Skip to the test
Slova
Start learning

Free Italian Level Test: Find Your CILS Level (A1–C2)

25 questions in the style of the CILS, from easy to hard, with instructions in English. In about 10 minutes you get your estimated level, A1 to C2, and where to start learning.

I’m a total beginner, start me at lesson 1

Free. A practice test, not an official CILS result.

  • 25 questions
  • 3 CILS sections
  • A1–C2 estimate
  • 8 minutes

How does the Italian level test work?

25 short questions, a little harder every five, from A1 up to C1. No timer, no sign-up to start, and one tap answers each question.

  1. Start at A1

    Everyday words, simple sentences and short notices, like the first CILS level.

  2. Step up to C1

    Vocabulary, grammar, word order and short texts, one level up every five questions. Several misses in a row and the next questions come from an easier level.

  3. See your level

    Your estimated level, A1 to C2, a score for vocabulary, grammar and reading, and the lesson to start at in Slova.

How we estimate your level

Every question is written at one level: a word gap, the closest meaning or the right reply, a grammar gap like the CILS Analisi delle strutture di comunicazione, Italian word order with the ★ piece, and a short text like the CILS Comprensione della lettura. A level counts as passed when you get three of its questions right, and your result is the highest level you passed, counting up from A1. A short test cannot tell C1 from C2, so C2 shows as your next goal. The questions are original and not calibrated on large groups of learners, so the result is an estimate, not an official CILS result. For the real format, see how to prepare for the CILS on the University for Foreigners of Siena’s site.

What your Italian test result shows

All of it on one screen, free. Leave your email at the end to see it, and we send you a copy.

  • Your Italian levelA1 to C2 (or below A1), with the CILS levels you would likely pass and your next goal.
  • A score for each sectionVocabulary, grammar and reading, counted apart.
  • Every answer explainedThe right answer and a short reason in English, for every question you saw.
  • Where to start in SlovaThe lesson of our Italian course that matches your level.
Example result
Your Italian level: aboutB1You’d likely pass A1 to B1 · 15 of 25 right
  • Vocabulary8 of 11
  • Grammar5 of 10
  • Reading2 of 4

Where to start

NextLesson 201: wondering what happened and checking in after an event.

Italian levels explained: A1 to C2

Italian levels follow the Common European Framework (CEFR). The CILS has an exam at each one, from CILS A1 to CILS QUATTRO-C2, and so do the CELI and PLIDA.

  1. A1

    Beginner · CILS A1

    • Introduce yourself and ask simple questions.
    • Understand short notices, signs and forms.
    • Use essere, avere and the present.
  2. A2

    Elementary · CILS A2

    • Talk about your day, work and family.
    • Read short emails, ads and notices.
    • Asked for the EU long-term residence permit.
  3. B1

    Intermediate · CILS UNO-B1

    • Handle most everyday situations.
    • Give opinions, plans and reasons.
    • Needed for Italian citizenship.
  4. B2

    Upper-intermediate · CILS DUE-B2

    • Follow articles and debates.
    • Argue a point of view clearly.
    • Asked by many Italian universities.
  5. C1

    Advanced · CILS TRE-C1

    • Read long, demanding texts.
    • Use Italian flexibly at work and in study.
    • Shows near-professional command.
  6. C2

    Proficient · CILS QUATTRO-C2

    • Understand practically everything.
    • Express fine shades of meaning.
    • The highest CILS level.

CILS-style sample questions

Five questions from this test, from A1 to C1, like the vocabulary, grammar and reading items it asks. Tap to see the answer and why.

Example 1 · A1 · Which word best fills the blank?

La mattina al bar prendo un cappuccino e un ＿＿＿ alla crema.

  • biglietto
  • cornetto
  • piatto
  • tavolo
Show the answer

cornetto. A cornetto (croissant) is the typical pastry eaten with coffee at breakfast.

Example 2 · A2 · Which best fills the blank?

«Quanti caffè bevi ogni giorno?» – «Di solito ＿＿＿ bevo due dopo i pasti.»

  • ci
  • li
  • lo
  • ne
Show the answer

ne. The partitive pronoun ne expresses a quantity of something previously mentioned (due di essi).

Example 3 · B1 · Read the text, then answer the question.

Condominio Primavera
Si avvisano i residenti che mercoledì 12 novembre sarà effettuata la pulizia straordinaria dei garage sotterranei dalle 8:00 alle 13:00.
Tutti i veicoli dovranno essere lasciati all'esterno per consentire il lavaggio dei pavimenti.
Chi non può spostare l'auto personalmente è pregato di consegnare le chiavi al custode entro martedì sera.

L'amministratore

Che cosa deve fare chi non può spostare la propria auto mercoledì mattina?

  • Affidare le chiavi al custode prima di mercoledì.
  • Chiedere all’amministratore di rimandare le pulizie.
  • Pagare una multa all’ufficio del condominio.
  • Parcheggiare nel garage sotterraneo di un altro palazzo.
Show the answer

Affidare le chiavi al custode prima di mercoledì.. The notice explicitly asks residents unable to move their vehicle to leave the keys with the building caretaker by Tuesday evening.

Example 4 · B2 · Which word best fills the blank?

A causa dello sciopero generale dei treni, molti pendolari hanno dovuto fare i ＿＿＿ con ritardi e cancellazioni su tutta la linea.

  • conti
  • patti
  • punti
  • rischi
Show the answer

conti. The idiomatic phrase fare i conti con means to face or deal with an unavoidable problem.

Example 5 · C1 · Which word best fills the blank?

I dati presentati dall’istituto di statistica hanno consentito di ＿＿＿ ogni dubbio sulla ripresa delle esportazioni nel settore manifatturiero.

  • fugare
  • sfollare
  • sfoltire
  • spazzolare
Show the answer

fugare. The elevated collocation with ogni dubbio is fugare ogni dubbio (to dispel all doubts).

Italian B1 test for citizenship: are you at B1?

Italian citizenship by residence or marriage asks for a B1 certificate. Questions 11 to 15 of this test are at B1, and your result says whether you would likely reach it.

Since 2018, applicants for Italian citizenship by residence or by marriage must show Italian at B1 with a certificate from one of the approved bodies: the University for Foreigners of Siena (CILS), the University for Foreigners of Perugia (CELI), the Società Dante Alighieri (PLIDA) or Roma Tre University (IT). Siena also runs a shorter CILS B1 Cittadinanza made for this purpose. Check the current rules with your prefettura or consulate before you book.

B1 means you can get by on your own in everyday life: follow the main points of clear texts, talk about experiences and plans and give short reasons. In grammar, it means the passato prossimo and imperfetto together, the first uses of the congiuntivo (penso che, bisogna che), combined pronouns and the condizionale.

The real B1 exams include listening and speaking; this test does not. Use it to see whether B1 is within reach, then practise with the official materials. Two B1 examples from this test:

Example 1 · B1 · Which best fills the blank?

Non credo che l’ufficio postale ＿＿＿ aperto il sabato pomeriggio; conviene andare domattina.

  • è
  • fosse
  • sarà
  • sia
Show the answer

sia. Verbs expressing belief or opinion in the negative (non credo che) require the congiuntivo presente: sia.

Example 2 · B1 · Which word best fills the blank?

Il medico di base ha visitato Luca e gli ha fatto la ＿＿＿ per comprare i farmaci in farmacia.

  • lettera
  • lista
  • notizia
  • ricetta
Show the answer

ricetta. A doctor’s prescription for medicine in Italy is called una ricetta.

Italian grammar test: what each level checks

One in five questions you see is a grammar gap, and one more puts words in order.

  • A1: essere and avere, the present of common verbs, articles and gender, c’è and ci sono, simple prepositions.
  • A2: the passato prossimo with essere or avere and agreement, the imperfetto, object pronouns, ci and ne, comparisons.
  • B1: passato prossimo against imperfetto, the condizionale, the congiuntivo presente, combined pronouns (glielo, me ne), relative cui.
  • B2: the congiuntivo imperfetto and passato, unreal if-clauses, reported speech, the passive and si passivante, benché and sebbene.
  • C1: the congiuntivo trapassato, qualora, purché and a meno che, the passato remoto in written texts.

Three grammar examples from this test, at A2, B1 and B2:

Example 1 · A2 · Which best fills the blank?

Da piccola Giulia ＿＿＿ sempre le vacanze estive dai nonni in campagna.

  • ha passato
  • passava
  • passerà
  • passi
Show the answer

passava. Repeated, habitual actions in the past require the imperfetto: passava.

Example 2 · B1 · Which best fills the blank?

La collega ＿＿＿ ho chiesto un consiglio lavora in questa azienda da molti anni.

  • a cui
  • che
  • con che
  • di cui
Show the answer

a cui. The verb chiedere takes an indirect object introduced by a (chiedere a qualcuno), which combines with the relative pronoun as a cui.

Example 3 · B2 · Which best fills the blank?

Durante la riunione di giovedì, l’amministratore ci ha garantito che i lavori di tinteggiatura ＿＿＿ entro due settimane.

  • fossero terminati
  • sarebbero terminati
  • terminassero
  • terminino
Show the answer

sarebbero terminati. To express the future in the past after a past reporting verb (ha garantito che), Italian requires the condizionale composto: sarebbero terminati.

CILS exam levels and format: B1, B2, C1

The CILS is the Italian certificate of the University for Foreigners of Siena, recognised by the Italian state.

From B1 up, every CILS exam has five parts: ascolto (listening), comprensione della lettura (reading), analisi delle strutture di comunicazione (grammar and vocabulary), produzione scritta (writing) and produzione orale (speaking). Each part is marked on its own, and you must pass every part; parts you pass can be kept for a later session, except in the B1 Cittadinanza.

CILS UNO-B1 is the level most often asked for work and citizenship. CILS DUE-B2 is what many Italian universities ask of foreign students. CILS TRE-C1 shows you can use Italian at work and in academic study.

Our test covers the reading, grammar and vocabulary side of these levels, not listening, writing or speaking. Dates and fees are set by each exam centre; see cils.unistrasi.it and its preparation page for past papers.

Italian placement test: where to start in Slova

Your result also places you in Slova’s spoken Italian course of 400 lessons, so you skip what you already know.

Slova is a speaking course: you learn by talking, with an AI tutor, from the first lesson. A written test tends to overrate speaking, so from B1 up we start you one step lower than your reading level.

Your resultStart at
Below A1Lesson 1 · First contact and keeping the conversation open
A1Lesson 61 · Talking about what you did yesterday
A2Lesson 101 · Telling a story about what happened
B1Lesson 201 · Wondering what happened and checking in after an event
B2Lesson 251 · Wishes for right now and what you thought would happen
C1 and upLesson 301 · Renting an apartment, utilities, and neighborhood life in Italy

New to Italian? Skip the test and start at lesson 1.

Italian level test FAQ

Taking English too? Try the English level test. For the official exam, see cils.unistrasi.it.

What is the CILS exam?

The CILS (Certificazione di Italiano come Lingua Straniera) is the Italian certificate of the University for Foreigners of Siena, recognised by the Italian state. There is an exam for each CEFR level, from A1 to C2 (CILS QUATTRO-C2), held at Siena and at exam centres around the world, and the certificate does not expire.

What are the Italian levels?

Six CEFR levels: A1 and A2 (basic user), B1 and B2 (independent user), C1 and C2 (proficient user). The CILS, CELI and PLIDA all follow them, and Italian schools, employers and authorities name their requirements in these levels.

What is B1 Italian?

B1 is the intermediate level. You can handle most everyday situations on your own, understand the main points of clear texts and talk about experiences, plans and opinions. It is the level Italy asks for citizenship by residence or marriage.

What is CILS B2?

CILS DUE-B2 is the upper-intermediate CILS exam. It shows you can follow complex texts and discussions and argue a point of view in Italian, and many Italian universities ask for it from foreign students.

Which Italian test is valid for citizenship?

A B1 certificate from one of the approved bodies: CILS (Siena), CELI (Perugia), PLIDA (Società Dante Alighieri) or IT (Roma Tre). Siena also has a CILS B1 Cittadinanza made for citizenship. Rules can change, so check with your prefettura or consulate. This level test is not valid for citizenship; it only tells you whether you are near B1.

What is the difference between CILS, CELI and PLIDA?

All three are official Italian certificates on the CEFR scale, A1 to C2, recognised by the Italian state. The CILS comes from the University for Foreigners of Siena, the CELI from the University for Foreigners of Perugia and the PLIDA from the Società Dante Alighieri. They differ in format and in where and when you can sit them.

Does the CILS have a listening part?

Yes. Every CILS exam has ascolto (listening), along with reading, grammar, writing and speaking. This free test has no listening, writing or speaking part, so it estimates your level from vocabulary, grammar and reading only.

Is the Italian level test free?

Yes. All 25 questions, your level, the section scores and the explanations are free. We ask for your email at the end to show the result and send you a copy.

Is the result an official Italian certificate?

No. This is a practice and level test made by Slova, not by the University for Foreigners of Siena, and its result is an estimate. Only a CILS, CELI, PLIDA or IT exam gives an official certificate. Use our result to choose which level to sit.

Learn Italian at your level with Slova

A spoken course of 400 short lessons, from your first ciao to holding a warm, natural conversation.

Join Slova