100+ Free CILS B2 Practice Questions

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Question 1

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Quale frase è grammaticamente corretta?

Fa così caldo oggi quanto non riesco a concentrarmi.

Fa tanto caldo oggi che non riesco a concentrarmi.

Fa talmente caldo che non riesco a concentrarmi.

Fa tanto caldo oggi da non riesco a concentrarmi.

to track

2026 Statistics

Key Facts: CILS B2 Exam

CILS B2 is the Università per Stranieri di Siena's upper-intermediate Italian certification, required for university admission in Italy, with five sections each worth 20 points and a minimum of 11/20 to pass each section.

Sample CILS B2 Practice Questions

Try these sample questions to test your CILS B2 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. Due amici parlano del fine settimana. Dove ha deciso di andare Marco sabato sera?

A.Al cinema con la sua ragazza

B.A una mostra d'arte in centro

C.A cena da un amico di vecchia data

D.A un concerto di musica jazz

Explanation: In typical CILS B2 Prova di ascolto n. 1, dialogues cover everyday social plans. Marco mentions going to a jazz concert on Saturday evening. Listening carefully for the specific leisure activity mentioned is the key skill tested here.

2Ascolta l'annuncio radiofonico. Qual è lo scopo principale del messaggio?

A.Avvisare i cittadini di una modifica al traffico cittadino

B.Promuovere un nuovo servizio di trasporto pubblico

C.Informare sulle previsioni del tempo per il fine settimana

D.Comunicare la chiusura temporanea di un ufficio pubblico

Explanation: CILS B2 Prova di ascolto n. 2 features radio broadcasts and public announcements. This announcement describes a new express bus service connecting the city center to the airport, making the purpose clearly promotional.

3Ascolta l'intervista. Secondo la professoressa Bianchi, qual è il principale vantaggio delle aule multimediali per gli studenti universitari?

A.Consentono di seguire le lezioni a distanza da casa

B.Permettono di fissare i punti principali della lezione più facilmente

C.Riducono il costo dei materiali didattici cartacei

D.Facilitano la comunicazione diretta con il docente

Explanation: In authentic CILS B2 listening material about university life, Prof. Bianchi states that multimedia classrooms help students take better notes by visually reinforcing key points, making it easier to identify and remember the main concepts of each lecture.

4Ascolta la conversazione telefonica. Perché la signora Rossi telefona all'ufficio del turismo?

A.Per prenotare un tour guidato della città

B.Per chiedere informazioni sugli orari dei musei

C.Per reclamare per un servizio non soddisfacente

D.Per sapere come raggiungere un albergo specifico

Explanation: CILS B2 listening exercises include phone calls with specific requests. The woman calls the tourist office specifically to book a guided city tour for her family visiting the following weekend.

5Ascolta il notiziario. Quale problema ha colpito la città di Firenze secondo il giornalista?

A.Un'alluvione che ha allagato alcune strade del centro storico

B.Uno sciopero dei mezzi pubblici durato tre giorni

C.Un incendio che ha danneggiato un palazzo storico

D.Un'interruzione prolungata della fornitura di elettricità

Explanation: In CILS B2 news-style listening tasks, candidates must identify the main event reported. The journalist reports heavy rainfall causing flooding in several streets of Florence's historic center, with damage to ground-floor shops.

6Ascolta il dialogo tra due colleghi. Cosa intende fare Chiara con il suo progetto di ricerca?

A.Presentarlo a una conferenza internazionale a Berlino

B.Pubblicarlo su una rivista scientifica italiana

C.Modificarlo su suggerimento del suo supervisore

D.Abbandonarlo per dedicarsi a un nuovo progetto

Explanation: CILS B2 workplace dialogues test comprehension of professional plans and decisions. Chiara explains to her colleague that her supervisor has requested several changes before submission, so she must revise the project.

7Ascolta la conferenza. Secondo il relatore, quale aspetto della dieta mediterranea è più importante per la salute cardiovascolare?

A.Il consumo regolare di carne rossa magra

B.L'uso abbondante di olio d'oliva come grasso principale

C.Il consumo di grandi quantità di latticini freschi

D.La riduzione totale di tutti i carboidrati

Explanation: In CILS B2 academic lecture listening tasks, key facts must be identified accurately. The speaker emphasizes that olive oil, as the primary fat source in the Mediterranean diet, contains oleic acid and polyphenols that are particularly beneficial for cardiovascular health.

8Ascolta l'annuncio in aeroporto. Cosa devono fare i passeggeri del volo AZ204 per Roma?

A.Recarsi immediatamente al gate B7 per l'imbarco

B.Attendere un aggiornamento nei prossimi venti minuti

C.Presentarsi al banco check-in per riconfermare il posto

D.Effettuare il transito al terminal 2 prima dell'imbarco

Explanation: Airport announcements are common in CILS B2 Prova di ascolto n. 3 (short authentic messages). The announcement informs passengers of flight AZ204 that their departure is delayed and they should wait near gate B7 for an update within twenty minutes.

9Ascolta la conversazione. Perché Luca non è soddisfatto del nuovo appartamento?

A.L'affitto è troppo alto rispetto alle sue possibilità economiche

B.I vicini fanno troppo rumore di notte e non lo lasciano dormire

C.L'appartamento è lontano dal posto di lavoro e dai mezzi pubblici

D.Il proprietario non vuole permettere di tenere un animale domestico

Explanation: CILS B2 everyday conversation tasks test understanding of personal situations. Luca complains that even though the apartment is nice, commuting to work by bus takes over an hour each way because the nearest metro stop is far away.

10Ascolta l'intervista alla direttrice del museo. Qual è il motivo principale per cui i visitatori sono diminuiti l'anno scorso rispetto all'anno precedente?

A.L'aumento del prezzo del biglietto di ingresso

B.La scarsa qualità delle mostre organizzate

C.La minore soddisfazione per i servizi di accoglienza

D.La riduzione delle campagne pubblicitarie online

Explanation: This mirrors authentic CILS B2 interview content about museum management. The director acknowledges that visitor satisfaction surveys show a drop in ratings for welcome services (reception, cafeteria, and visitor facilities), which correlates with the decrease in return visitors.

About the CILS B2 Exam

The CILS Due-B2 (Certificazione di Italiano come Lingua Straniera, Livello B2) is the upper-intermediate level certification of Italian as a foreign language, awarded by the Università per Stranieri di Siena and recognized by the Italian Ministry of Foreign Affairs. It certifies full communicative autonomy in Italian, enabling candidates to study and work effectively within Italian institutions. CILS B2 is the minimum level required for admission to Italian universities under the annual interministerial circular of the Ministry of Education and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, and is accepted for Italian state scholarships, internships, and many professional positions requiring Italian language proficiency. The exam is administered through a global network of authorized centers including Italian Cultural Institutes, universities, and accredited language schools, with main exam sessions in June and December each year and supplementary sessions in April for B2. Results are published approximately four months after the exam date, and certificates have no expiration date.

Questions

100 scored questions

Time Limit

Approximately 3 hours 50 minutes (written sections): Listening 30 min, Reading 50 min, Grammar/Structures 60 min, Writing 70 min. Speaking approximately 10 min, usually scheduled on a separate day.

Passing Score

55/100 overall with a minimum of 11/20 in each of the five sections. Failing one section means failing the whole exam, but passed sections can be carried over for up to 18 months.

Exam Fee

Approximately €105–€130 at authorized Italian centers; fees vary by country and exam center. Contact your local authorized CILS center for the exact fee. (Università per Stranieri di Siena — Centro CILS, Piazza Amendola 29, 53100 Siena, Italy)

CILS B2 Exam Content Outline

20%

Ascolto (Listening)

Three listening sub-tests covering everyday dialogues, radio broadcasts or interviews, and short announcements. Multiple-choice and sentence-completion formats, 30 minutes total.

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Comprensione della Lettura (Reading)

Three reading sub-tests: MCQ on an article, information-identification matching, and text reconstruction. Covers journalistic, formal, narrative, and informational texts, 50 minutes.

20%

Analisi delle Strutture della Comunicazione (Grammar)

Four grammar and vocabulary sub-tests: cloze passages and completion items testing verb forms, pronouns, connectives, and discourse structures, 60 minutes.

20%

Produzione Scritta (Writing)

Two written tasks: a formal letter or email (120–140 words) and an opinion essay or discursive text (180–200 words), 70 minutes.

20%

Produzione Orale (Speaking)

Two oral tasks of approximately 10 minutes total: a situational interaction and a monologue, evaluated on fluency, vocabulary, grammar and communication strategies.

How to Pass the CILS B2 Exam

What You Need to Know

Passing score: 55/100 overall with a minimum of 11/20 in each of the five sections. Failing one section means failing the whole exam, but passed sections can be carried over for up to 18 months.
Exam length: 100 questions
Time limit: Approximately 3 hours 50 minutes (written sections): Listening 30 min, Reading 50 min, Grammar/Structures 60 min, Writing 70 min. Speaking approximately 10 min, usually scheduled on a separate day.
Exam fee: Approximately €105–€130 at authorized Italian centers; fees vary by country and exam center. Contact your local authorized CILS center for the exact fee.

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 B2 Study Tips from Top Performers

1Practise the listening section with authentic Italian radio, podcasts, and news (RAI Radio 1, Radio24) to get used to standard Italian at natural speed — CILS recordings are made by two native speakers at a controlled but natural pace.

2For the reading section, read Italian newspapers (Corriere della Sera, La Repubblica) and informational texts daily; focus on identifying the main argument, specific details, and the logical structure of each passage.

3Master the congiuntivo presente and imperfetto and all their trigger expressions (sebbene, nonostante, benché, a meno che, purché) — the grammar section heavily tests these, and errors are the most common failure point.

4Learn combined pronouns (glielo, gliela, gliene) and the rules for 'ne' and 'ci' thoroughly, as these consistently appear in the Analisi delle Strutture cloze exercises.

5For written production, practise writing formal emails and opinion texts of exactly the required length (120–140 words for the letter, 180–200 for the essay) to develop precision in structure, register, and word count.

6Use official CILS sample papers from the Università per Stranieri di Siena website (cils.unistrasi.it) and time yourself strictly under real exam conditions — the time pressure is significant, especially in reading and grammar sections.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the CILS B2 exam and who awards it?

The CILS B2 (Certificazione di Italiano come Lingua Straniera, Livello B2) is an official Italian language proficiency certificate awarded by the Università per Stranieri di Siena (Unistrasi) and recognized by the Italian Ministry of Foreign Affairs. It certifies upper-intermediate communicative competence in Italian at the CEFR B2 level.

What is CILS B2 used for?

CILS B2 is the minimum required level for admission to Italian universities under the annual Italian interministerial circular. It is also accepted for Italian state scholarships, internships, certain professional roles in Italian institutions, and as proof of Italian language competence for visa and residency purposes.

What are the sections of the CILS B2 exam?

The CILS B2 exam has five sections, each worth 20 points: Ascolto (Listening, 30 minutes), Comprensione della Lettura (Reading, 50 minutes), Analisi delle Strutture della Comunicazione (Grammar and Structures, 60 minutes), Produzione Scritta (Writing, 70 minutes), and Produzione Orale (Speaking, approximately 10 minutes).

What is the passing score for CILS B2?

Candidates must score at least 55 out of 100 overall AND at least 11 out of 20 in each individual section to pass. Failing even one section means failing the whole level, but candidates who pass some sections can retake only the failed sections within 18 months without paying the full fee.

When is the CILS B2 exam held in 2026?

The main CILS B2 sessions in 2026 are on 14 April 2026, 16 June 2026, and 3 December 2026. An additional adolescent variant is available in April. Registration deadlines are approximately one month before each session. Check with your local authorized exam center for availability.

How long is the CILS B2 certificate valid?

CILS certificates do not expire. Once awarded, the CILS B2 certificate is valid indefinitely. However, individual institutions or authorities may have their own policies regarding the recency of language certificates for admission or visa purposes.