Italian Language Exams: CILS, CELI & PLIDA

CILS, CELI and PLIDA explained: exam formats, levels and practical tips, including the CILS B1 for Italian citizenship.

In short

  • There are four official certifications: CILS (Siena), CELI (Perugia), PLIDA (Dante Alighieri) and CERT.IT (Roma Tre).
  • They all follow the CEFR levels (A1 to C2) and are recognized by the Italian government.
  • For citizenship you need B1; for university, usually B2.
  • They all test reading, listening, writing and speaking. Grammar is checked throughout.
  • Choose based on the center near you, the dates and the format you prefer.
All Italian Grammar Vocabulary Italian Language Certifications Learning Tips

CILS, CELI, PLIDA and CERT.IT compared

CILSCELIPLIDACERT.IT
Issued byUniversità per Stranieri di SienaUniversità per Stranieri di PerugiaSocietà Dante AlighieriUniversità Roma Tre
Level namesA1, A2, Uno (B1), Due (B2), Tre (C1), Quattro (C2)Impatto (A1), CELI 1 (A2) to CELI 5 (C2)A1 to C2several CEFR levels
WhereItaly and centers worldwideItaly and centers worldwideDante Alighieri committees and centers worldwideItaly and centers abroad
Citizenship versionYes: B1 CittadinanzaYes: CELI for immigrants (B1)Check with your centerCheck with your center
My guidesA1, A2, B1, B2, B1 CittadinanzaCELI 2 (B1)PLIDA B1
All four belong to CLIQ, the association of Italian quality certifications recognized by the Italian government.

Want the full picture? Read my detailed comparison: CILS vs CELI vs PLIDA vs CERT.IT.

Which level should you choose?

It depends on your goal. If you’re not sure where you are, take a sample paper at the level you think you have: if you pass it comfortably, aim one level higher.

Your goalLevel to aim for
Motivation, travel, a first milestoneA1 or A2
Italian citizenship by marriage or residenceB1
Working in ItalyB1 or B2, depending on the job
Enrolling at an Italian universityusually B2 (some programs ask for C1)
Teaching Italian or proving near-native skillsC1 or C2

How to prepare

There’s plenty of official material online to get familiar with the format: start with the sample papers on each certification’s website, then do as many mock tests as you can, with a timer. Have a teacher correct your writing and practice speaking out loud. My guides go into each exam in detail: CILS A1, CILS A2, CILS B1, CELI 2, PLIDA B1, B1 Cittadinanza speaking, B1 Cittadinanza writing.

And if you’d like a teacher to build a plan around your exam, I offer bespoke private Italian classes online.

Frequently asked questions

What are the official Italian language certifications?

The four main ones are CILS (Università per Stranieri di Siena), CELI (Università per Stranieri di Perugia), PLIDA (Società Dante Alighieri) and CERT.IT (Università Roma Tre). Together they form CLIQ, recognized by the Italian government.

Which Italian certification is best?

None is better in absolute terms: all are official and recognized. Choose based on the exam center near you, the dates that fit your schedule and the format you feel more comfortable with after looking at sample papers.

Which level do I need for Italian citizenship?

B1. Since December 2018, citizenship by marriage or residence requires a B1 certificate from a recognized body, such as CILS, CELI, PLIDA or CERT.IT.

Which level do I need for an Italian university?

Usually B2, although some programs ask for C1. Always check the requirements of your university and course.

Do Italian language certificates expire?

CILS, CELI and PLIDA certificates have no expiry date. An institution may still ask for a recent one, so check what they require.