100+ Free CELI B1 Practice Questions
Pass your Certificato di Conoscenza della Lingua Italiana – Livello B1 (CELI 2) exam on the first try — instant access, no signup required.
Ascolta il dialogo. Trascrizione: - Quanto tempo ci vuole per arrivare al centro a piedi? - A piedi circa venti minuti, ma in metro solo cinque. - Allora prendiamo la metro, abbiamo poco tempo. Quanto tempo ci vuole in metro? (Listen to the dialogue. Transcript: - How long does it take to get to the centre on foot? - On foot about twenty minutes, but by metro only five. - Then let's take the metro, we have little time. How long does it take by metro?)
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Key Facts: CELI B1 Exam
CELI B1 (CELI 2) is the Università per Stranieri di Perugia's intermediate Italian certificate at CEFR B1; it tests reading, writing, listening and speaking through a written exam in two booklets plus a separate oral interview, with grammar from imperfetto and future to pronouns and the introductory subjunctive.
Sample CELI B1 Practice Questions
Try these sample questions to test your CELI B1 exam readiness. Each question includes a detailed explanation. Start the interactive quiz above for the full 100+ question experience with AI tutoring.
1Leggi l'annuncio. "Cercasi cameriere/a per ristorante in centro. Esperienza minima richiesta. Orario serale, dal martedì alla domenica. Inviare curriculum a lavoro@ristorantebella.it" Quando NON si lavora? (Read the notice: "Waiter/waitress wanted for restaurant in the centre. Minimum experience required. Evening hours, Tuesday to Sunday. Send CV to lavoro@ristorantebella.it." When does one NOT work?)
2Completa la frase con la parola corretta. "Ieri ___ molto stanco, così sono andato a letto presto." (Complete the sentence with the correct word: "Yesterday I ___ very tired, so I went to bed early.")
3Leggi il testo e rispondi. "Marco ha comprato i biglietti del treno online. Partirà sabato mattina alle 8:15 da Roma e arriverà a Milano alle 11:30. Ha scelto la seconda classe per risparmiare." Perché Marco ha scelto la seconda classe? (Marco bought train tickets online. He will leave Saturday morning at 8:15 from Rome and arrive in Milan at 11:30. He chose second class to save money. Why did Marco choose second class?)
4Scegli il connettivo corretto. "Volevo uscire, ___ pioveva troppo forte." (Choose the correct connective: "I wanted to go out, ___ it was raining too hard.")
5Leggi l'email e rispondi. "Cara Giulia, ti scrivo per invitarti alla mia festa di compleanno. Sarà sabato 20 giugno alle 20:00 a casa mia. Porta qualcosa da bere, al cibo penso io! Fammi sapere se vieni. Un abbraccio, Sara" Che cosa deve portare Giulia? (Read the email: "Dear Giulia, I'm writing to invite you to my birthday party. It will be Saturday June 20 at 8:00 PM at my place. Bring something to drink, I'll take care of the food! Let me know if you're coming. Hugs, Sara." What should Giulia bring?)
6Completa con il pronome corretto. "Hai visto Luca? — Sì, ___ ho incontrato stamattina al bar." (Complete with the correct pronoun: "Have you seen Luca? — Yes, I met ___ this morning at the bar.")
7Leggi il testo. "La biblioteca comunale è aperta dal lunedì al venerdì dalle 9:00 alle 19:00 e il sabato dalle 9:00 alle 13:00. È chiusa la domenica e nei giorni festivi." A che ora chiude la biblioteca il sabato? (The municipal library is open Monday to Friday from 9:00 to 19:00 and Saturday from 9:00 to 13:00. It is closed on Sunday and public holidays. What time does the library close on Saturday?)
8Scegli la forma corretta del verbo. "Quando ero piccolo, ___ sempre al parco con mio nonno." (Choose the correct verb form: "When I was little, I ___ always to the park with my grandfather.")
9Leggi l'articolo breve. "Negli ultimi anni sempre più italiani scelgono di andare al lavoro in bicicletta. I motivi principali sono il traffico nelle città, il costo della benzina e la voglia di fare attività fisica." Qual è UNO dei motivi per cui gli italiani vanno al lavoro in bici? (In recent years more and more Italians choose to go to work by bicycle. The main reasons are city traffic, the cost of petrol, and the desire to do physical activity. What is ONE of the reasons Italians go to work by bike?)
10Completa la frase. "Se domani ___ bel tempo, andremo al mare." (Complete the sentence: "If tomorrow the weather ___ nice, we will go to the sea.")
About the CELI B1 Exam
The CELI B1, officially called CELI 2, is an internationally recognised Italian language proficiency certificate at the B1 level of the Common European Framework of Reference for Languages (CEFR), issued by the Università per Stranieri di Perugia through its CVCL centre. The CELI series runs from CELI Impatto (A1) and CELI 1 (A2) up through CELI 2 (B1), CELI 3 (B2), CELI 4 (C1) and CELI 5 (C2). CELI is one of the Italian certifications affiliated with ALTE (Association of Language Testers in Europe), placing it among Europe's established language exams. The exam assesses all four language skills — reading, writing, listening and speaking — across a written exam in two booklets plus a separate oral interview. At B1, candidates are expected to understand the main points of clear standard texts on familiar matters such as work, school, travel and leisure, to deal with most situations likely to arise while travelling in an Italian-speaking area, and to produce simple connected text on familiar topics. Grammar at this level includes the contrast between imperfetto and passato prossimo, the future and conditional tenses, direct and indirect object pronouns, combined pronouns, connectives, and the introduction of the present subjunctive. Exam sessions are typically held three times a year (around March, June and November) at authorised centres in Italy and worldwide. The CELI certificate does not expire and serves as a permanent record of certified Italian ability for study, work and personal purposes. Note that the standard CELI 2 is distinct from the CELI 2 i (immigrati) citizenship variant, which has a different structure tailored to residency and citizenship requirements.
Questions
100 scored questions
Time Limit
Written exam approximately 3 hours (reading + written production about 2 hours; listening about 30 minutes). The oral exam is a separate session of roughly 10 minutes.
Passing Score
Total of 400 points (100 per skill: reading, writing, listening, speaking). A passing result corresponds to grade C (sufficiente) or above; results below the C threshold are non sufficiente (fail). Sufficiency is required across the components.
Exam Fee
Approximately €80 in Italy and at European centres (typical range €60–€100). Fees at US and other overseas authorised centres may be higher when local administration costs are added. Exact fees vary by country and exam centre. (Università per Stranieri di Perugia – Centro per la Valutazione e le Certificazioni Linguistiche (CVCL))
CELI B1 Exam Content Outline
Comprensione della Lettura (Prova A)
Multiple-choice and completion tasks on B1 Italian texts: notices, emails, articles, reviews, recipes and schedules, plus matching and phrase reformulation.
Produzione di Testi Scritti (Prova B)
Two written-production tasks at B1: a guided composition and an informal or semi-formal message/email. Assessed holistically; not multiple-choice.
Comprensione dell'Ascolto (Prova C)
Multiple-choice and completion tasks on recorded B1 Italian: announcements, dialogues, voicemails, interviews and short news reports.
Produzione Orale (Prova orale)
A roughly 10-minute oral interview with an examiner: personal conversation, description and a communicative interaction task. Not multiple-choice.
How to Pass the CELI B1 Exam
What You Need to Know
- Passing score: Total of 400 points (100 per skill: reading, writing, listening, speaking). A passing result corresponds to grade C (sufficiente) or above; results below the C threshold are non sufficiente (fail). Sufficiency is required across the components.
- Exam length: 100 questions
- Time limit: Written exam approximately 3 hours (reading + written production about 2 hours; listening about 30 minutes). The oral exam is a separate session of roughly 10 minutes.
- Exam fee: Approximately €80 in Italy and at European centres (typical range €60–€100). Fees at US and other overseas authorised centres may be higher when local administration costs are added. Exact fees vary by country and exam centre.
Keys to Passing
- Complete 500+ practice questions
- Score 80%+ consistently before scheduling
- Focus on highest-weighted sections
- Use our AI tutor for tough concepts
CELI B1 Study Tips from Top Performers
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the CELI B1 (CELI 2) exam?
The CELI B1, officially called CELI 2, is an Italian language proficiency certificate at the B1 level of the CEFR, issued by the Università per Stranieri di Perugia through its CVCL centre. It is an ALTE-affiliated certification that assesses reading, writing, listening and speaking, and is recognised internationally for study, work and personal purposes.
How is the CELI B1 exam structured?
The written exam is organised in two booklets: Prova A (reading comprehension with MCQ, completions, matching and reformulation), Prova B (written production of a composition and a message/email), and Prova C (listening comprehension with MCQ and completions). There is also a separate oral interview. This practice bank covers the multiple-choice reading and listening sections.
What level is CELI 2 and how does the CELI scale work?
CELI 2 corresponds to CEFR level B1 (intermediate). The CELI scale runs CELI Impatto = A1, CELI 1 = A2, CELI 2 = B1, CELI 3 = B2, CELI 4 = C1 and CELI 5 = C2, so CELI 2 sits in the middle of the six-level series.
What score do I need to pass the CELI B1?
The exam totals 400 points, 100 for each skill (reading, writing, listening, speaking). A passing result corresponds to grade C (sufficiente) or above, roughly 60–70% overall, with sufficiency required across the components. Results below the C threshold are recorded as non sufficiente (fail).
How much does the CELI B1 exam cost and when is it held?
The fee is approximately €80 in Italy and at European centres, typically €60–€100 depending on country, and may be higher at overseas centres. CELI exams are usually held three times a year, around March, June and November, at authorised centres in Italy and worldwide. Confirm exact dates and fees with your local exam centre.
Is the standard CELI 2 the same as the CELI 2 citizenship exam?
No. The standard CELI 2 is the general four-skill B1 certificate described here. The CELI 2 i (immigrati) is a separate B1 variant designed for residency and Italian citizenship requirements, with a different structure. Make sure you register for the version that matches your goal.