Private 1:1 coaching · Native Italian teacher
CILS Exam
Preparation, done properly.
One-to-one coaching for the official Italian proficiency certificate: from your first A1 milestone to C2 mastery, built around the five skills the exam actually measures. Every lesson is live on Zoom with a native teacher, wherever you are in the world.
Please note: Dante Learning provides exam preparation only and is not affiliated with the Università per Stranieri di Siena. We do not administer or issue CILS certificates. The exam must be taken at an authorised CILS test centre.
certificate is,
and why it matters.
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.
Levels follow the Common European Framework of Reference (CEFR/QCER) and run from A1 to C2. Each level is independent: you don’t need to pass a lower level before attempting a higher one. We assess where you are today and build a study plan that targets exactly the skills the examiners score.
Six levels, one path upward
From your first words to near-native command. Take a free level check to see where you stand before you choose a plan.
The first steps
Understand and use everyday expressions, introduce yourself, and handle simple exchanges when people speak slowly and clearly.
Everyday survival
Communicate in simple, routine situations (shopping, directions, daily routine) and understand frequently used expressions.
Independent communication
Travel independently, describe experiences, and produce simple connected text on familiar topics.
Minimum level for Italian citizenshipFull communicative autonomy
Interact fluently with native speakers, follow complex texts, and handle most professional communication.
Minimum level to enrol at an Italian universityAdvanced proficiency
Use Italian flexibly for social, academic and professional purposes, grasping implicit meaning in long, complex texts.
Advanced academic & professional proficiencyNear-native mastery
Understand virtually everything you hear or read and express yourself spontaneously with precision. Preparation is fully personalised.
Italy’s highest official certification levelFive skills, scored independently
- Listening comprehension: Ascolto
- Reading comprehension: Comprensione della lettura
- Grammar & vocabulary: Analisi delle strutture di comunicazione
- Written production: Produzione scritta
- Oral production: Produzione orale
- Scoring
- 60 pts at A1 to A2, 100 pts at B1 to C2. Pass each skill, or capitalise and re-take only the ones you missed within 18 months.
- When & where
- Twice a year (May/June & December), worldwide, at authorised centres and Italian Cultural Institutes.
- Validity
- Your certificate never expires. Results within 90 days on the UniStraSi portal.
Coaching built around your exam
Private one-to-one lessons on Zoom with a dedicated native teacher. Initial level assessment always included.
10-Lesson Preparation
10 private lessons · 60 minutes
- Any level, A1 to C2 (incl. B1 Cittadinanza & A2 Integrazione)
- Work on official past CILS papers
- Targeted practice on each exam section
- Personalised study materials
- Free Level Check included (we place you at the right level)
10 Lessons + Exam Simulation
10 lessons + 2 timed simulations
- Everything in the 10-lesson plan, including the Free Level Check
- 2 sessions × 2 hours under real exam conditions
- Detailed correction and feedback
- Full rehearsal of all five skills
- Confidence before the real exam day
Need more time? Add 5 extra lessons for $249 at any point during your preparation.
Let’s find your level and start
Take a free level check, or enrol and we’ll map your path to exam day together.
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 centre (Università per Stranieri di Siena or affiliated institutions worldwide).
Source: Centro CILS · Università per Stranieri di Siena