Understanding the CILS exam format is the first step to a confident pass. CILS — the Certificazione di Italiano come Lingua Straniera from the University for Foreigners of Siena — tests five separate skills at each CEFR level from A1 to C2.
The five parts of the CILS exam
- Ascolto (Listening) – recorded dialogues and monologues in standard Italian.
- Comprensione della lettura (Reading) – authentic texts with comprehension tasks.
- Analisi delle strutture di comunicazione (Language structures) – grammar and usage in context.
- Produzione scritta (Writing) – guided writing tasks appropriate to the level.
- Produzione orale (Speaking) – an interview and presentation-style tasks.
How CILS is scored
Each of the five skills is assessed and scored on its own. To pass the level as a whole you must reach the minimum in every skill — a strong reading score cannot rescue a failed writing paper. That is exactly why practising each section under timed conditions matters.
See the format in action
The best way to learn the format is to sit a mock in it. Our CILS mock tests reproduce the official section order, timing and task types, with sample questions at every level. Browse plans to practise full papers.
Ready to practice?