What level of Italian am I really at?
Four parts: grammar, reading, vocabulary range and a short written task.
- about 15 minutes
- Free, no sign-up
- 24 questions + 1 written task
- PDF profile
What the A1–C2 levels mean
They are the six steps of the Common European Framework of Reference for Languages. They do not measure how many rules you have memorised: they describe what you can do with the language: follow an announcement at a station, talk about a film, hold your own in a technical discussion.
- A1You introduce yourself and exchange very simple information, if the other person speaks slowly.
- A2You cope with everyday routines: shopping, booking, telling someone about your day.
- B1You handle almost any travel situation on your own and explain an opinion. This is the level required for Italian citizenship.
- B2You follow an extended discussion and interact naturally with native speakers.
- C1You use the language flexibly for social, academic and professional purposes, and catch what is implied.
- C2You understand almost everything effortlessly and express yourself precisely, even in complex situations.
Descriptions rephrased from the global scale of the Common European Framework of Reference, Council of Europe (2001; companion volume 2020). Official text
How this test works
Grammar and usage, 12 questions
Sentences to complete, getting harder as you go: articles and the present tense at the start, subjunctive and connectives towards the end.
Reading comprehension, 6 texts
Six passages, one per level, written for this test. The questions can only be answered by grasping the meaning, not by recognising a word.
Vocabulary size, 6 groups
It also counts how many words you know. Reading without a dictionary takes about 98% of them: this part estimates where you stand.
Writing, one short text
No machine can really assess it. What you write goes into your profile as it is, to read again or to show a teacher.
The result is an orientation, not a certificate. The certificates recognised by the Italian state are CILS, CELI, PLIDA and CERT.IT, and they are taken in person at an authorised centre.
Why words matter, not just rules
If you meet six unknown words on a page of three hundred, reading stays fluent. If you meet thirty, you stop at every line: you start decoding instead of reading. This is the 98% threshold described by Paul Nation.
That is where graded readers come from: texts written with a controlled vocabulary, so that the threshold holds at every level.
Frequently asked questions
How long does the test take?
About fifteen minutes. If you miss every question at one level the test stops early: harder questions would not change the outcome.
What level do I need to live and work in Italy?
B1 is the level required for Italian citizenship. For most jobs that involve dealing with the public, B1 to B2 is what employers expect.
Does this count as a certificate?
No, it is an orientation. The certificates recognised by the Italian state are CILS, CELI, PLIDA and CERT.IT, and they are taken in person at an authorised centre.
How long does it take to reach B1?
The Council of Europe estimates roughly 350 to 400 hours of guided study from scratch. Reading and listening outside lessons shorten that considerably.
Can I take the test again?
Yes, and the second time you get different questions: there are three sets and they alternate.
Why are you taking the test?
- Citizenship and residencyB1 is the level required for Italian citizenship. Knowing where you stand now tells you how far there is to go, and whether an exam session this year is realistic.
- Work or moving to ItalyFor jobs dealing with the public, employers expect B1 to B2. The gap between grammar and reading in your profile shows what to work on first.
- Study and examsUniversities usually ask for B2. The test places you on the same scale as CILS, CELI, PLIDA and CERT.IT, so you can see which session to aim for.
- Family, travel and pleasureNo deadline, no exam. Here the useful number is your vocabulary size: it decides which books you can read without stopping at every line.
Sources
- Council of Europe, Common European Framework of Reference for Languages (2001) and Companion volume (2020): for the scale of levels, rephrased here and not reproduced. coe.int
- I.S.P. Nation, How Large a Vocabulary Is Needed for Reading and Listening?, The Canadian Modern Language Review 63(1), 2006.
- I.S.P. Nation, The Four Strands, Innovation in Language Learning and Teaching 1(1), 2007.
- M. Hu, I.S.P. Nation, Unknown Vocabulary Density and Reading Comprehension, Reading in a Foreign Language 13(1), 2000.
The texts and questions are original, written for this page by a teacher with two master's degrees in teaching Italian as a second language. They do not come from exam papers or third-party material.
