CILS (Certification of Italian As a Foreign Language)
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The University of Texas at Austin Department of French and Italian is now an official testing site for the CILS Language Certification test.
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 six different proficiency levels officially recognized by the Common European Framework of References for Languages, which translate into different CILS certification exams:
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Beginner |
CILS A1 CILS A2 |
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Independent Learner |
CILS Uno – Level B1 CILS Due – Level B2 (required to apply in Italian Universities) CILS – B1 cittadinanza (required for the issuing of Italian Citizenship for foreign spouses of Italian citizens) |
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Advanced Learner |
CILS Tre – Level C1 CILS Quattro – Level C2 |
All the examinations cover what are viewed as the most important elements in language acquisition: speaking, reading, written composition, analysis of structures of communication, and listening.
The qualification is officially issued on successful completion of a particular level. Each part of the examination is evaluated independently, so to pass the exam the candidate must have obtained the necessary grade in each section. Candidates who do not pass the entire exam in one session have 18 months to retake the parts that they have not passed. They will pay the fee only for the portion of the test they have failed. This option is not offered to the candidates taking the B1 Cittadinanza exam.
Who needs to take the CILS B1-CITTADINANZA certification?
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.
Where to take the CILS certification exams?
Under an agreement with the University for Foreigners in Siena (Italy), the Department of French and Italian of The University of Texas at Austin is an authorized certifying center.
Address:
Department of French and Italian
Homer Rainey Hall - HRH -201 W. 21st Street, Austin, TX
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.
Exam Sessions 2025
Please follow this link for more information on the CILS Exam or email silvia.luongo@utexas.edu and cilsexams@gmail.com
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