The CILS B1 Cittadinanza Exam:
Complete Guide for English Speakers
Everything English speakers need to know about the CILS B1 Cittadinanza exam - in one place.
What is the CILS B1 Cittadinanza exam?
The CILS B1 Cittadinanza is the Italian language exam most people take to apply for Italian citizenship by marriage or by residency. It is issued by the University for Foreigners of Siena, one of the four certifying bodies recognised by the Italian Ministry of the Interior, and it is accepted by every prefettura and consulate.
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"Cittadinanza" means citizenship. The exam was created specifically for citizenship applicants, which is why it is shorter and more practical than the general CILS B1. It tests whether you can handle everyday Italian: understand a conversation, read a notice, write a short message, hold a simple exchange. It does not test grammar in isolation and it does not ask you to write essays.
The certificate does not expire.
Who needs the CILS B1 Cittadinanza exam?
You need a B1 certificate if you are applying for Italian citizenship by marriage (matrimonio) or by residency (residenza). The requirement has been in force since December 2018 and applies whether you apply from inside Italy or through a consulate abroad.
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You do not need it if you are applying by descent (jure sanguinis), or if you already hold a recognised B1 or higher certificate from CILS, CELI, PLIDA or the Roma Tre certification.
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The CILS B1 Cittadinanza is the exam we recommend for citizenship because it is the shortest route to the certificate: four sections, under two hours, and everything on the paper is at B1 level.
What does the CILS B1 Cittadinanza exam test?
Four sections, all on the same day, in this order:
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Listening (Ascolto), 30 minutes.
Recorded conversations and announcements played twice, with multiple choice and matching questions. Everyday situations: a phone call to an office, an announcement at a station, two people making plans.
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Reading comprehension (Comprensione della lettura), 40 minutes.
Short authentic texts such as notices, emails, adverts and simple articles, with multiple choice and matching questions. You are tested on whether you understood the text, not on grammar rules.
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Writing (Produzione scritta), 40 minutes.
One short text of 80 to 120 words. You choose between two prompts, usually a message or email in a practical situation: writing to a landlord, a school, a shop, a friend. No dictionary.
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Speaking (Produzione orale), about 5 minutes.
Two parts, back to back: about one minute of fixed personal questions (name, where you are from, how long you have lived in Italy, what you do), then a two to three minute conversation on one of four everyday topics you choose from. The examiner asks an opening question and follows up on your answers. The whole thing is recorded and scored in Siena, not by the person in the room.
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Total time: 1 hour 55 minutes.
How is the CILS B1 Cittadinanza exam scored?
Each section is worth 12 points, for a maximum of 48. Every section is scored independently and you must pass all four to pass the exam. A strong listening score does not rescue a weak writing score.
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If you fail one section, you fail the exam and must retake all four sections at a later session. Passing sections do not carry forward. Our post on what happens if you fail part of the CILS exam covers this in detail.
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Scoring is done in Siena, not at your exam centre. Results are published roughly 40 business days after the exam, so plan on about two months. The certificate is then sent to your exam centre, not to your home. Our results and certificate post explains how to collect it.
When are the CILS B1 Cittadinanza exam dates?
B1 Cittadinanza is offered at approved test centers worldwide six times per year.
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February 19
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April 14
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June 16
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July 22
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October 21
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December 3
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February 18
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April 8
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June 10
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July 22
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October 21
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December 2
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Test center availability varies by exam. Registration typically opens approximately two months before each exam date - check your local test center for their specific deadline.
Where can you take the CILS B1 Cittadinanza exam?
At approved CILS exam centres in Italy and abroad: Italian Cultural Institutes, authorised language schools, and the University for Foreigners of Siena itself. The exam is not available online.
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Not every centre offers the Cittadinanza module, and some centres abroad have stopped offering it. Before you plan around a date, confirm that your centre runs B1 Cittadinanza at that session. Our CILS exam locations guide lists centres by country, and our registration guide walks through the process step by step.
How long does it take to prepare?
Most English speakers who already have basic Italian need four to six months of consistent preparation to pass B1 Cittadinanza. If you are starting from zero, plan for a year or more.
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Consistency matters more than intensity. Thirty minutes a day for four months beats a two-week cram, because listening and speaking only improve with repeated exposure. Our post on how long it takes to reach B1 breaks this down by starting level.
B1 Cittadinanza or B1 Standard?
If you need the certificate for citizenship, take B1 Cittadinanza. It is shorter, it covers only what citizenship applicants need, and it is offered at every session.
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Take the CILS B1 Standard instead if you need a B1 certificate for work, university admission, or registration with a professional body (Albo), or if you want one certificate that covers citizenship and those other uses. It is a longer exam with an extra grammar section and it runs only twice a year. Our CILS B1 Standard exam guide covers it in full.
How to prepare for the CILS B1 Cittadinanza as an English speaker
The exam is not hard because the Italian is hard. It is hard because the format is unfamiliar and most people have never seen a real paper before they sit one. The candidates who pass are the ones who know exactly what each section asks, how it is scored, and what a passing answer looks like.
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That means three things: work from real past exams rather than generic B1 textbooks, learn the scoring criteria so you know where the points are, and get your instruction in English so nothing is lost on the way.
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Not sure where you stand? Take our free 1-minute B1 Cittadinanza readiness check.
Ready Set Italia - CILS B1 Prep for English Speakers
Our B1 Cittadinanza prep program is built on 10 real past exams with scoring on every section, taught entirely in English by instructors who passed this exact exam. Self-paced, online, six months of access for €575, with the option to split the payment.