100+ Free CILS B1 Practice Questions
Pass your CILS UNO — B1 (Certificazione di Italiano come Lingua Straniera, Level B1) exam on the first try — instant access, no signup required.
Analisi delle strutture di comunicazione. Completa con il pronome 'ne' o 'ci'. «Hai dei fratelli? — Sì, _____ ho due.» (Language structures. Complete with the pronoun 'ne' or 'ci'. "Do you have any brothers? — Yes, I have two of _____.")
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Key Facts: CILS B1 Exam
CILS UNO-B1 is the intermediate (CEFR B1) Italian certification from the University for Foreigners of Siena, testing listening, reading, language structures, writing, and speaking; this free quiz covers the objective listening, reading, and grammar sections.
Sample CILS B1 Practice Questions
Try these sample questions to test your CILS B1 exam readiness. Each question includes a detailed explanation. Start the interactive quiz above for the full 100+ question experience with AI tutoring.
1Ascolto. Trascrizione: «Buongiorno, sono Marta. Ti chiamo perché domani non posso venire alla lezione di italiano: ho un appuntamento dal dentista alle dieci. Ci vediamo giovedì, va bene? Ciao!» (Listening. Transcript: "Good morning, I'm Marta. I'm calling you because tomorrow I can't come to the Italian lesson: I have a dental appointment at ten. See you Thursday, okay? Bye!") Perché Marta non può andare alla lezione? (Why can't Marta go to the lesson?)
2Ascolto. Trascrizione: «Allora, il treno per Firenze parte dal binario 7 alle 15:45. Mi raccomando, arriva almeno dieci minuti prima.» (Listening. Transcript: "So, the train to Florence leaves from platform 7 at 3:45 p.m. Please make sure you arrive at least ten minutes early.") Da quale binario parte il treno? (From which platform does the train leave?)
3Ascolto. Trascrizione: «Ieri sera sono andata al cinema con Luca. Il film era lungo ma molto interessante. Dopo abbiamo mangiato una pizza e siamo tornati a casa tardi.» (Listening. Transcript: "Last night I went to the cinema with Luca. The film was long but very interesting. Afterwards we ate a pizza and got home late.") Cosa hanno fatto dopo il cinema? (What did they do after the cinema?)
4Ascolto. Trascrizione: «Gentili clienti, il supermercato chiude tra quindici minuti. Vi preghiamo di dirigervi verso le casse. Grazie e buona serata.» (Listening. Transcript: "Dear customers, the supermarket closes in fifteen minutes. Please head towards the checkouts. Thank you and good evening.") Dove si sente questo annuncio? (Where would you hear this announcement?)
5Ascolto. Trascrizione: «Pronto? Senti, oggi non posso passare a prenderti in macchina perché ho un problema con il motore. Prendi l'autobus numero 12, ti aspetto alla fermata davanti al bar.» (Listening. Transcript: "Hello? Listen, today I can't pick you up by car because I have a problem with the engine. Take bus number 12, I'll wait for you at the stop in front of the bar.") Come deve arrivare l'ascoltatore? (How should the listener get there?)
6Ascolto. Trascrizione: «Da bambino abitavo in un piccolo paese di montagna. D'estate andavo sempre a giocare nel bosco con i miei amici e la sera tornavo a casa stanco ma felice.» (Listening. Transcript: "As a child I lived in a small mountain village. In summer I always went to play in the woods with my friends and in the evening I came home tired but happy.") Dove abitava da bambino? (Where did he live as a child?)
7Ascolto. Trascrizione: «Buonasera a tutti. Domani il tempo cambierà: al mattino ci sarà sole, ma nel pomeriggio arriveranno nuvole e forse pioggia. Le temperature scenderanno di qualche grado.» (Listening. Transcript: "Good evening everyone. Tomorrow the weather will change: in the morning there will be sun, but in the afternoon clouds and perhaps rain will arrive. Temperatures will drop by a few degrees.") Com'è il tempo previsto per il pomeriggio? (What is the forecast for the afternoon?)
8Ascolto. Trascrizione: «Mi scusi, vorrei un'informazione. Per andare alla stazione, devo girare a destra o a sinistra?» «Allora, vada sempre dritto fino al semaforo, poi giri a sinistra. La stazione è proprio lì.» (Listening. Transcript: "Excuse me, I'd like some information. To get to the station, should I turn right or left?" "So, go straight ahead until the traffic light, then turn left. The station is right there.") Cosa deve fare la persona al semaforo? (What should the person do at the traffic light?)
9Ascolto. Trascrizione: «Cara Giulia, ti scrivo per dirti che ho trovato lavoro! Comincio lunedì prossimo in un'agenzia di viaggi. Sono molto contenta perché è proprio quello che volevo fare.» (Listening. Transcript: "Dear Giulia, I'm writing to tell you I've found a job! I start next Monday at a travel agency. I'm very happy because it's exactly what I wanted to do.") Come si sente chi parla? (How does the speaker feel?)
10Ascolto. Trascrizione: «Il museo è aperto dal martedì alla domenica, dalle 9 alle 18. Il lunedì è chiuso. L'ingresso costa 8 euro, ma per gli studenti è gratuito.» (Listening. Transcript: "The museum is open from Tuesday to Sunday, 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. It is closed on Mondays. Admission costs 8 euros, but it is free for students.") Quanto pagano gli studenti? (How much do students pay?)
About the CILS B1 Exam
CILS UNO-B1 is the intermediate (CEFR B1) level of the Certificazione di Italiano come Lingua Straniera, the official Italian-language certification issued by the Università per Stranieri di Siena. The exam assesses five abilities: Listening (Ascolto), Reading (Comprensione della lettura), Analysis of Communication Structures (Analisi delle strutture di comunicazione), Written Production, and Oral Production. At B1, candidates are expected to understand the main points of clear standard Italian on familiar matters such as work, school, leisure, and travel; to deal with most situations that arise while travelling in Italy; and to produce simple, connected text on familiar topics. The objective sections — Listening, Reading, and Language Structures — use multiple choice, true/false, matching, and cloze (completion) formats, while Written Production and Oral Production are open-ended. Each of the five skills is scored from 0 to 20 for a total of 100 points, and a candidate must reach the sufficiency threshold in every skill to earn the certificate; skills passed individually can be capitalised and only the failed skills retaken at a later session. CILS is recognised by Italian authorities and institutions and is commonly used for university enrolment, work, and residency purposes. In 2026 the main CILS exam sessions are in June and December, with additional sessions for selected levels.
Questions
100 scored questions
Time Limit
Written part about 2 hours 50 minutes: Listening 30 min, Reading 50 min, Language Structures 60 min, Written Production 70 min. Oral Production (~10 min) is taken separately.
Passing Score
Five skills each scored 0–20 (100 total). A sufficiency threshold (generally 11/20) must be met in every skill to pass the whole exam; individually passed skills can be capitalised and retaken later if others fail.
Exam Fee
Approximately €90 for the full CILS UNO-B1 exam (2026); repeating a single skill costs about €22. Fees vary slightly by centre and country. (Centro CILS, Università per Stranieri di Siena (University for Foreigners of Siena), via accredited exam centres and Italian Cultural Institutes worldwide.)
CILS B1 Exam Content Outline
Ascolto (Listening Comprehension)
Understanding gist and key details of recorded everyday and general texts (announcements, dialogues, messages) played twice at controlled speed. Tasks use multiple choice, true/false, and matching.
Comprensione della lettura (Reading Comprehension)
Understanding notices, ads, emails, articles, and short narratives, testing detail, gist, and inference through multiple choice, matching, and completion items.
Analisi delle strutture di comunicazione (Language Structures)
B1 grammar and language use: verb tenses, condizionale, intro congiuntivo, pronouns, prepositions, connectives, and agreement, tested via cloze, multiple choice, and transformation.
How to Pass the CILS B1 Exam
What You Need to Know
- Passing score: Five skills each scored 0–20 (100 total). A sufficiency threshold (generally 11/20) must be met in every skill to pass the whole exam; individually passed skills can be capitalised and retaken later if others fail.
- Exam length: 100 questions
- Time limit: Written part about 2 hours 50 minutes: Listening 30 min, Reading 50 min, Language Structures 60 min, Written Production 70 min. Oral Production (~10 min) is taken separately.
- Exam fee: Approximately €90 for the full CILS UNO-B1 exam (2026); repeating a single skill costs about €22. Fees vary slightly by centre and country.
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 B1 Study Tips from Top Performers
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the CILS B1 exam and who issues it?
CILS UNO-B1 is the intermediate (CEFR B1) level of the Certificazione di Italiano come Lingua Straniera, the official Italian-language certification issued by the Università per Stranieri di Siena. It is administered at accredited centres and Italian Cultural Institutes worldwide.
What sections does the CILS B1 exam have?
CILS UNO-B1 has five parts: Listening (Ascolto), Reading (Comprensione della lettura), Analysis of Communication Structures (Analisi delle strutture di comunicazione), Written Production, and Oral Production. The first three use objective item types such as multiple choice, true/false, matching, and cloze.
How is the CILS B1 exam scored and what do I need to pass?
Each of the five skills is scored separately from 0 to 20, for a total of 100 points. You must reach the sufficiency threshold (generally 11 out of 20) in every skill to pass; skills you pass can be capitalised, so you only retake the failed ones in a later session.
How much does the CILS B1 exam cost in 2026?
The full CILS UNO-B1 exam costs approximately €90 in 2026, with retaking a single failed skill costing about €22. Fees can vary slightly by test centre and country, so confirm with your local CILS centre or Italian Cultural Institute.
When can I take the CILS exam in 2026?
In 2026 the main CILS sessions are in June and December, with extra sessions for selected levels (such as April and October). Check the official CILS calendar at cils.unistrasi.it and your local centre for exact B1 dates and registration deadlines.
What does passing CILS B1 prove about my Italian?
Passing CILS UNO-B1 certifies CEFR B1 (intermediate) Italian: you can understand the main points of clear standard speech and texts on familiar topics, handle most everyday situations while in Italy, and produce simple connected text about work, study, travel, and personal experiences.