The CILS (Certificazione di Italiano come Lingua Straniera) is the official Italian language proficiency certification issued by the Università per Stranieri di Siena. It is recognised by the Italian government and accepted internationally.
CILS levels follow the Common European Framework of Reference for Languages (CEFR/QCER) and range from A1 (beginner) to C2 (mastery). Each level is independent — you don’t need to pass a lower level before attempting a higher one.
CILS Levels
CILS A1 — Breakthrough
The entry point of the Italian learning journey. At this level you can understand and use familiar everyday expressions, introduce yourself, ask and answer basic personal questions, and interact in a simple way provided the other person speaks slowly and clearly.
What you can do: Order a coffee, introduce yourself, understand simple signs and short messages, fill in a form with your personal details.
Who it’s for: Complete beginners and learners who have just started studying Italian. A useful milestone to build motivation and confirm your first steps are on track.
CILS A2 — Waystage
An initial competence that is still developing. At this level you can understand frequently used expressions in areas of immediate relevance (personal information, shopping, local geography, employment) and communicate in simple, routine situations.
What you can do: Have a simple conversation at a shop or restaurant, describe your daily routine, understand short announcements, write a basic message or postcard.
Who it’s for: Learners with a basic foundation who can handle everyday interactions but not yet complex conversations. Demonstrates a minimum competence useful for daily life and basic work situations in Italy.
CILS UNO — B1 (Threshold)
The independent user level. You can deal with most situations likely to arise while travelling in Italy, understand the main points of clear texts on familiar topics, and produce simple connected text on subjects of personal interest.
What you can do: Travel independently around Italy, describe experiences and events, explain plans and opinions, understand news articles on familiar topics, write a personal letter.
Who it’s for: Intermediate learners ready for independent communication. B1 is the minimum level required for Italian citizenship (by marriage or residency). Also suitable for professional roles requiring basic Italian communication and for vocational training courses.
CILS DUE — B2 (Vantage)
Full communicative autonomy. You can interact with native speakers fluently and spontaneously, understand the main ideas of complex texts on both concrete and abstract topics, and produce clear, detailed text on a wide range of subjects.
What you can do: Follow lectures, participate in discussions, understand newspaper articles, write essays and reports, handle most professional communication.
Who it’s for: Upper-intermediate learners with solid fluency. B2 is the minimum level for enrolment at Italian universities (it exempts foreign students from the Italian language entrance test). Also essential for study-abroad programmes, scholarships from the Italian government, and professional roles in Italian companies and institutions.
CILS TRE — C1 (Effective Operational Proficiency)
Advanced mastery. You can understand a wide range of demanding, longer texts and recognise implicit meaning. You can express yourself fluently and spontaneously, use language flexibly for social, academic and professional purposes, and produce well-structured, detailed text on complex subjects.
What you can do: Handle formal and informal interactions with ease, give presentations, negotiate in professional settings, understand specialised texts, produce polished written work.
Who it’s for: Advanced learners and professionals. Suitable for academic specialisation courses, teaching positions, administrative roles in Italian institutions, and legal or commercial functions at embassies and chambers of commerce.
CILS QUATTRO — C2 (Mastery)
Near-native proficiency. You can understand with ease virtually everything heard or read, summarise information from different sources, reconstruct arguments and accounts, and express yourself spontaneously with precision even in complex situations.
Who it’s for: Anyone seeking the highest possible certification. Required for teaching Italian as a foreign language, and for roles as interpreters, translators, and senior staff at Italian cultural institutions abroad.
C2 preparation requires a tailored programme based on your specific background and goals. Please contact us to discuss the topics and format before starting the course.
Exam Structure & Practical Information
What does the exam test?
Every CILS exam tests five skills: listening comprehension (Ascolto), reading comprehension (Comprensione della lettura), grammar and vocabulary (Analisi delle strutture di comunicazione), written production (Produzione scritta), and oral production (Produzione orale). You must reach the minimum score in each skill to pass.
Scoring
Levels A1 and A2 have a maximum of 60 points (12 per skill). Levels B1 through C2 have a maximum of 100 points (20 per skill). Each skill is scored independently — if you pass some skills but not all, you receive a capitalisation certificate and can re-take only the failed skills within 18 months.
When and where?
CILS exams are held twice a year (May/June and December) simultaneously worldwide. They take place at the Università per Stranieri di Siena and at authorised exam centres, primarily Italian Cultural Institutes. Additional sessions are available for the A2 Integration and B1 Citizenship modules. Check the official exam dates for the most up-to-date schedule.
The certificate never expires
Once you pass a CILS exam, your certificate is valid for life. Results are published within 90 days of the exam date on the Università per Stranieri results portal.
Not sure which level is right for you?
Take one of our free CILS Self-Assessment Quizzes to get a quick estimate of your current level. Each quiz mirrors the structure of the real exam and gives you instant feedback.
CILS Exam Preparation
All Levels
Prepare for the CILS Italian language proficiency exam with a dedicated teacher. We’ll assess your current level and build a personalised study plan targeting the specific skills tested: listening, reading, writing, speaking, and grammar structures.
Please note: Dante Learning provides exam preparation only. We do not administer or issue CILS certificates. The exam must be taken at an authorised CILS test centre (University for Foreigners of Siena or affiliated institutions worldwide).
- Any CILS level – from A1 to C2
- B1 Cittadinanza and A2 Integrazione included
- 60-minute individual Zoom lessons
- Work on official past CILS exam papers
- Targeted practice on each exam section
- Full timed exam simulation available
- Initial level assessment included
+ 5 Extra Lessons · $249
Private 1:1 · Personalised study materials