CILS
exams and preparatory courses

The Certification of Italian as a Foreign Language (CILS) is the official title that denotes the degree of linguistic competency of Italian as a foreign language. The CILS is awarded by the University of Siena for Foreigners and is recognized by the Italian State on the basis of an agreement with the Italian Ministry of Foreign Affairs. Most of Italian universities use the CILS (and the CELI) as an entrance requirement.

The Pasolini language school is an authorized exam center, we also organise courses for preparation of the CILS exams. More than 98 percent of the partecipiants of our preparatory courses pass the exam easily.

Exam dates CILS Certificates 2024
11. April              08. June	CILS: A1-A2-B1-B2 Closing date: 03. Mayi
05. December	CILS: A1-A2-B1-B2 Closing date: 31.10.
Exam fees - Castiglioncello
CILS
A1 - € 70 A2 - €70 UNO B1 – € 150 DUE B2 - € 170
-> price table of the preparatory courses

In contrast to the preparatory courses directly at University and other schools, our courses are small-sized and targeted at the specific needs of foreigners learning Italian in an effective way.

All foreign citizens, Italian citizens residing abroad (descendants of Italian emigrants) and foreign immigrants in Italy may request to take the CILS exam. There are no age limits and applicants are not obliged to possess educational certificates or degrees, nor is it necessary to have obtained lower levels of the CILS in order to attempt the attainment of a higher level. The CILS exams are not bound to the study of specific methods or forms of Italian language courses. Each candidate can prepare for the CILS exams in the ways deemed most appropriate and suitable in accordance with the demands of the level.

The CILS is useful to those who study Italian, who work and study within an Italian context, and to those who wish to measure their capacity in Italian. Each CILS level denotes an ability to communicate which may be used in different contexts and situations. The ability of each level of certification for foreigners who wish to undertake activities in relation with Italian institutions for professional or scholastic purposes is established in the document of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs entitled "Coordinated system of Certificates of Italian for Foreigners", Rome 1998.

CILS levels. The CILS covers six levels: Level A1, Level A2, Level ONE-B1, Level TWO-B2, Level THREE-C1 and Level FOUR-C2. Each of these represents a progressively higher level of linguistic and communicative ability.

The CILS levels correspond to the following course levels at Pasolini Language Schools:

Pasolini level	CILS level
Beginner - A1	A1
Elementary - A2	A2
Intermediate - B1	B1 (Uno)
Intermediate - B2	B2 (Due)
Advanced - C1	C1 (Tre)
Advanced - C2	C2 (Quattro)

In addition to our standard courses, you will need to take between 10-40 private or mini-group lessons at our school, designed for your specific needs.

Each CILS level is autonomous and complete: the certification for each level represents a degree of communicative ability which is adequate for specific social, professional and scholastic contexts.
To obtain the Certificate in one of the levels, it is necessary to pass an exam composed of five sections with tests in listening comprehension, reading comprehension, analyses of the structures of communication, writing skills and speaking skills.

All exams are produced and evaluated by the Certification Centre of the University of Siena for Foreigners on the basis of European standards set by the Council of Europe. Candidates must obtain at least the minimum score in each section to be awarded the CILS. If a candidate obtains the minimum score in only some sections, then the candidate may take subsequent exams in those sections in which he or she had not obtained the minimum score. The sections of the exam that have been passed are valid for one year from the date of the first exam.

Outside of Italy, the exam may be taken at Italian Institutes of Culture as well as at other selected venues. In Italy, the exam takes place at the University of Siena for Foreigners and in other selected sites (at the Centri Territoriali di Educazione Permanente in Tuscany and in other regions, at the Language Centres of certain universities, etc.). The CILS exams are scheduled twice a year, at the beginning of June and December, on the same day for all test sites.

A fee is charged for sitting the exam.

The exams are scheduled twice a year for May or June and November or December at our language school in Castiglioncello.

useful links:
-> Siena University
-> contact us for enrollment