100+ Free CILS A1 Practice Questions
Pass your CILS A1 — Certificazione di Italiano come Lingua Straniera, Level A1 exam on the first try — instant access, no signup required.
Leggi il testo. «Oggi è il primo giorno di scuola. I bambini sono contenti. La maestra si chiama Francesca ed è molto gentile.» (Read. "Today is the first day of school. The children are happy. The teacher is called Francesca and she is very kind.") Come sono i bambini oggi? (How do the children feel today?)
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Key Facts: CILS A1 Exam
CILS A1 is the beginner level of Italy's official Italian-as-a-foreign-language certificate from the Universita per Stranieri di Siena, testing listening, reading, grammar, writing, and speaking; this free bank drills the three multiple-choice abilities at CEFR A1.
Sample CILS A1 Practice Questions
Try these sample questions to test your CILS A1 exam readiness. Each question includes a detailed explanation. Start the interactive quiz above for the full 100+ question experience with AI tutoring.
1Ascolta il dialogo. Donna: «Buongiorno! Come si chiama?» Uomo: «Mi chiamo Marco Rossi.» (Listen to the dialogue. Woman: "Good morning! What is your name?" Man: "My name is Marco Rossi.") Come si chiama l'uomo? (What is the man's name?)
2Ascolta il dialogo. Uomo: «Di dove sei?» Donna: «Sono di Roma. E tu?» Uomo: «Io sono di Milano.» (Listen. Man: "Where are you from?" Woman: "I'm from Rome. And you?" Man: "I'm from Milan.") Di dove è la donna? (Where is the woman from?)
3Ascolta il dialogo. Barista: «Buongiorno, cosa prende?» Cliente: «Un caffè, per favore.» Barista: «Subito!» (Listen. Barista: "Good morning, what will you have?" Customer: "A coffee, please." Barista: "Right away!") Che cosa ordina il cliente? (What does the customer order?)
4Ascolta il dialogo. Uomo: «Scusi, che ore sono?» Donna: «Sono le tre.» (Listen. Man: "Excuse me, what time is it?" Woman: "It's three o'clock.") Che ore sono? (What time is it?)
5Ascolta il dialogo. Donna: «Quanti anni hai?» Ragazzo: «Ho sedici anni.» (Listen. Woman: "How old are you?" Boy: "I'm sixteen years old.") Quanti anni ha il ragazzo? (How old is the boy?)
6Ascolta il dialogo. Commesso: «Buonasera, desidera?» Cliente: «Vorrei un chilo di mele, per favore.» (Listen. Shop assistant: "Good evening, can I help you?" Customer: "I'd like a kilo of apples, please.") Che cosa vuole comprare il cliente? (What does the customer want to buy?)
7Ascolta il dialogo. Uomo: «Scusi, dov'è la stazione?» Donna: «È sempre dritto, poi a destra.» (Listen. Man: "Excuse me, where is the station?" Woman: "Go straight ahead, then to the right.") Dove deve girare l'uomo? (Which way must the man turn?)
8Ascolta il dialogo. Donna: «Che lavoro fai?» Uomo: «Sono medico. Lavoro in ospedale.» (Listen. Woman: "What work do you do?" Man: "I'm a doctor. I work in a hospital.") Qual è il lavoro dell'uomo? (What is the man's job?)
9Ascolta il dialogo. Madre: «Pronto?» Figlio: «Ciao mamma, arrivo a casa alle otto.» Madre: «Va bene, ti aspetto.» (Listen. Mother: "Hello?" Son: "Hi Mum, I'm getting home at eight." Mother: "Okay, I'll wait for you.") A che ora arriva a casa il figlio? (At what time does the son get home?)
10Ascolta il dialogo. Amica: «Che tempo fa oggi?» Amico: «Piove. Prendi l'ombrello!» (Listen. Friend (f): "What's the weather like today?" Friend (m): "It's raining. Take an umbrella!") Che tempo fa oggi? (What is the weather like today?)
About the CILS A1 Exam
The CILS A1 (Certificazione di Italiano come Lingua Straniera, Level A1) is the entry-level certificate of the official Italian-as-a-foreign-language certification issued by the Universita per Stranieri di Siena and recognised by the Italian Ministry of Foreign Affairs. It certifies absolute-beginner proficiency (CEFR A1): the ability to understand and use very simple, everyday Italian about familiar topics such as introductions, family, numbers, time, food, shopping, and basic directions. Each CILS level tests five abilities — ascolto (listening), comprensione della lettura (reading), analisi delle strutture di comunicazione (analysis of communication structures, i.e. grammar and vocabulary), produzione scritta (writing), and produzione orale (speaking). The first three are objective, multiple-choice or fill-in-the-blank tasks and are the focus of this free practice bank; writing requires two short texts of up to about 40 words and speaking is a brief individual interview. The full A1 written exam lasts around two hours, listening audio is played twice, and the exam is scored out of 60 points (12 per ability) with a pass threshold of 7 out of 12 in every ability. Unmet abilities can be capitalised and retaken within a year. In 2026, CILS A1 sessions are offered in April, June, July, and December.
Questions
100 scored questions
Time Limit
Roughly 2 hours of written tests: Ascolto (listening) ~30 min, Comprensione della lettura (reading) ~30 min, Analisi delle strutture di comunicazione (grammar) ~30 min, Produzione scritta (writing) ~30 min, plus a separate 3–4 minute oral interview.
Passing Score
60 points total, 12 per ability across five abilities; a minimum of 7 out of 12 must be reached in each ability (listening, reading, analysis of structures, writing, speaking) to obtain the certificate.
Exam Fee
Around EUR 40 at the issuing university and roughly USD 110–120 at overseas centres after local fees (2026). Single-ability retakes typically cost EUR 25–50. Confirm the exact price with your CILS exam centre. (Universita per Stranieri di Siena (Centro CILS), with sessions run by accredited Italian cultural institutes, universities, and language schools worldwide)
CILS A1 Exam Content Outline
Ascolto (Listening)
Short, slowly-spoken everyday dialogues and announcements about greetings, shopping, café orders, directions, times, and numbers, each played twice, with multiple-choice comprehension questions.
Comprensione della lettura (Reading)
Practical short texts — signs, notices, menus, postcards, messages, ads, and timetables — with multiple-choice and matching questions on key details.
Analisi delle strutture di comunicazione (Grammar)
Fill-in-the-blank items on A1 grammar and vocabulary: essere/avere, regular -are/-ere/-ire verbs, articles, noun gender and number, prepositions, possessives, and question words.
How to Pass the CILS A1 Exam
What You Need to Know
- Passing score: 60 points total, 12 per ability across five abilities; a minimum of 7 out of 12 must be reached in each ability (listening, reading, analysis of structures, writing, speaking) to obtain the certificate.
- Exam length: 100 questions
- Time limit: Roughly 2 hours of written tests: Ascolto (listening) ~30 min, Comprensione della lettura (reading) ~30 min, Analisi delle strutture di comunicazione (grammar) ~30 min, Produzione scritta (writing) ~30 min, plus a separate 3–4 minute oral interview.
- Exam fee: Around EUR 40 at the issuing university and roughly USD 110–120 at overseas centres after local fees (2026). Single-ability retakes typically cost EUR 25–50. Confirm the exact price with your CILS 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
CILS A1 Study Tips from Top Performers
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the CILS A1 and who issues it?
CILS A1 is the beginner level of the Certificazione di Italiano come Lingua Straniera, the official Italian-as-a-foreign-language certificate issued by the Universita per Stranieri di Siena and recognised by the Italian Ministry of Foreign Affairs. It certifies CEFR A1 (absolute beginner) Italian.
What sections does the CILS A1 exam contain?
Every CILS level tests five abilities: ascolto (listening), comprensione della lettura (reading), analisi delle strutture di comunicazione (grammar/structures), produzione scritta (writing), and produzione orale (speaking). The first three are objective tasks; writing and speaking are productive.
What score do I need to pass CILS A1?
The A1 exam is scored out of 60 points, 12 per ability. You must reach at least 7 out of 12 in every single ability to receive the certificate. If you pass only some abilities, those results can be capitalised and the others retaken within one year.
How long does the CILS A1 exam take?
The written test lasts roughly two hours, with the listening, reading, and grammar sections each taking around 30 minutes plus about 30 minutes for writing. The oral interview is a separate 3–4 minute individual session.
When is the CILS A1 offered in 2026?
In 2026 the CILS A1 is offered in the April 14, June 4, July 23, and December 3 sessions. The February and October sessions do not include A1. Registration usually closes about one month before each exam date — confirm with your exam centre.
How much does the CILS A1 cost?
Fees vary by centre: roughly EUR 40 at the issuing university and about USD 110–120 at overseas centres once local administration fees are added (2026). Individual abilities can usually be retaken for about EUR 25–50. Always check the exact fee with your CILS exam centre.