CELI (Certificates of Knowledge of the Italian Language)

Rossana
Jun 13
5 min read

Updated: Jul 16

CELI is an official certification that certifies the level of competence in Italian as a foreign language. It is issued by the University for Foreigners of Perugia and is recognized by the Ministry of Education, University and Research (MIUR). Like the CILS, the CELI is a valuable tool for those who want to study, work or simply demonstrate their knowledge of the Italian language.

The CELI exam is intended for people of all nationalities who are not native Italian speakers and who wish to certify their level of linguistic competence. There are no specific prerequisites in terms of age or educational qualifications to access the CELI exams.

Levels of Competence (in line with the Common European Framework of Reference for Languages - CEFR):

CELI offers six levels of certification, aligned with the CEFR:

CELI Impact 1 (A1): It assesses the ability to understand and use familiar everyday expressions and very simple sentences to satisfy concrete needs.

CELI 2 (A2): Certifies the ability to understand sentences and frequently used expressions related to areas of most immediate relevance (e.g. very basic personal and family information, shopping, local geography, employment).

CELI 3 (B1):Certifies the ability to understand the main points of clear standard input on familiar matters relating to school, free time, etc. and to deal with most situations likely to arise whilst travelling in an Italian-speaking country.

CELI 4 (B2): Demonstrates the ability to understand the main ideas of complex texts on both concrete and abstract topics, including technical discussions in one's field of specialization, and to interact with a certain fluency and spontaneity that make normal interaction with native speakers possible. This level is often recognized by Italian universities for admission.

CELI 5 (C1): Certifies the ability to understand a wide range of complex and long texts and to recognize implicit meaning, and to express oneself fluently and spontaneously without excessive effort to find words.

CELI 6 (C2): Certifies very advanced linguistic competence, comparable to that of an educated native speaker. It allows you to easily understand practically everything you hear or read and to express yourself spontaneously, very fluently and precisely, identifying even the most subtle nuances of meaning in complex situations.

Each level of the CELI exam is made up of different tests that aim to evaluate the four fundamental linguistic skills (listening, reading, written production and oral production) and grammatical and lexical competence.

The specific structure may vary slightly depending on the level, but generally includes:

1. Listening: Comprehension test of oral passages (conversations, announcements, discussions, etc.) with multiple choice or true/false questions.

2.Reading: Comprehension test of written texts of various types (articles, literary passages, emails, etc.) with matching, completion, or answering questions.

3. Written Production: Drafting of texts of various types (letters, emails, short essays, descriptions, etc.) based on specific instructions.

4. Speaking Production: Interaction with an examiner in various communicative activities, such as conversations on specific topics, descriptions of images, role-play, and discussion of opinions.

5. Linguistic Competence (Grammar and Vocabulary): specific exercises aimed at assessing knowledge and use of grammatical structures and Italian vocabulary through completion, transformation, multiple choice, etc. exercises.

This section can be integrated into the listening and reading tests in some levels.

The duration of each test and the percentage weight of the different sections on the final grade vary depending on the CELI level.

To pass the exam and obtain the certificate, it is necessary to achieve a minimum score in each of the tests.

If one or more tests are not passed, it is generally possible to repeat them in subsequent sessions within a certain period of time, maintaining the positive result of the tests passed.

CELI certificates are recognized by:

The Ministry of Education, University and Research (MIUR).

Many Italian universities for the admission of foreign students, often exempting them from taking additional language tests (the required level may vary depending on the university and degree course).

Various institutions and companies in Italy and abroad as a certificate of linguistic competence for professional purposes.

To prepare for the CELI exam, it is advisable to:

Study the Italian language at the appropriate level, focusing on the development of the four language skills (listening, reading, writing and speaking) and on knowledge of grammar and vocabulary.

Use specific teaching materials for preparing for CELI exams, which often include examples of past tests and exam simulations.

Follow language courses offered by Italian language schools that specifically prepare for the CELI certification.

Practice with activities similar to those proposed in the exam, such as listening to and understanding audio passages, reading texts of various types, writing texts on different topics and participating in conversations in Italian.

Familiarize yourself with the specific format of the CELI exam for the level you intend to take.

CELI exams are held in numerous exam centers accredited by the University for Foreigners of Perugia in Italy and in many countries around the world.

Exam sessions are generally held several times a year, with fixed dates established by the University of Perugia. It is necessary to register for the exam at an accredited center by the deadlines, providing the required documentation and paying the relevant registration fee.

As with the CILS, CELI certificates do not have an expiry date and permanently certify the level of linguistic competence achieved at the time of the exam.

In short, the CELI exam is an authoritative and internationally recognized certification that comprehensively evaluates Italian language skills through various practical and theoretical tests, divided into six levels of increasing difficulty in line with the CEFR. It is a useful tool for anyone who needs to officially certify their knowledge of Italian for study, work or personal reasons.

The official website of the University for Foreigners of Perugia for the CELI exam is managed by the CVCL (Centre for Language Evaluation and Certification).

You can find all the useful information at the following address:

https://cvcl.unistrapg.it/

On this site you can find details on:

What is CELI and the different levels of certification.

The dates of the exams and the deadlines for registration.

Information on the structure of the tests for each level.

How to register for the exam and find the exam centres in Italy and abroad (you will probably also find the contacts of centres in Zurich).

Useful materials for preparation.

The fees for registering for the exam (although these may vary depending on the exam centre).

The payment methods.

Information on the recognition of the CELI certification.

The contacts of the CVCL for any questions.