100+ Free PLIDA C1 Practice Questions

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LEGGERE — Parte 3. Completi il testo scegliendo il connettivo adatto. «Le energie rinnovabili hanno raggiunto la competitività economica; _____, la loro diffusione resta frenata dalla difficoltà di immagazzinare l'energia prodotta.» (Reading, Part 3. Complete the text with the right connective. "Renewable energies have achieved economic competitiveness; _____, their spread remains held back by the difficulty of storing the energy produced.")

tuttavia (however)

ossia (that is)

inoltre (moreover)

pertanto (therefore)

to track

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2026 Statistics

Key Facts: PLIDA C1 Exam

PLIDA C1 is the advanced (CEFR C1) Italian certificate of the Società Dante Alighieri; its Ascoltare and Leggere tests are multiple-choice with 33 items, while Scrivere and Parlare are production tasks, each skill scored out of 30 and passed at 18/30.

Sample PLIDA C1 Practice Questions

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1ASCOLTARE — Parte 1. Ascolti questo breve intervento e lo associ alla frase che ne riassume il senso. Trascrizione: «Non è più sufficiente reagire ai cambiamenti del mercato: oggi un'azienda che vuole sopravvivere deve essere in grado di riorganizzarsi in poche settimane, spostando risorse e linee produttive con una flessibilità che fino a dieci anni fa sarebbe stata impensabile.» (Listening, Part 1. Match the clip to the summarising sentence. Transcript: "It is no longer enough to react to market changes: today a company that wants to survive must be able to reorganise itself in a few weeks, shifting resources and production lines with a flexibility that ten years ago would have been unthinkable.")

A.L'industria 4.0 permetterà alle imprese di diventare più agili. (Industry 4.0 will let firms become more agile.)

B.L'industria 4.0 è un cambiamento epocale. (Industry 4.0 is a momentous change.)

C.L'industria 4.0 richiede leggi condivise tra i Paesi. (Industry 4.0 requires shared laws between countries.)

D.L'orientamento del sistema produttivo sarà stabilito dalle aziende. (The direction of the production system will be set by firms.)

Explanation: The speaker's whole point is operational nimbleness — 'riorganizzarsi in poche settimane' and 'flessibilità' map directly onto 'diventare più agili' (become more agile). At C1 the matching task rewards grasping the implicit gist rather than a single repeated word.

2ASCOLTARE — Parte 1. Associ il brano alla frase corrispondente. Trascrizione: «Il vero nodo è normativo. Finché ogni nazione adotterà standard diversi sulla protezione dei dati e sull'interoperabilità dei macchinari, le imprese che operano oltreconfine continueranno a muoversi su un terreno incertissimo.» (Listening, Part 1. Match the clip. Transcript: "The real knot is regulatory. As long as each nation adopts different standards on data protection and machine interoperability, firms operating across borders will keep moving on very uncertain ground.")

A.L'industria 4.0 è un cambiamento epocale. (Industry 4.0 is a momentous change.)

B.L'industria 4.0 richiede che i Paesi industrializzati abbiano leggi condivise. (Industry 4.0 requires industrialised countries to have shared laws.)

C.L'industria 4.0 si basa sullo scambio di dati tra macchine. (Industry 4.0 is based on data exchange between machines.)

D.Con l'industria 4.0 il Paese dovrà abbandonare attività tradizionali. (With Industry 4.0 the country will have to abandon traditional activities.)

Explanation: The clip's argument is that diverging national standards create uncertainty, so the implied solution is harmonised, shared rules — 'leggi condivise'. 'Il vero nodo è normativo' (the real knot is regulatory) is the interpretive key.

3ASCOLTARE — Parte 1. Associ il brano alla frase corrispondente. Trascrizione: «Per noi il digitale ha significato soprattutto questo: i sensori dei macchinari dialogano tra loro senza intervento umano, si scambiano informazioni in tempo reale e correggono da soli le anomalie. È questa conversazione tra macchine il cuore della rivoluzione.» (Listening, Part 1. Match the clip. Transcript: "For us, going digital has mainly meant this: the machines' sensors talk to one another without human intervention, exchange information in real time and correct anomalies by themselves. This conversation between machines is the heart of the revolution.")

A.L'industria 4.0 permetterà alle imprese di diventare più agili. (Industry 4.0 will let firms become more agile.)

B.La nuova legge prevede agevolazioni sulle tasse. (The new law provides tax breaks.)

C.L'industria 4.0 si basa sullo scambio di dati tra macchine. (Industry 4.0 is based on data exchange between machines.)

D.L'industria 4.0 richiede leggi condivise. (Industry 4.0 requires shared laws.)

Explanation: The speaker explicitly defines the core of the change as 'questa conversazione tra macchine' (this conversation between machines) — sensors exchanging data in real time. That is a near-paraphrase of 'scambio di dati tra macchine'.

4ASCOLTARE — Parte 1. Associ il brano alla frase corrispondente. Trascrizione: «Sarà inevitabile fare delle scelte. Un Paese non può eccellere in tutto: dovremo concentrare gli investimenti sui settori ad alta tecnologia e, per quanto doloroso, rinunciare a comparti manifatturieri che ci hanno reso famosi ma che ormai non reggono la concorrenza.» (Listening, Part 1. Match the clip. Transcript: "Choices will be inevitable. A country cannot excel at everything: we will have to concentrate investment on high-tech sectors and, however painful, give up manufacturing branches that made us famous but that no longer withstand competition.")

A.L'orientamento del sistema produttivo sarà stabilito dalle aziende. (The direction of the production system will be set by firms.)

B.L'industria 4.0 si basa sullo scambio di dati tra macchine. (Industry 4.0 is based on data exchange between machines.)

C.L'industria 4.0 è un cambiamento epocale. (Industry 4.0 is a momentous change.)

D.Con l'industria 4.0 il Paese dovrà abbandonare alcune attività tradizionali. (With Industry 4.0 the country will have to give up some traditional activities.)

Explanation: The speaker says the country will have to 'rinunciare a comparti manifatturieri' (give up manufacturing branches) it was once famous for — a direct match for abandoning traditional activities. 'Per quanto doloroso' signals the reluctant abandonment.

5ASCOLTARE — Parte 2. Ascolti l'attrice e completi la frase. «Pia è un personaggio attuale perché…» Trascrizione: «Pia non fa proclami, non scende in piazza. Eppure è modernissima: in un'epoca in cui tutti scendono a compromessi, lei semplicemente si rifiuta di mentire, di prendere scorciatoie. La sua onestà quotidiana, ostinata, è ciò che la rende così contemporanea.» (Listening, Part 2. Complete: "Pia is a topical character because…" Transcript: "Pia makes no proclamations, she doesn't take to the streets. Yet she is utterly modern: in an age when everyone compromises, she simply refuses to lie, to take shortcuts. Her stubborn everyday honesty is what makes her so contemporary.")

A.è impegnata in politica. (she is politically active.)

B.si comporta onestamente. (she behaves honestly.)

C.cerca la realizzazione personale. (she seeks personal fulfilment.)

D.evita ogni conflitto. (she avoids all conflict.)

Explanation: The actress pinpoints 'la sua onestà quotidiana, ostinata' (her stubborn everyday honesty) as the reason Pia feels contemporary. C1 listening tests require you to discard the explicitly negated detail ('non scende in piazza') and hold the affirmed one.

6ASCOLTARE — Parte 2. Completi la frase. «Anna Foglietta temeva di…» Trascrizione: «All'inizio avevo paura di calcare la mano, di renderla una macchietta. Un personaggio così integro rischia facilmente di diventare sgradevole, una specie di giudice morale che lo spettatore finisce per detestare. Ho lavorato proprio per evitare questo.» (Listening, Part 2. Complete: "Anna Foglietta feared…" Transcript: "At first I was afraid of overdoing it, of turning her into a caricature. Such an upright character can easily become unpleasant, a sort of moral judge the viewer ends up loathing. I worked precisely to avoid that.")

A.caratterizzare troppo il personaggio. (over-characterising the character.)

B.rendere antipatico il personaggio. (making the character unlikeable.)

C.fraintendere il personaggio. (misunderstanding the character.)

D.annoiare il pubblico. (boring the audience.)

Explanation: Her stated fear is that an upright character 'rischia di diventare sgradevole… che lo spettatore finisce per detestare' (becomes unpleasant, whom the viewer ends up loathing) — i.e. unlikeable. At C1, 'sgradevole/detestare' must be mapped to 'antipatico'.

7ASCOLTARE — Parte 2. Completi la frase. «I lettori preferirebbero trovare sui giornali…» Trascrizione: «La gente non compra più il giornale per leggere l'ennesima analisi geopolitica. Vuole ritrovarsi nelle pagine: la bolletta che aumenta, la scuola del figlio, il lavoro che non c'è. Vuole storie che parlino della sua vita, non trattati per addetti ai lavori.» (Listening, Part 2. Complete: "Readers would prefer to find in newspapers…" Transcript: "People no longer buy the paper to read yet another geopolitical analysis. They want to recognise themselves in the pages: the rising bill, their child's school, the missing job. They want stories about their own life, not treatises for insiders.")

A.argomenti che li riguardino. (topics that concern them.)

B.analisi delle questioni mondiali. (analyses of world affairs.)

C.interviste a esperti di finanza. (interviews with finance experts.)

D.inchieste sulla politica internazionale. (investigations into international politics.)

Explanation: The journalist says readers 'vogliono storie che parlino della sua vita' (want stories about their own life) — topics that concern them directly. The contrast is drawn against world-affairs analysis, which he says they no longer want.

8ASCOLTARE — Parte 2. Completi la frase. «Secondo Cazzullo i giornalisti di oggi…» Trascrizione: «Il difetto della nostra categoria è la sovraesposizione. Si parla addosso, ci si mette in posa, si trasforma ogni notizia in un'occasione per esibire la propria firma. Il giornalista dovrebbe sparire dietro i fatti, e invece pretende di essere lui il fatto.» (Listening, Part 2. Complete: "According to Cazzullo, today's journalists…" Transcript: "Our profession's flaw is over-exposure. People talk about themselves, strike a pose, turn every piece of news into a chance to show off their byline. A journalist should disappear behind the facts, yet instead claims to be the fact himself.")

A.esagerano spesso nei toni. (often exaggerate their tone.)

B.ricorrono troppo alla rete. (rely too much on the internet.)

C.sono concentrati su sé stessi. (are focused on themselves.)

D.lavorano con troppa fretta. (work in too much of a hurry.)

Explanation: Cazzullo's complaint is self-absorption: 'si parla addosso… pretende di essere lui il fatto' (they talk about themselves… each claims to be the fact himself). 'Sovraesposizione' (over-exposure) confirms the focus is on the self.

9ASCOLTARE — Parte 2. Completi la frase. «Secondo Boeri, per assicurare un lavoro fisso ai giovani è necessario che lo Stato…» Trascrizione: «Non servono nuovi incentivi a pioggia, né tantomeno altra spesa pubblica. Serve un quadro di regole completamente diverso: bisogna ripensare il modo in cui si entra nel mercato del lavoro, creando condizioni che oggi semplicemente non esistono.» (Listening, Part 2. Complete: "According to Boeri, to secure stable jobs for young people, the State must…" Transcript: "We don't need more scattershot incentives, still less more public spending. We need a completely different framework of rules: we must rethink how one enters the labour market, creating conditions that simply do not exist today.")

A.crei condizioni nuove. (create new conditions.)

B.spenda più soldi. (spend more money.)

C.interpelli le imprese. (consult firms.)

D.riduca le tasse. (cut taxes.)

Explanation: Boeri calls for 'condizioni che oggi semplicemente non esistono' (conditions that simply do not exist today) — i.e. creating new conditions. Note the subjunctive 'crei' after 'è necessario che', which C1 candidates must recognise.

10ASCOLTARE — Parte 2. Completi la frase. «Il contratto unico di ingresso…» Trascrizione: «Con un contratto unico, le tutele crescono col passare degli anni invece di scattare all'improvviso. Così l'azienda non avrebbe più paura di assumere a tempo indeterminato, perché i costi sarebbero graduali. È un meccanismo pensato per favorire i rapporti di lavoro stabili e duraturi.» (Listening, Part 2. Complete: "The single entry contract…" Transcript: "With a single contract, protections grow over the years instead of kicking in all at once. So the firm would no longer be afraid to hire on permanent terms, because the costs would be gradual. It is a mechanism designed to favour stable, lasting employment relationships.")

A.porterebbe a una crescita dell'occupazione. (would lead to a rise in employment.)

B.farebbe risparmiare i datori di lavoro. (would save employers money.)

C.incoraggerebbe le assunzioni a lungo termine. (would encourage long-term hiring.)

D.ridurrebbe il precariato giovanile. (would reduce youth precarity.)

Explanation: The clip's conclusion is that the contract is 'pensato per favorire i rapporti di lavoro stabili e duraturi' (designed to favour stable, lasting employment) and removes firms' fear of permanent hiring — i.e. it encourages long-term hiring. Note the conditional 'incoraggerebbe'.

About the PLIDA C1 Exam

PLIDA C1 is the advanced-level certificate of the Progetto Lingua Italiana Dante Alighieri (PLIDA), the Italian-as-a-foreign-language certification awarded by the Società Dante Alighieri under an agreement with Italy's Ministry of Foreign Affairs and aligned with the Common European Framework of Reference (CEFR). At C1, candidates must understand a wide range of long and demanding texts, recognise implicit meaning, and express themselves fluently and flexibly for social, academic and professional purposes. The exam comprises four skills: Ascoltare (listening) and Leggere (reading) are entirely closed-response — multiple-choice and matching — while Scrivere (writing) and Parlare (speaking) are open production tasks. The two receptive tests together carry 33 items: 18 in listening across four parts and 15 in reading across four parts, each scored out of 30 points. Listening passages are authentic interviews, lectures and reports; reading texts range from literary prose and parallel book reviews to essayistic and journalistic argumentation. Each skill must be passed independently with at least 18/30. The PLIDA certificate is recognised for university enrolment and study in Italy, for professional purposes, and the lower levels are accepted toward Italian residency and citizenship language requirements. PLIDA exams are offered through more than 300 accredited centres in over 60 countries, with C1 sessions in 2026 held on 18 March, 10 June and 19 November.

Questions

33 scored questions

Time Limit

Ascoltare 60 minutes (about 50 minutes of audio plus 10 minutes to transfer answers) and Leggere 100 minutes for the multiple-choice receptive tests. The full certificate also requires Scrivere (90 minutes) and a Parlare oral interview, which are not multiple-choice.

Passing Score

At least 18 out of 30 in each of the four skills (Ascoltare, Leggere, Scrivere, Parlare). The overall minimum is 72 out of 120; failing any single skill below 18/30 means the whole exam is not passed, though individual skills can be retaken.

Exam Fee

Set by each accredited centre; approximately €145–€165 (plus VAT where due) for the full C1 exam in 2026 at Italian university centres. Retaking single skills costs about €30–€65. Confirm with your local PLIDA centre. (Società Dante Alighieri (PLIDA), through accredited exam centres worldwide)

PLIDA C1 Exam Content Outline

50%

Ascoltare — Listening

Four parts, 18 items: matching clips to summarising statements, completing sentences from three options on interviews and monologues, and gap-filling from a word list, using authentic Italian audio on cultural, social, economic and scientific themes.

50%

Leggere — Reading

Four parts, 15 items: multiple-choice comprehension of a literary text, matching statements to two parallel reviews (A/B/both), and inference-based comprehension of essayistic and journalistic prose with advanced grammar, connectives and idioms embedded.

How to Pass the PLIDA C1 Exam

What You Need to Know

Passing score: At least 18 out of 30 in each of the four skills (Ascoltare, Leggere, Scrivere, Parlare). The overall minimum is 72 out of 120; failing any single skill below 18/30 means the whole exam is not passed, though individual skills can be retaken.
Exam length: 33 questions
Time limit: Ascoltare 60 minutes (about 50 minutes of audio plus 10 minutes to transfer answers) and Leggere 100 minutes for the multiple-choice receptive tests. The full certificate also requires Scrivere (90 minutes) and a Parlare oral interview, which are not multiple-choice.
Exam fee: Set by each accredited centre; approximately €145–€165 (plus VAT where due) for the full C1 exam in 2026 at Italian university centres. Retaking single skills costs about €30–€65. Confirm with your local PLIDA 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

PLIDA C1 Study Tips from Top Performers

1Read demanding authentic Italian daily — newspaper opinion pieces, literary fiction and essays — and practise inferring tone, irony and implicit meaning rather than just literal content.

2Drill the congiuntivo in all tenses and the periodo ipotetico until consecutio temporum (tense agreement) is automatic, since these are embedded throughout the C1 receptive tasks.

3Build a bank of advanced connectives (tuttavia, di conseguenza, a patto che, lungi da, in virtù di) and learn which mood each one governs.

4Train listening with full-speed Italian interviews and lectures, taking notes on the key claim of each speaker; the Ascoltare matching tasks reward grasping the gist, not isolated words.

5Practise the exact PLIDA item types using the official Società Dante Alighieri C1 sample paper: clip-to-statement matching, A/B/C sentence completion, gap-fill from a list, and A/B/both review matching.

6Learn figurative idioms in context (gettare la spugna, un buco nell'acqua, arenarsi) because C1 reading routinely tests meaning that differs from the literal sense.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is PLIDA C1 and who awards it?

PLIDA C1 is the advanced (CEFR C1) level of the Progetto Lingua Italiana Dante Alighieri, the Italian-as-a-foreign-language certification awarded by the Società Dante Alighieri. It certifies the ability to understand complex texts and use Italian flexibly for academic, professional and social purposes.

How is the PLIDA C1 exam structured?

PLIDA C1 has four skills: Ascoltare (listening, 18 items, 4 parts) and Leggere (reading, 15 items, 4 parts) are closed-response multiple-choice and matching, while Scrivere (writing) and Parlare (speaking) are open production tasks. Each skill is scored out of 30.

What score do I need to pass PLIDA C1?

You must score at least 18 out of 30 in every one of the four skills. The minimum overall total is 72 out of 120 and the maximum is 120. If you fail one skill below 18/30 you can usually retake just that skill rather than the whole exam.

How long are the PLIDA C1 listening and reading tests?

The Ascoltare test runs about 50 minutes of audio plus 10 minutes to transfer answers (60 minutes total), and the Leggere test lasts 100 minutes. Wrong, blank or double answers score zero, and there is no negative marking.

When are the PLIDA C1 exam sessions in 2026?

In 2026 the Società Dante Alighieri schedules C1 sessions on 18 March, 10 June and 19 November, open to all centres. Exact local dates and the Parlare interview slot are confirmed by each accredited exam centre.

What is PLIDA C1 useful for?

PLIDA C1 demonstrates advanced Italian for university study, academic work and professional roles in Italy and abroad. PLIDA certificates are issued by the Società Dante Alighieri and are recognised internationally as proof of Italian competence aligned with the CEFR.