Italian B1 citizenship exam practice test: official papers and a timer
According to the official documents of the four exam bodies (checked on 11 November 2026), the exam lasts about 2 h (CILS B1 Cittadinanza), 2 h 30 min (CELI 2 i), about 2 h 35 min (PLIDA B1) and 1 h 40 min (CERT.IT B1). For a practice test you need your body's official sample paper and these times: choose the exam and start the timer, section by section.
The practice test timer
First download and print your body's sample paper. Then choose the exam: the sections are in the order and with the minutes written by the body. The timer saves nothing and sends no data.
Section 1 of 4: Listening
Start the audio file and do not stop it: the pauses for answering are already in it.
- Listeningabout 30 min
- Reading and grammar40 min
- Writing40 min
- Speakingabout 10 min
What you need, body by body
| Exam | Free full sample papers | Sections, in order | In total |
|---|---|---|---|
| CILSCILS B1 Cittadinanza CILS sample paper | 1 | Listening (about 30 min) → Reading and grammar (40 min) → Writing (40 min) → Speaking (about 10 min) | about 2 h |
| CELICELI 2 i cittadinanza (B1) CELI sample paper | 2 | Reading and writing (first booklet) (2 hours) → Listening (second booklet) (20 min) → Speaking (10-12 min) | 2 h 30 min |
| PLIDAPLIDA B1 PLIDA sample paper | 1 | Listening (about 40 min) → Reading (40 min) → Writing (60 min) → Copy your answers onto the answer sheet (10 min) → Speaking (about 15 min) | about 2 h 35 min plus 10 min to copy the answers |
| CERT.ITCERT.IT B1 CERT.IT sample paper | 1 | Listening, reading and writing (90 min) → Speaking (10 min) | 1 h 40 min |
How to mark your practice test
- CILS CILS B1 Cittadinanza
Listening and reading with the answer key («Chiavi»): in multiple-choice tasks each correct answer is worth 1 point, in true/false tasks 0.5. Each skill is worth 12 points. Writing and speaking with the marking criteria: for writing, communicative effectiveness (up to 3), style (1), grammar (4), vocabulary (3), spelling and punctuation (1). The minimum number of points for a pass is not written on the official pages we read.
- CELI CELI 2 i cittadinanza (B1)
The answer keys and transcripts are inside the two official zip files. To pass: written part (reading, writing, listening) at least 72/120, speaking at least 11, at least 92/160 in total.
- PLIDA PLIDA B1
The answers are in the zip file; the value of each answer is written at the start of each part. To pass: at least 18/30 in each of the 4 skills. For writing there is also a test commented by PLIDA's experts, criterion by criterion.
- CERT.IT CERT.IT B1
The answer keys are in the zip file on the official page. Points: listening 20, reading 30, writing 20, speaking 30. To pass: 60% in the written part (listening, reading, writing) and 60% in speaking.
Official tutored practice (for a fee)
CILS Online CILS practice with a tutor, €60. On the e-learning platform of the University for Foreigners of Siena: 3 sample exams of level B1 C (the B1 Cittadinanza), the booklets to download, corrections and advice from native-speaker tutors. The practice is not marked and does not count towards the CILS certificate. Last published round: 9 to 27 November 2026 (registration 21 September to 23 October 2026), before the session of 3 December 2026; the next round was not yet published on 11 November 2026.
PLIDA On its «Preparati all'esame» page the Società Dante Alighieri offers COPEC, a self-study online course for PLIDA B1; the price is not written on that page.
For CELI and CERT.IT, ask the exam centre whether it runs practice tests or preparation courses.
Prepare for the speaking test
The speaking test is the part that worries many people. It helps to talk often with a native-speaker teacher, even online. On italki you choose an Italian teacher, take one-to-one lessons and pay per lesson.
Books to prepare for the B1 exam on Amazon.it
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Frequently asked questions
Is there an official online practice test for the Italian B1 citizenship exam?
Not for free: the exam bodies publish sample papers to print, with audio and answer keys. For a fee, the University for Foreigners of Siena runs tutored online CILS practice (€60), with 3 sample papers of the CILS B1 Cittadinanza (level «B1 C») and corrections by a tutor; it does not count towards the certificate. For PLIDA B1, the Società Dante Alighieri offers COPEC, a self-study online course.
How long does a full practice test take?
As long as the real exam: CILS B1 Cittadinanza about 2 h, CELI 2 i 2 h 30 min, PLIDA B1 about 2 h 35 min, CERT.IT B1 1 h 40 min. If you do not have that much time, do the written part one day and speaking another day, but each section with its own minutes.
How do I know if I am ready?
Mark your practice test with the official keys and criteria and compare with the pass marks: PLIDA at least 18 out of 30 in each skill; CERT.IT 60% in the written part and 60% in speaking; CELI 2 i at least 72 out of 120 in the written part, 11 in speaking and 92 out of 160 in total; CILS a pass in each skill (12 points maximum each, pass mark in points not published).
More guides
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