobić praktykę zawodową. | After school he would like to do an apprenticeship. |
liceum | n(nt) | sixth form | W liceum ma się więcej swobody. | In sixth form you have more freedom. |
sala gimnastyczna | n(f) | gymnasium | Mamy WF na sali gimnastycznej | We have PE in the gymnasium. |
uczyć | to teach | Mój nauczyciel uczy polskiego. | My teacher teaches Polish. | |
There are many differences between the Polish and English school system:
Students generally don’t wear a uniform to school
They buy their own stationery supplies (e.g. exercise books, pens, folders)
Schools often finish early (around 1–2 pm), not on the same time everyday
After primary school, students attend secondary school from around age 15
Equivalent to primary + lower secondary in the UK.
Years 1–3: early education (one main teacher)
Years 4–8: subject teachers
At the end: the Year 8 exam (Polish school‑leaving exam for primary school)
There are different types of secondary school:
General Secondary School (Liceum) – 4 years
Closest to UK secondary school / sixth form
Ends with the Matura exam (Polish equivalent of A levels)
Technical Secondary School (Technikum) – 5 years
Combines general education with vocational training
Ends with: vocational exams, and the Matura exam (optional but common)
Vocational School ( Branżowa School) – 3 years
Prepares students for a specific trade
Ends with vocational qualifications
Students can continue in Branżowa School II level
The grading system in Poland goes from 1 =fail (niedostateczny) to 6 =outstanding (celujący)
If a student's raport (report) at the end of the school year shows failing grades, they may have to repeat the entire year - a practice known as powtarzanie klasy
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