CILS exams at the Italian Institute of Culture - Dublin
CILS is a certification of proficiency in Italian as a foreign language offered by the Università per Stranieri di Siena. More information on this certification are available on the CILS website.
The Italian Institute of Culture in Dublin is a recognized centre of CILS exams. More information on how to enrol and exam dates are available below.
Exam dates in 2022
Thursday 15th December 2022 - Levels: B1 Citizenship and B2 ONLY - Registrations for this exam session are now closed.
Exam dates in 2023
Thursday 16th February 2023 - Level: B1 Citizenship ONLY - Registrations open from 15th November 2022 to 16th January 2023.
Enrolments
Candidates can enrol to the CILS exam depending to the level certificate they wish to achieve.
Those who are unsure about their level, they can check CILS exam samples available on the CILS website.
In order to enrol, please send the following documents to our Language Classes office (via post to: Istituto Italiano di Cultura - Dublino, Segreteria Corsi, 11 Fitzwilliam Square East, D02 KN81 - or via email to: classes.iicdublino@esteri.it):
1) The CILS enrolment form filled in (please write in capital letters). NOTES: name, date and place of birth need to correspond to the ID used to enrol; if you have already done a CILS exam in the past, please use your existing identification number (numero di matricola); for those taking the "Cittadinanza B1" exam, please specify the following level "CERTIFICAZIONE CITTADINANZA B1").
2) A copy of your identification document (passport or ID card).
3) Proof of payment of the enrolment fee.
BANK DETAILS FOR THE PAYMENT HERE
YOU CAN DOWNLOAD THE ENROLMENT FORM HERE
You can check the cost for each exam level in the table below:
| Level | Exam enrolment fee |
| CILS UNO-B1 Cittadinanza | € 100 |
Exam candidates will receive all the communication in relation to the exams via email.
Exam results
You can check the exam results directly on the website of the Università di Siena at the following link.
You will have to insert your identification number (numero di matricola) and your date of birth.
In case you fail a part of your CILS exam and would like to retake that part, you can do that at the next available exam session by paying a partial fee, as per table below.
| Level | Fee for each part to be repeated |
| CILS UNO-B1 Cittadinanza | Not possible |
| CILS DUE-B2 | € 27 |
Exam samples
You can find exam samples on the website of Università per stranieri di Siena.
Preparation course for CILS B1 Cittadinanza exam
The Italian Institute of Culture will hold the following preparation course for the exam CILS UNO-B1 Cittadinanza (B1 is the minimum level required for Italian citizenship applications):
Preparazione CILS B1 Cittadinanza - Fridays from 5.30pm to 7.30pm - from 21st October to 9th December 2022
A two-hour class per week for a total of 16 hours in 8 weeks.
Fee: €200
Click HERE to enrol.
General information of the certifications of Italian as a Foreign Language
There are several certifications of proficiency in Italian as a foreign language offered by Italian universities.
They are addressed to citizens of foreign countries, people with Italian roots living abroad and foreign immigrants living in Italy.
Please click on the below links for further details on the exams offered by each university:
Siena University for Foreigners (CILS) - Calendar of exams HERE
Perugia University for ForeignersPerugia University for Foreigners (CELI) - List of exam centres HERE
Società "Dante Alighieri" (PLIDA)
Equivalence between the Certifications and the Common European Framework
| CEFRL | Perugia University for Foreigners | Siena University for Foreigners | RomaTre University | Dante Alighieri |
| LEVEL C2 Command |
CELI 5 | CILS Quattro-C2 | IT | PLIDA C2 |
| LEVEL C1 Advanced |
CELI 4 | CILS Tre-C1 | ------ | PLIDA C1 |
| LEVEL B2 Higher Intermediate |
CELI 3 | CILS Due B2 | ------ | PLIDA B2 |
| LEVEL B1* Intermediate |
CELI 2 | CILS Uno B1 | ele.IT | PLIDA B1 |
| LEVEL A2 Elementary |
CELI 1 | CILS A2 | ------ | PLIDA A2 |
| LEVEL A1 Basic |
CELI IMPATTO | CILS A1 | ------ | PLIDA A1 |
*As of December 4, 2018 (Italian law No. 132, of December 1, 2018) an adequate knowledge of the Italian language is required for obtaining Italian citizenship pursuant to art. 5 and 9 of Law 91/1992. Adequate knowledge is defined to be no less than level B1 of the Common European Framework of Reference for 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.
