The Only Time of Year You Can Take the CILS Exam Twice in Two Months

If you are trying to pass the CILS B1 Cittadinanza or A2 Integrazione exam, this summer is the most forgiving window of the entire year. Here is why.

The CILS exam dates are the same across the globe and there are six exam sessions per year. Every year, there is an exam offered in February, April, June, July, October, and December. Six total exams each year. That means most of the year there is a two to four month gap between sessions. Fail in February and you will be waiting until April to retest. Miss the deadline in April and the next exam is not until June. But June and July are back to back test months. For 2026, summer exam dates are June 16 and July 22, just a five-week gap.

That changes the math on risk.

The practice run strategy

June can serve as a practice run for July. Reframing the June exam as a practice run for the July exam can serve dual purposes. First, seeing the actual exam site and their process, can make the July exam day feel much less stressful. Does the room run cold? You can bring a sweater for next month. Did they play the audio from the back of the room? You can sit elsewhere next time. Also, you may feel really ready at home, but nothing reveals where learning gaps are like an actual exam. Walk out of that exam room and write everything down that you can remember. Those notes become your blueprint for cramming over the next 5 weeks before the July exam.

The insurance strategy

If you are already signed up for the June exam, you can still sign up for the July exam. When you take both the June and July exams, you automatically double your chances of passing. July exam registration opens this Monday, May 18th.

There is no central CILS registration website.

Exam registration is managed by the individual exam sites. You find your specific exam site and register directly with them. Every exam site does this differently. Some have online registration and payment. Some want an email. Some still want a fax. There is usually a registration fee and you will need to have some documents ready.

Seats often fill up within the first couple of days of registration opening, so be ready when registration opens. Need some help finding your exam site, we wrote a blog post to help.

This weekend is the time to research your exam site and their requirements so you are ready to go Monday morning.

Summer vacation plans?

You can take the CILS exams at any location worldwide. Going on vacation this summer during the July test date? No worries. There is very likely an exam site at your travel destination. Traveling to Italy? There are literally hundreds of exam sites. Don't let a vacation postpone your progress.

What happens if you skip a summer exam entirely?

The next exam session after July is October 21st. Online results come back in late December. The actual paper certificate? January 2027.

If you need your certificate for a citizenship application (which can take up to 3 years to process), a university enrollment deadline, or a job requirement, that timeline matters.

There is no reason to keep postponing your exam. You can absolutely be ready by July. Despite what your Italian teacher might be telling you, you can be ready for the exam regardless of what your current level of Italian might be.

Ready to start preparing?

All Ready Set Italia A2 Integrazione, B1 Cittadinanza and B1 Standard programs are now all self-paced and 100% online. Enroll today and you can start preparing the very same day. Whether you need to cram for June, prepare for July, or take your time preparing for October, we have you covered.

July registration opens Monday. This weekend, find your exam site.