Maybe you’ve already thought about taking an Italian proficiency test, or maybe you have no idea what we’re talking about. In this article, we’ll explain why it’s important to take an Italian test like this one, and we’ll guide you through everything you’ll need to do to sign up and pass the most widely accepted proficiency test (CILS). By the time you’re done reading, you’ll be totally prepared for the big day—even if this is your first time hearing about the test.

Spoiler alert: You need to get started six months beforehand!

Table of Contents

1. What is a Proficiency Test?
2. Why Take a Proficiency Test?
3. What is the CILS Certification?
4. How to Get Started
5. What to Expect on the Day of the Test
6. The CILS DUE-B2 Test
7. Winning Strategies for Taking the CILS Exam
8. How to Prepare for the CILS Exam
9. Conclusion

1. What is a Proficiency Test? 

Are you ready to be tested…?

Nowadays, in order to attain any approved language certificate, you must first be tested on the four basic competencies (Reading, Writing, Listening, and Speaking). These tests are quite thorough; they might last a few hours, or even be spread out over the course of two days. Depending on where you are in your language studies, you would apply for one of the different levels (A1, A2, B1, B2, C1, C2). 

In regards to which exam to take, there are a few options for recognized certifications, each with just slight differences that mainly correlate with your final goal. Which takes us to the next question…

2. Why Take a Proficiency Test?

There are many reasons why you might want to take certain Italian exams or attain Italian language certifications: 

• To check your progress
• To look good on your CV
• To qualify for a school, a university, a job, etc.
• To apply for Italian citizenship (as of December 2018, a basic (B1) level of Italian is required to apply)
• To be able to teach Italian

What’s your motivation?

In this guide, we’ll tell you all about the best-known and most-renowned certification, called CILS. We’ll walk you through everything you need to know about these comprehensive tests, and try to answer your questions: 

• What is CILS?
• What should you expect?
• How can you prepare?

Are you ready?

3. What is the CILS Certification?

The CILS Certification, or Certificazione di italiano come lingua straniera (“Certificate of Italian as a Foreign Language”), is a qualification officially recognized by the Italian state, based on an agreement with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. It certifies students’ degree of competence in the Italian language. 

Why do you need that? 

An official certification is often necessary for admission into Italian universities, and it could be helpful if you plan to have professional contact with Italy. This certification was originally devised by the Università per Stranieri di Siena, but today, it’s administered all over the world. You can just choose a school or a university near you and take the exam there.

The certification follows the six levels of competence determined by the Common European Framework of Reference (CEFR) of the Council of Europe. Each level certifies your language ability, including whether you can communicate effectively in a specific social or professional context. 

Choose your level carefully!

How do you know what level you’re at and what test to choose for your certification? The first thing you should consider is what your current linguistic ability is and/or what level you need to achieve. 

The following table outlines the basic differences between the levels and what they correspond to in terms of communication and grammar knowledge:

Level	Description	You are able to:	Main grammar points
CILS A1	Beginner It’s intended for learners with initial skills in the Italian language. In this level, you find different exams tailored to the various types of students, as follows: A1 A1 for integration into Italy A1 children (eight to eleven years) A1 teenagers (twelve – sixteen years) The format is the same, but the content varies.	Understand short texts and use everyday expressions;  Introduce yourself; Ask and answer questions about personal topics; Interact in a simple way	Articles and adjectives; Feminine, masculine, plural; Numbers; Simple prepositions; Regular verbs; Essere e avere (“to be,” “to have”); Modal verbs potere, dovere, volere (“can,” “must,” “want”); Present tense; Passato prossimo (“present perfect”) tense; Imperative mood;Main adjectives and adverbs
CILS A2	ElementaryThis level certifies an initial competence, which still lacks autonomy from the communication point of view.  Like the previous level, it’s divided into different modules according to the student: A2 A2 for integration into Italy A2 children (eight to eleven years) A2 teenagers (twelve to sixteen years)	Understand expressions frequently used in relevant personal and professional areas; Communicate in simple exchanges on familiar and common topics, and exchange information; Express opinions with ease;  Make invitations and apologize	Si impersonal and reflexive; Prepositions and articles; Irregular verbs andare, bere, dare, dire, fare, stare, venire (“go,” “drink,” “give,” “say,” “do,” “stay,” “come”);Use of passato prossimo vs imperfetto; Complex sentences with prima di, invece, allora, infatti, non solo … ma anche, o, che, se (“before,” “instead,” “then,” “as a matter of fact,” “not only… but also,” “or,” “that,” “if “)
CILS UNO-B1	IntermediateThis level certifies that the student has the skills necessary to use the Italian language independently and adequately in the most frequent situations of daily life.  This is the certification needed to apply for Italian citizenship.	Communicate in Italian in everyday situations in both written and oral form in an effective way (even if with a few errors); Understand the essential points of clear and articulated messages; Read the most popular and useful texts	Position of the adjective; Comparatives and superlatives; Reflexive and relative pronouns;Possessive adjectives; Demonstrative, interrogative, and indefinite pronouns; Conditional mood; Complex sentences: temporal, causal, declarative, and relative clauses
CILS DUE-B2	Upper-IntermediateThis is the level that certifies the full autonomy of communication.  It’s the minimum level ofcompetence for access to the Italian university system for students, teachers, andresearchers. It’s also required to obtain scholarships or internships.	Understand the basic ideas of complex texts related to everyday or more abstract concepts; Utilize effective oral and written Italian (even if with a few errors); Interact easily during a stay in Italy or in work meetings	Ci, ne (“in here,” “of it”); Passato remoto (“remote past”); FutureUse of the subjunctive (present and past, judgement and doubt)Impersonal verbs; Past conditional; Hypothetical phrases; Implicit and explicit complex sentences
CILS TRE- C1	AdvancedThis is the level of mastery in Italian proficiency: It means that you can communicate formally for social, academic, and professional purposes. Those who possess this level are able to interact formally in public institutions or companies, and to fit in in any situation.	Understand long and demanding texts and their implicit meaning Talk spontaneously and fluently without searching for your words too much; Use the language in an efficient and flexible manner at home, work, or school; Express your opinions on complex topics in a clear and structured manner, having full control over the linguistic tools	Past subjunctive; Gerund and past participle; Passive voice; Idiomatic verbs; Complex sentences: consecutive, concessive, modal, incidental, exclusive, restrictive; Direct and indirect speech
CILS QUATTRO-C2	Proficient This is the level of full Italian language mastery. It means you can dominate not only all informal and formal situations, but also professional ones.  It’s the level necessary to teach Italian abroad.	Understand effortlessly anything you read or hear; Summarize facts and arguments from various sources, written or spoken; Express yourself fluently, mastering slight nuances in meaning	Pragmatic rules of informal contexts and formal communication;  Social varieties of linguistic uses of Italian; Full grasp of the sociolinguistic and sociocultural implications of native language

4. How to Get Started

So, if you made it this far, you’re probably serious about taking a certification test. If so, pay attention to the next steps of CILS exam preparation:

1. Find the closest venue offering the test and get in contact with them for information. Do this at least a couple of months before taking the exam.

2. Plan well in advance. Once you take the test, you’ll receive the results via email after a period of time that can vary from two to four months, depending on your level and the total number of candidates. So, it’s better if you start thinking about your certification at least six months before you’ll actually need it.

Plan in advance: six months should do!

4. DOs:

• The exams typically start at 8:30. Be on time, or you’ll lose the right to take the test;
• You NEED to take a photo ID with you (the same one you used for the registration);
• Bring a black pen (nothing else is allowed, and definitely no dictionaries or smart devices);
• Before and during the test, make sure you listen carefully and follow the instructions, especially about how to fill the answer sheets.
  

5. DON’TS:

• You cannot open the notebook before the start of the tests;
• You cannot review or correct tests related to the previous sections;
• You cannot move to the next section before the scheduled time;
• You cannot ask for explanations on the content of the tests;
• You cannot leave the room before the break, unless it’s for a serious need (so, make sure you go to the bathroom in advance).

5. What to Expect on the Day of the Test

Like all language proficiency tests, CILS certification is based on the four main communicative abilities (Listening, Reading, Writing, and Speaking). In addition, it contains an analytic section. Here’s how the exam is divided:

• Ascolto (“Listening comprehension”)
• Comprensione della lettura (“Reading comprehension”)
• Analisi delle strutture di comunicazione (“Analysis of communication structures”)
• Produzione scritta (“Writing test”)
• Produzione orale (“Speaking test”)

All levels have more or less the same structure, but obviously, the difficulty and complexity of the texts and contents are higher with each level. 

In this guide, we’ll take into account only one of the levels: The CILS DUE B2. This is, in fact, the level where the student should have full autonomy in communicating without too many problems. It’s also the level that gives the student access to schools and universities, and it allows the student to apply to most jobs requesting knowledge of the Italian language.

But keep in mind that all of the instructions and tips to prepare for and approach the exam are largely the same, regardless of level.

6. The CILS DUE-B2 Test

The total duration of the exam is almost four hours, but be prepared to do the speaking test on a different day, mainly for logistic reasons. The maximum score you can receive for this certification is 100 (20 for each section), while the minimum passing score is 55. But be careful: You need to get at least 11 in each section if you want to pass!

Listen very carefully to the CILS audio recording…

1 – The Listening Comprehension

Duration: 30 minutes, three exercises for a total of 20 points. Minimum passing score is 11 points. 

• In the listening comprehension test, you’ll hear a recording of a real-life dialogue at a regular speed. It can be a conversation, a telephone call, an interview, an instruction text, a radio program, etc., with two native speakers.

• The recordings will be played twice, and the timing includes the instructions as well as the time to fill in the answers.

• The test will be divided into three exercises in which you’ll be asked to answer questions and identify information, typically in a multiple-choice format.

2 – The Reading Comprehension

Duration: 50 minutes, three exercises for a total of 20 points. Minimum passing score is 11 points. 

• The reading portion tests your ability to understand the general meaning of the information presented to you. You should expect extracts from books, newspapers, magazines, works of fiction, catalogs, instruction manuals, publicity, etc.

• The total amount of text that you’ll need to read and understand is around 1200-1400 words.

• There will be three parts, divided into a multiple-choice exercise, an exercise where you’ll need to find information in a text, and one based on the reconstruction of a text, following the logical and temporal sequence. 

3 – Analysis of Communication Structures

Duration: 60 minutes, four exercises for a total of 20 points. Minimum passing score is 11 points. 

• In this part of the CILS Italian exam, you’ll have to be able to analyze, summarize, or transform a text. 

• There will be four parts, which can be multiple-choice, cloze (where you need to fill in missing words), or completion tests, mostly based on vocabulary or grammar points.

4 – The Writing Test

Duration: 70 minutes, two tests for a total of 20 points. Minimum passing score is 11 points. 

• In this part of the test, you’ll have to produce two simple but well-structured written texts, showing that you’re able to describe events and experiences through a cohesive and coherent text. You’re also expected to clearly highlight the relationships between concepts.
  
• There will be two sections. The first will be centered on a description or narration, the review of a film / book / show, etc. (from 120 to 140 words). The second is usually a formal or informal letter (from 80 to 100 words).

Do you find it hard to write? The secret is to practice, practice, practice!

5 – The Speaking Test

Duration: 10 minutes, two tests for a total of 20 points. Minimum passing score is 11 points. 

• In the final part of the CILS test, you’ll have to communicate effectively by having a coherent and well-structured conversation on a variety of situations. You can be asked to make a description, narrate an event, or express an opinion on various topics, clearly explaining your ideas and showing relevant examples. There will be two tests, both in the presence of an examiner: one monologue and one dialogue.

• For the dialogue, you’ll choose a topic among the three or four proposed to you, and the examiner will start asking questions. The duration of the dialogue should be around two or three minutes.

• For the monologue, the student is asked to talk about one topic chosen from a short list, which can also contain pictures to illustrate. The duration of the monologue should be about two minutes.

7. Winning Strategies for Taking the CILS Exam

Read or listen to the instructions very, very carefully. They are the first step to a good performance.

1. Be calm and relaxed, but at the same time, keep track of the time. Every section has a given time limit, which is more than enough to complete the task—unless you stubbornly stop too long on a single question. If you’re in doubt, make a mental note and come back to that question at the end of the section if you have time. 

2. Take a peek at the questions beforehand, so you’ll have a basic notion about the topic and what you’ll be asked about during the listening or reading comprehension sections.

3. Read the text very carefully, trying to understand as much as possible. And then read it again. Underline or write notes on a separate piece of paper to help you organize your thoughts and your ideas.

4. If you don’t know an answer, try to guess it by exclusion. Sometimes, if you eliminate all the wrong or improbable answers, you’ll be left with just the correct answer.

5. In the speaking sessions, there’s often an initial part where the examiner asks personal questions (name, activity, origin, hobbies, etc.) to start assessing your level and to put you at ease. You’d better be ready and prepare a nice presentation about yourself! 

6. Keep it simple! Try to avoid overly complicated sentences and structures. Write what you know, and avoid translating from English at all costs! Remember all of the Italian sentence patterns that you already know and use them.

It’s always important to have a strategy.

8. How to Prepare for the CILS Exam

There are many ways to prepare for the CILS exam. One of them is to take advantage of all the available resources that ItalianPod101.com offers. 

Another good way to practice is to go to the official CILS site and take a simulated test. There, you’ll find a copy of a real test administered by the Università per Stranieri di Siena in 2012. You can also buy official books that will allow you to practice and study.

Be sure you have a good grasp of the grammar topics required for your level. And before anything else, search the ItalianPod101 database of grammar and vocabulary lessons.

Read as much as you can! Reading is a great exercise to expand your vocabulary and easily fix grammar structures and points in your mind. It will help you not only in the reading comprehension test, but in all of the other sections as well. Newspapers, magazines, books, letters—everything helps.

Listen to a wide variety of audios. You can find many online Italian radio shows and podcasts, or simply tune in to movies or series. Try to concentrate as much as possible, and maybe even listen with your eyes closed, to better understand what you’re hearing. Getting used to listening to native Italian speakers will give you the necessary confidence for the listening and speaking portions of the test.

Practice writing. Lose your inhibitions and  write as often as you can. Keep your sentence patterns simple, but be effective and precise with your vocabulary. It can be very useful to use spell-checkers and translators, mainly to verify that your sentence is written correctly in terms of conjugation, spelling, agreements, etc.

→ Learn how to improve your reading, writing, speaking, and listening with one tool at ItalianPod101.com! 

Just three words: Practice. Practice. Practice.

9. Conclusion

So, do you have everything you need to embark on this adventure and take the CILS certification test? 

Whatever your strategy, know that you’ll always be able to count on a variety of ItalianPod101 resources: vocabulary lists, audio podcasts, grammar lessons, and much more.

Remember that you can also use our premium service, MyTeacher, for one-on-one interaction with your personal teacher, guidance, and ongoing assessment. You’ll receive personalized exercises (reading, writing, and speaking) with non-stop feedback, answers, and corrections, so you’ll be ready for your B2 in no time—all while having fun!