How To Pass The CILS, CELI Exam

If you want to master the Italian language and gain Italian citizenship, you’ll need to pass the CILS or CELI exam. Both Italian language exams are designed to test your knowledge and understanding of the language as well as determine whether you have the right language skills to live and work in Italy as an Italian citizen. While taking any language exam can feel daunting at first, knowing what to expect will help calm your nerves and prepare you for the test. So, here’s everything you need to know about the CILS and CELI exams and the Cittadinanza Italiana

Gaining Italian Citizenship

Anyone hoping to apply for Italian citizenship should be aware of the Cittadinanza Italiana. To become an Italian citizen, you’ll need to abide by the rules and requirements for obtaining Italian citizenship as a non-resident, which includes passing an Italian language exam. Most applicants are already living and working in Italy, and by taking your grasp of the Italian language a step further, you will be able to immerse yourself in Italian culture and society fully. For anyone hoping to move to Italy permanently, being able to communicate confidently will be key to your success.

CILS & CELI Italian Language Exams

Both examinations are paper-based and similar to a TOEFL (Test of English as a foreign language). You have the choice to take either paper when applying for Italian citizenship as both are valid and meet the requirements for Cittadinanza Italiana. Passing either exam will also allow you entrance to an Italian university. The CILS and CELI exams are certified by the most prestigious universities in Italy, CELI by Università per Stranieri di Perugia, and CILS certified by Università per Stranieri di Perugia. With that being said, you can take the test in a test center that is convenient to you or close to your hometown.

CILS Italian Language Exam

Designed to assess your Italian language knowledge, this exam will test your linguistic-communicative competence in Italian as a second language. The CILS exam can be an expensive test to take, so you must prepare well in order to pass. Since this particular exam will assess your proficiency, it can be taken by beginners and advanced Italian speakers and will involve real-life situations.

The CILS examination consists of five parts, each designed to test a different language skill.

1: Listening exam

2: Reading and comprehension

3: Grasp of the Italian language

4: Written exam

5: Speaking test

For those applying for Italian citizenship, you’ll need to take the B1 Cittadinanza Italiana. If you fail to pass one part of the exam, you’ll only be required to repeat the section you failed. Once you do pass, the timeframe for Italian citizen application is now only two years, instead of previously being four. This waiting period is also valid for anyone who has made an application for citizenship through marriage.

CELI Exam

You also have the opportunity to take the CELI Italian language exam, which will test your skills and abilities in the use of the Italian language. The CELI Immigrati is specially designed for foreign citizens moving permanently to Italy and is also available to students with minimum education. The CELI exam can be taken in place in three annual sessions in Italy but it can also be taken abroad in Italian Culture Institutes. Tests can be taken depending on your language skills and examination needs and you must decide prior to applying to take the exam which one to take. For entry-level and beginners, you should take the A1 examination. However, if you are an advanced speaker, you can jump to the C2 exam.