CELI Exam (Perugia University)

CELI certification overview

CELI is an official title that declares the degree of communicative competence in Italian as a foreign language.

To obtain a residence permit, it is necessary to take the CELI 1 exam.

CELI level 2 is required to obtain Italian acceptance at a University in Italy.

The Ministry of Education, University, and Research (MIUR) recognizes CELI 3 as proof of proficiency in the Italian language and is valid for purposes of enrollment in an Italian University in Italy.

CELI 4 and CELI 5 are valid qualifications for certifying proficiency in the Italian language on equal terms as native-speaking Italians.

What are the CELI Levels

CELI is divided into 6 proficiency levels based on the model of the Common European Framework of Reference for Languages ​​(CEFR). They are recognized by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. Each level attests to a specific communicative ability that can be applied to different situations and contexts.

CELI certification is for those who study Italian and simply want to measure their competence, for those who want to enter the world of work, for non-European students who want to enroll in a university course in Italy, and for migrants who want to apply for a long-term residence permit.

---

CELI Impatto

CELI Impatto (CELI Impact) is the lowest level among the six CELI certificates. It is comparable to Level A1 of the CEFR.

The exam is structured as follows:

🔗 Check your Italian language level: A1 Italian test

---

CELI 1

CELI 1 (Level A2 of the CEFR) testifies to an elementary level of understanding of the Italian language and the possibility of elaborating simple sentences, but not complete speech.

The exam is structured as follows:

🔗 Check your Italian language level: A2 Italian test

---

CELI 2

CELI 2 (Level B1 of the CEFR) refers to an intermediate level that is valid for citizenship.

The exam is structured as follows:

🔗 Check your Italian language level: B1 Italian test

---

CELI 3

CELI 3 (Level B2 of the CEFR) is also called an upper-intermediate level, and it is valid for Italian university admission in Italy.

The exam is structured as follows:

🔗 Check your Italian language level: B2 Italian test

---

CELI 4

CELI 4 (Level C1 of the CEFR) is the first of the two advanced levels and indicates the ability to understand and produce long and complex sentences.

The exam is structured as follows:

🔗 Check your Italian language level: C1 Italian test

---

CELI 5

CELI 5 (Level C2 of the CEFR) is the highest level attainable and indicates linguistic abilities comparable, or almost, to those of a native speaker.

The exam is structured as follows:

Timing and Results

In order to take the CELI exam, strict deadlines must be met, and long wait times endured. The correction of the exams takes up to 3 months and the sending of the certificate can take up to 4 months.

CELI exams are considered “a pass” only if the minimum required score has been achieved in both parts (oral and written).

When one of the two parts is insufficient, the partial result obtained can be applied for one year (70% of the total fee must be paid at the second exam session).

For the CELI Impatto and CELI 1 levels, there are two possible outcomes (positive or negative).

For every other level, there are five degrees of judgment:

⚠️ Important: To take the CELI exam, you must follow strict deadlines and be aware of long processing times. Exam correction can take up to 3 months, and the certificate may take up to 4 months to be delivered.

🔔 NOTE: CELI certificates do not expire.

Costs, dates, and CELI centers

Registrations must be made at least one month before the start of the exam. The CELI exam sessions for general Italian, scheduled throughout the year, are as follows:

• spring session in March for the first 4 levels (A1-B2)
• summer session in June for all 6 levels (A1-C2)
• autumn session in November for all 6 levels (A1-C2)

The exact dates of the examination sessions are established and published by the Evaluation Centre for Language Certifications (CVCL in Italian).

The CELI exam can be taken at the exam center closest to you, or at our school in Florence.

Here, at Europass, it costs 120€.

CELI exam preparation

To pass the CELI exams, it is not necessary to have followed a specific course, with specific content or a specific method, but it is important to be well prepared with respect to the level you want to achieve in both writing and speaking.

Since it is necessary to do well on both parts in order to pass the exam, training (or simply a review) may be necessary, focusing more on some aspects than others.

For this reason, we offer a free 15-minute online consultation where one of our instructors can help you choose the learning path that best suits your needs in preparing for the CELI exam.

• Group Online Italian Courses
  Join 2 live lessons of 100 minutes each week with students at your level.
• Online One-on-One Italian Lessons
  Let our experienced trainers guide you in the preparation of your CELI exam.
• Group Italian Courses in Florence
  Attend 4 Italian lessons each day with a small group of classmates.
• Private Italian Courses in Florence
  Prepare your CELI exam with the support of experienced trainers.

During the preparation for the CELI exam, exam sessions can also be simulated, using old CELI exam papers.

This will help you get used to what to expect on the exam, the sequence, and the necessary time needed to succeed. Furthermore, you can easily check your obtained score.