How to prepare for the Czech exam (A2/B1)
4 min read
The best way to prepare for the Czech exam — A2 for permanent residency or B1 for citizenship — is to combine short, regular practice of each part separately, full tests in the real exam format, and, for B1, systematic study of the civics (reálie) question bank, which is published in full.
Both exams have a clearly defined structure, so you can prepare for them purposefully — you know exactly what's coming. Below is a plan by section, a realistic time estimate, and links to where you can train for free on this site.
First, understand the format
Before you start practicing, read what the Czech A2 and B1 exams actually look like — the timing, points and pass thresholds for the two exams differ quite a bit, and your study plan should reflect that.
Study plan for A2 (permanent residency)
| Part | Time | What to practice |
|---|---|---|
| Reading | 40 min | 25 items, 5 task types — short texts, flyers, ads |
| Writing | 25 min | a form, 3 open questions, an email (min. 35 words) |
| Listening | ~40 min | 25 items, 5 task types — announcements, short dialogues |
| Speaking | 15 min | Q&A, 2 role-plays, picture-story narration, situation-negotiation, phonetics |
Key rule: reading, writing and listening are scored together — you need at least 60% of 70 points (42 points), and separately at least 60% of 40 speaking points (24 points). A weaker result in one written skill can be offset by a stronger one in another, but speaking can't be "made up" by writing — it has its own gate.
- Reading and listening: practice together, daily, in short bursts, ideally on material similar to the exam. It's not about understanding every word — it's about picking out specific information.
- Writing: master the fixed structure of the email and the form — word count, phrasing, how to answer the three questions concisely.
- Speaking is a quarter of the exam with its own pass bar, so give it the same attention as writing. Practice all four task types out loud, especially the picture-story narration and the role-plays — they usually come out weakest.
Study plan for B1 (citizenship)
B1 for citizenship is actually two separate exams — the language exam and civics. Prepare for each on its own track.
B1 language exam
| Part | Time | Points |
|---|---|---|
| Reading | 50 min | 25 |
| Listening | 30–35 min | 25 |
| Writing | 60 min | 25 |
| Speaking (in pairs) | 15–18 min | 25 |
The general rule is 60% overall and 60% per part (one written subtest may carry a slightly different bar — check the current mechanism on ÚJOP UK's page).
Speaking is done paired with another candidate, not solo — so don't practice only monologues in the mirror. Practice dialogues and topic discussion with a partner, friend, or tutor so you get used to reacting to someone else's turns in real time, not just delivering a rehearsed text.
Civics (reálie) exam
A separate exam — 30 minutes, 30 multiple-choice questions, you need at least 18 out of 30. Questions are drawn from a publicly published bank of roughly 30 topics (about 16 on the state and institutions, 7 on geography, 7 on history and culture). Because the topic list is public, the most effective prep is to work through the whole bank systematically rather than guess: the reálie task bank on cestina-pro-cizince.cz.
How much time it takes and how to pace it
It depends on your starting level, but with a steady 20–30 minutes a day, reaching B1 from a solid A2 typically takes a few months. What works well:
- A diagnostic test. Take one sample test pack with no preparation — see where you're weakest.
- Short but daily. 20–30 minutes a day beats one long weekend session.
- Rotate the parts. A different skill each day, so you cover all of them over the week.
- Weekly check-in. Once a week, do a full pack against the clock.
- Dry-run the last weeks. Simulate the whole exam without breaks — it gets you used to the pace and the stress.
Where to practice on this site
- Sample tests — packs in the real exam format for both A2 and B1, including civics for B1.
- Writing practice with AI grading — write an email or fill out a form and get feedback on your mistakes.
- Monologue practice with AI grading — record a spoken answer and get it scored.
- Photo description with AI grading — practice for the picture-story narration task from the A2 speaking part.
- Grammar and vocabulary by topic — reference material for any gaps you find.
- If you're just starting out with Czech, try the course from scratch first — 44 lessons that build you up to exam level step by step.
Next steps
- Learn the format: what the Czech A2 and B1 exam looks like
- Check the logistics: how much the Czech exam costs and where to take it
Rules, fees and exact pass thresholds can change over time — always verify current information on the official sites cestina-pro-cizince.cz (A2, civics) and ÚJOP UK (B1 language exam) before registering. This text is not legal advice.