What are CEFR and CILS?

Understanding these two acronyms is key to tracking your progress and validating your skills in Italian. Think of one as the map for your language journey (CEFR) and the other as the official certification you earn at key destinations (CILS).

The CEFR: Your Language Learning Roadmap 🗺️

CEFR stands for the Common European Framework of Reference for Languages. It's an international standard for describing language ability. It was created by the Council of Europe to provide a clear, consistent way to measure language proficiency across different languages. Instead of vague terms like "beginner," "intermediate," or "advanced," the CEFR uses a six-point scale of "can-do" statements.

This framework helps you:

A: Basic User

A1 (Beginner)
You can understand and use familiar everyday expressions and basic phrases. You can introduce yourself and ask/answer simple personal questions.
A2 (Elementary)
You can understand sentences and frequently used expressions related to immediate needs (e.g., personal information, shopping, local geography). You can communicate in simple, routine tasks.

B: Independent User

B1 (Intermediate)
You can understand the main points of clear standard input on familiar matters. You can deal with most situations likely to arise whilst travelling in an area where the language is spoken. You can produce simple connected text on topics which are familiar or of personal interest.
B2 (Upper-Intermediate)
You can understand the main ideas of complex text on both concrete and abstract topics. You can interact with a degree of fluency and spontaneity that makes regular interaction with native speakers quite possible without strain for either party.

C: Proficient User

C1 (Advanced)
You can understand a wide range of demanding, longer texts, and recognize implicit meaning. You can express ideas fluently and spontaneously without much obvious searching for expressions.
C2 (Proficient/Mastery)
You can understand with ease virtually everything heard or read. You can summarize information from different spoken and written sources, reconstructing arguments and accounts in a coherent presentation. You can express yourself spontaneously, very fluently, and precisely.

The CILS: Proving Your Italian Proficiency 📜

CILS stands for Certificazione di Italiano come Lingua Straniera, which translates to "Certification of Italian as a Foreign Language."

It is one of the most important and widely recognized official qualifications certifying a non-native speaker's competence in the Italian language. The CILS certification is developed and awarded by the prestigious University for Foreigners of Siena (Universita per Stranieri di Siena) and is recognized by the Italian Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

Passing a CILS exam gives you an official diploma that proves your language skills for: