Italian exam speaking practice

Prepare for your CILS or CELI speaking exam

Give your CILS and CELI exam preparation a clearer starting point. Find your level, explore original B1 and B2 examples, and practice your next answer with an Italian AI tutor.

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Original practice examplesItalian AI conversation
Your Italian exam routeSpeaking focus
CILS and CELI standard exam practice routesCILS UNO B1 and DUE B2, and CELI 2 B1 and CELI 3 B2, lead to level-specific speaking examples. Use the exam selector below to choose a route. CILSStandard CELIGeneral B1 B2 B1 B2
Your next speaking task
CILS UNO–B1

Start with your story. Add a reason. Answer the next question.

Practice this prompt

Perché studi italiano?

01Match your exam and level02Explore a worked speaking example03Make the next answer yours

Start with the right exam

Which exam have you registered for?

Match the name on your booking confirmation to your practice. Still deciding? Compare the standard exam names before choosing a speaking example.

Compare All CILS and CELI Levels
Practice example level
Time for today’s practice
CILS UNO–B1 · Standard

A familiar topic, a clear reason, and a follow-up. Set aside 10 minutes to answer, review, and try again.

See My Speaking Example

Detailed examples focus on B1 and B2. Practice lengths are study suggestions, not official exam timings.

Does your booking say “Cittadinanza”?

CILS B1 Cittadinanza and CELI 2 i cittadinanza have separate materials. The standard examples here are not a dedicated citizenship exam course. Check the exact version before choosing your preparation materials.

CILS B1 Cittadinanza informationCELI 2 i cittadinanza information

The names behind the levels

Find your CILS or CELI level

The same CEFR level can have a different exam name. Use this guide to find yours, then check the materials for that exact exam.

Exams in the same row target the same CEFR level, but their tasks and assessment arrangements differ. Check which certificate your school, employer, or other receiving organization requires.

Standard CILS and general CELI exam names mapped to CEFR levels
CEFRCILS standardCELI general
A1CILS A1CELI Impatto
A2CILS A2CELI 1
B1CILS UNO–B1CELI 2
B2CILS DUE–B2CELI 3
C1CILS TRE–C1CELI 4
C2CILS QUATTRO–C2CELI 5

An exam-name reference. The worked speaking examples on this page focus on B1 and B2.

Official CILS level materials ↗Official CELI level guide ↗

Get a feel for your task

See what to practice for your exam

Start with the official materials. Then rehearse a manageable part of your preparation with these original Italian speaking prompts.

CILS

Standard exam references
B1

Keep a familiar conversation moving

The UNO–B1 official sample includes a conversation and an individual speaking turn. Practice giving a reason and responding to a question about what you have just said.

Racconta come organizzi lo studio dell’italiano durante la settimana. Che cosa fai quando hai poco tempo?

Focus: describe a routine and explain how you adapt it.

Read the B1 Example
B2

Develop and support a viewpoint

The DUE–B2 official sample combines interactive discussion with an individual speaking turn. Explain your judgment and support it with relevant details.

Hai seguito un corso che ti è stato utile. Quali aspetti manterresti e che cosa cambieresti? Spiega le tue ragioni.

Focus: give an example and explain a suggested change.

Explore the B2 Example

CELI

General exam references
B1

Exchange information in an everyday situation

CELI 2 includes an interview or conversation, a photograph description, and a role-play. This original prompt rehearses the interaction element.

Vuoi iscriverti a un corso serale, ma lavori fino alle diciotto. Chiedi informazioni sugli orari e proponi una soluzione.

Focus: ask a clear question and agree on an alternative.

See the Official CELI 2 Format ↗
B2

Explain a choice and consider another view

Developing an opinion and participating actively in discussion are useful B2 speaking goals. Use this supplementary topic alongside the official CELI 3 materials.

Per un progetto di gruppo, preferisci incontrare i compagni di persona oppure lavorare online? Confronta le due possibilità.

Focus: recommend, acknowledge a limitation, and respond.

Explore Official CELI 3 Materials ↗

The linked CILS B1 and B2 sample collections are from June 2017. Check your provider’s current instructions for your exam session. The prompts above are original practice material.

EXAMPLE 01 · B1

Go beyond your introduction

Give the conversation somewhere to go. Practice familiar-topic interaction for standard CILS B1 and CELI 2, starting with a reason that is personal to you.

Everyday life · Study around workB1 speaking
Prompt

Presentati brevemente e spiega perché studi italiano.

A first attempt

Mi chiamo Alex e vivo a Boston. Lavoro in un ufficio. Studio italiano perché mi piace.

A more developed answer

Mi chiamo Alex, vivo a Boston e lavoro in un ufficio. Studio italiano perché vorrei parlare più facilmente con i parenti di mia moglie. Di solito mi esercito dopo cena per circa venti minuti.

1

Give a specific reason

The answer explains a personal purpose, giving the listener more to respond to than “mi piace.”

2

Add one concrete detail

The time and routine make the answer easier to understand and invite a natural next question.

Make it yours: replace Alex’s city, work, motivation, and routine with your own details. Then answer the follow-up aloud.

Use This B1 Practice Prompt
EXAMPLE 02 · B2

Compare options.
Explain your choice.

For CILS B2 and CELI 3 speaking preparation, develop a recommendation, consider a disadvantage, and explain what would change your mind.

Study choices · Reasons and trade-offsB2 speaking

Online

Flexibility & independence

or

In person

Interaction & routine

Prompt

Un corso universitario offre lezioni in presenza oppure online. Quale modalità consiglieresti a una persona che lavora? Confronta i vantaggi e gli svantaggi e motiva la tua scelta.

A first attempt

Secondo me è meglio studiare online perché è comodo e costa meno.

A more developed answer

Per una persona che lavora, consiglierei un corso online, soprattutto se le lezioni fossero disponibili anche in registrazione. Questo permetterebbe di organizzare lo studio intorno agli orari di lavoro e di evitare gli spostamenti. D’altra parte, seguire le lezioni da casa richiede autonomia e può ridurre le occasioni di confronto. Per questo sceglierei un corso con incontri regolari in diretta e lavori di gruppo. Le lezioni in presenza restano una buona alternativa per chi ha bisogno di una routine più stabile.

RecommendationReasonLimitationCondition
1

Connect the choice to a need

Flexible study time and fewer journeys explain why the recommendation could suit someone who works. Lower cost is not assumed.

2

Give the comparison a conclusion

The answer acknowledges reduced interaction, then recommends live meetings and group work. The conclusion follows from the reasoning.

Make it yours: recommend the other option, change the learner’s work schedule, or explain why you learn better with other people.

Use This B2 Practice Prompt

Original supplementary speaking practice. Your exam’s actual task instructions and scoring come from the exam provider.

Small moves, a fuller response

Build an answer you can continue

Choose the moves that fit the question. You do not need to force every answer into the same structure.

01 · Your choice

Answer directly

Preferisco il corso serale.

02 · Your reason

Explain why

Perché durante il giorno lavoro.

03 · A useful detail

Make it specific

Il martedì posso uscire dall’ufficio un po’ prima.

04 · Another possibility

Consider a condition

Tuttavia, sceglierei il sabato se le lezioni serali iniziassero troppo presto.

For B1, work on clear information, simple reasons, and relevant follow-up answers. At B2, also develop comparisons and explain how circumstances affect your opinion. This is a study guide, not an official scoring checklist.

A practice plan for your workweek

A little time.
A clear speaking task.

After work, during a break, or before your day begins: give yourself one focused task and enough time to try the answer again.

10 minutes a session

2 min understand · 3 min answer · 2 min review
2 min retry · 1 min follow-up

A five-day plan for B1 and B2 Italian speaking practice
DayB1 · Familiar conversationB2 · Choices and reasoning
MondayIntroduce yourself and explain why you study Italian.Compare online and in-person study.
TuesdayDescribe how you fit study around work.Explain which course feature matters most and why.
WednesdayAsk about a course and clarify its schedule.Respond to someone who prefers the other option.
ThursdayExplain a scheduling problem and suggest an alternative.Change your recommendation when one condition changes.
FridayAnswer a new follow-up without reading your earlier response.Give a connected answer, then defend one point in discussion.

Your next conversation

Take your next answer into Italian practice

Give your tutor a clear starting point. Use the prompt for your level, then make the topic personal.

1
Copy your practice prompt.
2
Open the Italian tutor and paste it to begin.
Your practice brief
Starter prompt level
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Copy the prompt, then paste it into your Italian conversation.

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Keep the official materials close

Give your preparation a reliable reference

Use your provider’s materials for the complete exam format. Use SayLingo’s original examples for additional speaking practice between study sessions.

SayLingo is an independent language-learning platform. It does not administer CILS or CELI exams, issue their qualifications, or provide official exam scores. Your complete preparation may also require reading, writing, listening, and other tasks specified by the provider.

CILS official sample materialsFind the sample collection for your level.
CILS UNO–B1Review standard B1 sample materials.
CILS DUE–B2Review B2 sample materials.
CELI general exam materialsExplore level descriptions and preparation documents.
Citizenship-specific booking? Check the separate CILS B1 Cittadinanza or CELI 2 i cittadinanza materials.

Before you start

Questions about CILS and CELI preparation

Exam names, practice goals, and your next speaking session.

What is the difference between CILS and CELI?
CILS and CELI are separate Italian language certification systems. Their standard exam names and tasks differ, even where they correspond to the same CEFR level. Check which certificate is requested for your purpose, then use the official materials for the exam you book.
Is CELI 2 B1 or B2?
CELI 2 corresponds to B1. CELI 3 corresponds to B2. In the standard CILS naming system, the corresponding levels are UNO–B1 and DUE–B2. The level guide above shows the standard names from A1 to C2.
Is standard CILS B1 the same as CILS B1 Cittadinanza?
No. They are separate exam versions. CELI 2 and CELI 2 i cittadinanza also need to be distinguished. Match the complete name on your booking to the relevant official preparation materials.
What should I practice after my self-introduction?
Explain a specific reason, describe a routine or experience, and answer a question connected to your previous response. The B1 example above shows how a detail about studying after dinner creates a useful follow-up.
How can I develop my B2 speaking answers?
Support your opinion with relevant details, acknowledge a limitation, and explain what could change your recommendation. Then practice responding to another person’s view instead of repeating a memorized paragraph.
Is this a complete CILS or CELI mock exam?
This page focuses on supplementary Italian speaking practice. Its examples do not reproduce a complete exam or provide official scoring. Use the exam provider’s materials for the full format and instructions.
Can I practice from the United States?
You can use the online Italian tutor to fit conversation practice around your schedule. Official exam registration, available locations, and session arrangements are handled separately by the exam provider and its centers.
Can I start without buying a course?
The examples and practice prompts on this page are free to read. Open the Italian tutor to see the practice options available to your account, and check the pricing page for current membership information.
Does a SayLingo learning certificate replace CILS or CELI?
No. A SayLingo learning record is separate from these official exam qualifications and does not replace a certificate required by a receiving organization.

Practice the answer that comes next

Choose a prompt, make the answer personal, and continue the conversation in Italian. Start with one clear response and something specific to improve.

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