CILS - Italian Language Certification

December 5th, 2024 CILS Exams
AIS-Phila and UT-Austin
SOLD OUT

This page was updated on October, 1st 2024

Upcoming CILS Exams Sessions - 2025

  • Level: B1-cittadinanza
    Registration Deadline: January 13th, 2025
    Location: AIS-Philadelphia

    Preparatory Courses CP10:

    SESSION 1 
    Fridays
    November 15th, 2025 - February 7th, 2025 
    6:00-7:00 pm (ET)
    No Classes on December 27th, 2024 and January 3rd, 2025

    SESSION 2 
    TBA

    Preparatory Courses CP5: 
    TBA

  • Levels: A2, B1-cittadinanza, B2
    Registration Deadline: March 9th, 2025
    Location: UT-Austin

    Preparatory Courses CP10:

    SESSION 1 
    Thursdays
    February 27th, 2025 - April 3rd, 2025
    6:00-7:00pm (ET)

    SESSION 2
    TBA

    Preparatory Courses CP5: 
    TBA

  • Level: A2, B1-cittadinanza, B1, B2, C1, C2
    Registration Deadline: April 28th, 2025
    Location: AIS-Philadelphia

    Preparatory Courses CP10:
    TBA

    Preparatory Courses CP5: 
    TBA

  • Level: A2, B1-cittadinanza
    Registration Deadline: September 16th, 2025
    Location: AIS-Philadelphia, UT-Austin

    Preparatory Courses CP10:
    TBA

    Preparatory Courses CP5: 
    TBA

  • Level: A2, B1-cittadinanza, B1, B2, C1, C2
    Registration Deadline: October 25th, 2025
    Location: AIS-Philadelphia

    Preparatory Courses CP10:
    TBA

    Preparatory Courses CP5: 
    TBA

  • Level: A2, B1-cittadinanza, B1, B2, C1, C2
    Registration Deadline: October 25th, 2025
    Location: UT-Austin

    Preparatory Courses CP10:
    TBA

    Preparatory Courses CP5: 
    TBA

Testing Locations

The America-Italy Society of Philadelphia and the Department of French and Italian at the University of Texas at Austin have partnered in offering the CILS exams. Under an agreement with the Università per Stranieri di Siena both locations are recognized testing centers for the CILS exams. 
CILS exam can only be administered in-person. Upon registration, candidates can decide to take the exam at one of the following locations:

America-Italy Society
of Philadelphia

Address:
230 Broad St. Suite#1105
Philadelphia, PA, 19102

Contact info:
for more information, please email the General CILS Exam coordinator, Silvia Luongo, at cilsexams@gmail.com

The University of Texas
at Austin

Address:
Department of French and Italian
(Homer Rainey Hall)
201 W 21St Street
Austin, TX, 78712

Contact info:
for more information about the exams offered at this location please follow this link CILS-UT or email Silvia Luongo at silvia.luongo@utexas.edu.

NOTE: If the CILS Exam session overlaps with regular classes at UT-Austin, the CILS Exam may be administered in a different building than HRH depending on rooms’ availability. The address of the classroom(s) and the detailed schedule will be shared with candidates once the official registration process has been completed.

Registration process for both locations

Candidates cannot register to the next exam session until they receive the result from the previous session. Please read the F.A.Q below for more information on how to see the results.

NOTE

  • Upload a copy of your ID document in PDF format. 

  • Please make sure to fill the registration form with your complete legal name (first name, middle name, last name) and any title you may have (2nd, III, Jr.). This information will be used to issue your language certificate and must match the information reported on your passport and other legal documents. If the information on the language certificate does not match those on the other documents, your application for Italian citizenship may be rejected by the Consulate.

NOTE

  • Registration is not complete until you pay the registration fee. We strongly recommend that you pay your registration fee as soon as possible as spots fill up quickly. ​​

  • Once formal registration has been completed, candidates cannot cancel or transfer their registration to a different date. They will have to re-register and repay. No refunds will be issued.

Exam Fees

If you are interested in taking the CILS exam levels A1 or A2 for children and B1 for teenagers, please email Silvia Luongo at cilsexams@gmail.com before registering.

  • Price: $120
    Price for each part to retake: $50

  • Price: $170
    Price for each part to retake: No capitalization

  • Price: $140
    Price for each part to retake: $50

  • Price: $190
    Price for each part to retake: $60

  • Price: $220
    Price for each part to retake: $60

  • Price: $250
    Price for each part to retake: $60

About the CILS Exam

The Certification of Italian as a Foreign Language (Certificazione di Italiano come Lingua Straniera or CILS) is a qualification offered by the Università per Stranieri di Siena (Italy) for foreign speakers of the Italian language, recognizing various levels of language proficiency. The qualification is recognized by the Italian Ministry of Foreign Affairs and is often used to grant acceptance in any Italian university or higher education institution in Italy (B2 level) and as a required certification for the issuing of the Italian Citizenship for foreign spouses of Italian citizens (B1-cittadinanza level).
CILS qualification is open to all Italian residents abroad and non-Italian speakers wishing to validate their skills in Italian. Applicants of any age are eligible to apply. Preparation for the examination is highly encouraged.
There are different proficiency levels officially recognized by the Common European Framework of References for Languages, which translate into different CILS certification exams.

Who has to take B1-cittadinanza

As of December 4th, 2018 (law 1 Dec 2018, n. 132) it has become indispensable condition for the issuing of the Italian citizenship for foreign spouses of Italian citizens, according to artt. 5 and 9 of L. 91/92, to demonstrate the adequate knowledge of the Italian language to a level not less than B1 (Cittadinanza) of the Common Reference Framework for the knowledge of languages. Fulfillment of this requirement is met by the acquisition of a title/certification issued by an institution of public education/educational institution or a certification issued by an authorized/recognized certifying body.

Follow this link to read the differences between
CILS UNO B1 and CILS B1-CITTADINANZA

CILS -Italian Language Certification​
B1-Cittadinanza

The CILS - B1-Cittadinanza is the language certification exam required to foreign citizens seeking Italian citizenship through marriage.

Exam format and schedule

The CILS B1-Cittadinanza exam is composed of 4 different sections. The written part lasts 2h and 5 minutes. The oral exam lasts 10 minutes in total and it is administered right after the written exam. 
Each sections has 12 points, candidates need a minimum of 7 points in each section to pass the exam. Candidates who don't pass one or more sections have to retake the whole exam. 
Candidates interested in sitting the B1-Cittadinanza exam must already have a good knowledge of Italian language and culture. If you are a total beginner, please email AIS Director of Language Program to have more information about regular classes.

Exam Sections:
Ascolto - 30 minutes
Lettura e riflessione grammaticale - 40 minutes
Pausa -15 minutes
Produzione scritta - 40 minutes
Produzione orale - 10 minutes

NOTE: 

  • Exams start at 8:00am or 8:30am. Late candidates cannot be rescheduled. Detailed schedule will be sent to enrolled candidates closer to the exam date. 

  • Candidates must bring the ID used upon registration and a black pen.

  • Candidates should come  unaccompanied (except for minors or in case of medical conditions). 

  • The use of cellphones, dictionaries or notes of any kind is not allowed during the written and oral exam.​

  • Results and online certificates are published on the website of the Università per Stranieri di Siena at Risultati Esami 40 days after the exam date. The paper certificate will be delivered by mail 3 to 6 months after the exam date.

  • Candidates cannot register to the next exam session until they receive the result from the previous session.

How to get ready

Preparation for the CILS B1-Cittadinanza exam is highly encouraged and it is very important to determine your starting level before registering for the exam.

  • If you are a beginner, you can check our INTENSIVE COURSES. We offer 60 minutes online classes, twice a week. For more information contact the AIS Director of Language Program. ​​

  • If you are not sure about your level,  you can find out by completing our Placement Test. For more information contact AIS Director of Language Program.

  • If you already know your level and you wish to review some grammar structures or get familiar with the exam format check the Preparatory Courses or click on the button to register. For more information contact Silvia Luongo at cilsexams@gmail.com.

Preparatory Courses for B1-Cittadinanza

Preparatory courses are held online before every exam session offered at AIS-Phila and at UT-Austin.
Our teachers have a long experience in teaching CILS preparatory courses and supervising CILS exams. They hold the CILS examiner certificate and are up to date with the latest directions issued by Università per Stranieri di Siena. ​
Candidates interested in sitting the B1-Cittadinanza exam must already have a good knowledge of Italian language and culture. If you are a total beginner or if you are not sure about your starting level, please contact CILS General Coordinator: Silvia Luongo or AIS Director of Language Program: Michele Pergola.

CP10
Intensive online 10 weeks course
(for B1-Cittadinanza)
​Price: $390

In this course students will review the most important grammar structures and vocabulary required to pass the B1-Cittadinanza. They will focus on the use of: the past tenses (passato and imperfetto), direct, indirect and combined pronouns, the use of prepositions, subjunctive and conditional sentences. Along with the grammar review, students will work on the exam format to get familiar with the different sections that compose the exam following the latest directions of the Università per Stranieri di Siena. More information about the course material will be provided to enrolled students before the beginning of the course.

CP5
Intensive online 5 weeks preparatory course
(for B1-Cittadinanza)
​Price: $180

This course offers an overview of the B1-citizenship exam and it is offered to students who want to get familiar with the exam format. It will cover the structure of the exam following the latest directions of the Università per Stranieri di Siena. In these five classes, students will practice the exam format with particular attention to the written and oral production of the exam. More information about the course material will be provided to enrolled students before the beginning of the course.

Upcoming Preparatory Courses

  • CP10 Preparatory Course
    Fridays November 15th, 2024 - February 7th, 2025
    6:00-7:00 pm (ET)
    No Classes on 11/29/2024, 12/27/2024 and 01/03/2025

    CP5 Preparatory Course
    Tuesdays January 14th, 2025 - February 11th, 2025
    ​6:30-7:30pm (ET)

  • B1-Cittadinanza Exam Prep.
    12 weeks course, one 60 minutes class per week

NOTE: The activation of the preparatory courses is subject to the number of the students enrolled. We do our best to keep classes small so that students will have the chance to practice and have meaningful and individualized feedback. If you are interested in taking the course, it is very important to fill the registration form. In case we receive a high number of requests, multiple sessions may be activated. Day and time of the meetings may vary depending on the instructor's availability. Enrolled students will be promptly informed of any schedule change.

CILS Exams - Frequently Asked Question

Read the frequently asked question about the CILS Exams by clicking on the buttons below

  • Breaks are incorporated in the exam schedule. Except in case on an emergency, you may not leave the room while taking each section. During the exam candidates cannot move to the next section before the allotted time is over.

  • You have to bring the ID you used upon registration (valid passport or driving license). Candidates should bring a black pen to complete the exam. The use of cellphones, dictionaries, computers or notes of any kind are not allowed during the written and oral exam.

  • Exam results and online certificates will be published on the website of Università per Stranieri di Siena at Risultati Esami. Candidates will need to insert their birthdate (dd/mm/yyyy) and their identification number (Matricola) to view the results. 
    For the B1-Cittadinanza results will be posted 40 days after the exam date. For all the other levels results will be published 4 months after the exam date. Paper certificates will be delivered by mail 6 months after the exam date. Certificates don't have an expiration date. 

  • A1
    Written exam duration: 2h 15’
    Oral exam duration: 10’

    A2
    Written exam duration: 2h 45’
    Oral exam duration: 10’

    B1-cittadinanza
    Written exam duration: 2h 05’
    Oral exam duration: 10’

    B1
    Written exam duration: 3h 45’
    Oral exam duration: 10’

    B2
    Written exam duration: 3h 45’
    Oral exam duration: 10’

    C1
    Written exam duration: 4h 50’
    Oral exam duration: 15’

    C2
    Written exam duration: 5h 25’
    Oral exam duration: 15’

  • Candidates pass the exam if they receive minimum points in each section. For levels A1-C2 candidates can retake the part(s) they failed within 18 months from the exam date. This option is not available for the B1-Cittadinanza. Candidates cannot register to the next exam session until they receive the result from the previous session. 

    A1 / A2
    Points for each section:
    - Ascolto 12  points
    - Lettura 12 points
    - Produzione scritta 12 points
    ​- Produzione orale 12 points
    Points needed to pass:
    At least 7 points in each section

    B1-cittadinanza
    Points for each section:
    - Ascolto 12  points
    - Lettura 12 points
    - Produzione scritta 12 points
    ​- Produzione orale 12 points
    Points needed to pass:
    At least 7 points in each section with a total of 28 points to pass the exam

    B1 / B2 / C1 / C2
    Points for each section:
    - Ascolto 20 points
    - Lettura (20 points)
    - Analisi delle strutture 20 points
    - Produzione scritta 20 points
    ​- Produzione orale ​20 points
    Points needed to pass:
    At least 11 points in each section

  • No, the CILS Exams can only be taken in person at one of the accredited testing centers worldwide. 

Useful informations

Where to stay in Philadelphia

There are 2 hotels right across from us:

The DoubleTree Hotel by Hilton
237 South Broad Street
Philadelphia 19107

Cambria Hotel
219 South Broad Street
Philadelphia 19107

Documents Translation
The America-Italy Society of Philadelphia offers documents translation. For more information contact info@aisphila.org.

General CILS Coordinator:
Silvia Luongo cilsexams@gmail.com

“The America-Italy Society of Philadelphia promotes friendship and cultural understanding between the Republic of Italy and the United States of America”