B1 exam
by Alessio · teacher of Italian for foreigners, ITALS master’s in teaching Italian abroad (Ca’ Foscari University, Venice) and a master’s in teaching Italian as a second language (Giustino Fortunato University, Benevento)
What you’ll find here
To apply for Italian citizenship (by marriage or residence) you need a recognised B1 Italian certificate. Speaking well is not enough: you need the right piece of paper.
Pick your exam date, your weekly hours and your current level: the bar shows instantly whether your plan is realistic.
| Starting level | Hours to B1 | At 5 h/week |
|---|---|---|
| Beginner (A0) | ≈ 400 h | ≈ 18 months |
| A1 completed | ≈ 250 h | ≈ 12 months |
| A2 completed | ≈ 140 h | ≈ 6 months |
| Almost B1 | ≈ 60 h | ≈ 3 months |
Estimates for guided study: lessons, readings and exam simulations count; passive listening counts half. With 90 days and 5 hours a week you have about 65 hours: enough from a completed A2, tight from A1, unrealistic from zero. The Ti Amo Italiano app was built exactly for this: a full course from a teacher, with the 35 exam simulations included.
Four certificates count: CILS B1 Cittadinanza (Siena), CELI 2 (Perugia), PLIDA B1 (Dante Alighieri) and the Roma Tre certificate. CILS Cittadinanza is the most popular: designed for this purpose and shorter than the standard B1.
The exam has four parts: listening, reading, writing and speaking. You pass with 60%: you don’t need perfection, you need practice with the real exam formats.
In detail: listening takes about 30 minutes (dialogues and announcements), reading 40 (short texts and forms), writing 40 (a message and a personal text), speaking 10 (introduction and conversation). CILS Cittadinanza has no pure grammar paper: understanding and being understood is what counts.
If citizenship is your only goal, CILS B1 Cittadinanza is the most practical: everyday-life tasks and a shorter exam. CELI 2 and PLIDA B1 are full B1 exams: equally valid, and useful if you ever want to study or work in Italy. Often the available dates in your city decide for you.
Ti has the full course from A1 to C2 and B1 exam simulations for the citizenship requirement: complete tests, marked instantly.
Half the course free, no sign-up
★★★★★(7)by Alessio, a teacher since 2018
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B1 grammar, free and clearly explained
Reading texts with questions and answers, like the reading paper
The 35 full exam simulations in the Ti Amo Italiano app
A one-to-one lesson for the speaking part: write to me
In the Ti Amo Italiano app: 35 full simulations of the B1 citizenship exam, with answers. Half of level A1 is free →A plan that works: 1) three reading texts a week with the questions; 2) one full simulation every weekend; 3) ten minutes of listening a day (radio, podcasts); 4) speaking practice with a real person, at least twice before the exam.
You register at accredited exam centres: schools and institutes in Italy, Italian Cultural Institutes abroad. Sessions run several times a year; registration usually costs 40 to 100 euros. On exam day: valid ID and arrive early.
Results usually arrive within one to three months. You need the certificate when you apply: plan with a margin.
| Italian | What it means |
|---|---|
| la certificazioneon the form | the certificate you get at the end |
| la sessione d’esameon the calendar | the date the exam is held |
| l’iscrizioneon the institute’s site | signing up, before the deadline |
| la prova oraleon the day of the exam | the part where you talk to the examiner |
| la comprensione all’ascoltoin the syllabus | understanding what you hear |
| la produzione scrittain the syllabus | the part where you do the writing |
| l’ente certificatoreon the form | the university that issues the certificate |
| il punteggioon your result | what you scored in each part |
| la sufficienzaon your result | the minimum needed to pass |
Fill in the gaps with the words from the table
No: holders of an Italian school diploma or a recognised certificate are exempt. Everyone else does.
The law says no. Holders of the EU long-term residence permit, and those who signed the integration agreement, are exempt from the B1 certificate when applying for citizenship. In practice prefectures do not all apply the rule the same way, and some ask for the certificate anyway. Check with your prefecture or a patronato before you pay for an exam.
From a solid A2, 3-6 months of steady study is usually enough.
You can retake it at the next session: most centres offer several dates a year.
Usually between 40 and 100 euros, depending on the institute.
No, but it must be among the recognised ones when you apply.
No: exams are held in person at authorised centres.
Usually within one to three months; the institute then issues the certificate for your application.
A teacher’s tip: book your exam date first, then study. With a real deadline, that B1 will come.
