The CEFR splits language ability into six levels: A1 and A2 (basic user), B1 and B2 (independent user), C1 and C2 (proficient user). Two universities certify Italian on this scale: the Università per Stranieri di Siena with the CILS, and the Università per Stranieri di Perugia with the CELI. Siena names B1 as the level required for Italian citizenship.
- CEFR levels
- Six, from A1 to C2
- CILS
- Università per Stranieri di Siena: A1, A2, UNO-B1, DUE-B2, TRE-C1, QUATTRO-C2
- CELI
- Università per Stranieri di Perugia: CELI Impatto (A1), then CELI 1–5 (A2–C2)
- Citizenship
- B1, according to the CILS centre
- Contos stories
- A1 to B2
What can you do at each Italian level?
The Common European Framework of Reference for Languages (CEFR) is the Council of Europe's language-neutral scale. The CILS and CELI certificates apply it to Italian, and their level descriptions add what each level means for life, study and work in Italy.
| Level | CEFR description (summarised) | What the Italian certificates say (summarised) | Contos moves you up at |
|---|---|---|---|
| A1 | Familiar everyday expressions; introducing yourself; simple interaction if the other person speaks slowly and helps | CELI Impatto: memorised routines, short questions and answers about yourself, your home and family | Start here |
| A2 | Sentences on immediate matters such as family, shopping, local area and work; simple routine exchanges | CELI 1: exchange basic information about yourself, family and work, and describe situations simply, including in the past | 500 known words |
| B1 | Main points of clear input on familiar matters; coping while travelling; describing experiences, hopes and plans | CILS UNO-B1: use Italian independently in the most frequent everyday situations and read the most common texts; required for citizenship | 1,500 known words |
| B2 | Main ideas of complex text; regular interaction with native speakers without strain; clear, detailed writing | CILS DUE-B2: full communicative independence for study or work in Italy; the minimum level for access to Italian universities | 4,000 known words |
Above B2 come C1, using the language flexibly for social, academic and professional purposes, and C2, understanding virtually everything with ease. Contos stories stop at B2; past that point, native novels, films and news are the natural next step. For the general picture across languages, see the CEFR levels explained.
What are the CILS and CELI exams?
Several Italian bodies certify the language. This guide covers the two run by the universities for foreigners in Siena and Perugia; both follow the CEFR's six levels.
| CILS | CELI | |
|---|---|---|
| Awarded by | Università per Stranieri di Siena (Centro CILS) | Università per Stranieri di Perugia (CVCL) |
| Level names | A1, A2, UNO-B1, DUE-B2, TRE-C1, QUATTRO-C2 | CELI Impatto (A1), CELI 1 (A2), 2 (B1), 3 (B2), 4 (C1), 5 (C2) |
| What is tested | Listening, reading, use of language structures, writing, speaking | Reading, writing, listening and speaking; CELI 3 adds a language-competence paper |
| Special versions | A1 and A2 modules for integration in Italy, for children (8–11) and teenagers (12–16) | CELI for teenagers (12–18, A2–B2) and for adult immigrants (A1–B1) |
| Recognition noted by the awarding body | B1 for citizenship; B2 the minimum for Italian university access | ALTE Q Mark; CELI 3 accepted by the education ministry for university enrolment |
CILS: what to know
- No prerequisites. The CILS FAQ says you don't need particular qualifications or a lower-level CILS to sit an exam.
- Pass every skill. The total is out of 60 at A1 and A2 and out of 100 from B1 up, but you must reach the pass mark in each skill. Miss one and you get a certificate of the skills you passed, and can resit only the others at the same level within 18 months.
- Results take about three months. Every paper, including the recorded speaking test, is marked centrally in Siena.
- No expiry. The CILS FAQ says the certificate currently has no expiry date.
CELI: how long each paper takes
| CELI exam | Reading and writing | Listening | Speaking | Longest writing task |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Impatto (A1) | 1 h 15 min | Part of the speaking test | About 5–6 min | A postcard of 15–20 words |
| CELI 1 (A2) | 2 h | 20 min | About 8–10 min | About 80 words |
| CELI 2 (B1) | 2 h | 20 min | About 10–12 min | A letter or email of 90–100 words |
| CELI 3 (B2) | 2 h 15 min, plus 45 min language competence | 25 min | About 15 min | A composition of 120–180 words |
Which one to take? Check what your university, employer or consulate asks for. Both are CEFR-based and widely recognised; exam dates and centres often decide it in practice.
What does each level look like on the page?
Level descriptors are abstract, so here is one story at four levels. The Contos flagship series, The Bellavista Guesthouse, is written separately for A1, A2, B1 and B2: the same seaside guesthouse, the same Nonna Pina, the same grandson Marco back from Milan. Each line comes from chapter 1 at its level.
Nonna lo abbraccia forte. Lui sorride, ma non parla molto.Prima prepara la pasta al pesto, poi guarda suo nipote negli occhi.Quando arrivò il postino, portò un pacco.Il caffè brucia. Non è una cosa grave, ma per Nonna Pina bruciare il caffè è come tradire la patria.A1 strings short present-tense sentences together with ma. A2 orders events with prima … poi (first … then). B1 moves into the passato remoto, the narrative past: arrivò and portò are arrivare and portare. B2 returns to the present but uses it for irony, with an infinitive as the subject (bruciare il caffè) and a comparison. Across the free chapters, sentences average about 5 words at A1, 7 at A2, 12 at B1 and 14 at B2.
How do you find your Italian level?
A CILS or CELI exam is the only formal answer. For reading, a quick practical test works: read a chapter written for a level and notice how often you get stuck.
- Hardly ever, and you are enjoying it: the right level for building speed and fluency.
- A few times a paragraph, but you follow the plot: the right level for learning new words.
- You lose the thread: step down a level. Text that is too hard teaches less, not more; our guide to choosing your level explains why.
Contos has no placement test: you pick a level when you start and move up as your known words grow. For how many hours each level usually takes, see how long it takes to learn Italian; for the vocabulary behind each step, see how many Italian words you need.
Read chapter 1 at A1 and count the words you tap. Too easy? Try the same story at A2.
Read free in your browserFrequently asked questions
Which is better, CILS or CELI?
Neither is better in general: both are CEFR-based and issued by Italian universities for foreigners. Check what your university, employer or consulate accepts, then choose by exam dates and the nearest centre.
What level of Italian do I need for citizenship?
B1. The Università per Stranieri di Siena describes CILS UNO-B1 as the level required to obtain Italian citizenship. Rules and accepted certificates can change, so check the current requirements for your own application.
Do CILS certificates expire?
According to the CILS FAQ, the certificate currently has no expiry date and is recognised internationally in academic and professional settings.
Do I have to take the levels in order?
No. The CILS FAQ says you don't need to have passed a lower-level exam first. Choose the level you can pass; it is the certificate at that level that counts.
What level do I need to study at an Italian university?
B2 is the usual minimum. The CILS centre calls DUE-B2 the minimum level for access to the Italian university system, and Perugia says CELI 3 is accepted for enrolment. Courses taught in Italian may ask for more.