CILS A1 Integrazione cheat sheet

CILS A1 ascolto has two prove: Prova n. 1 (dettato breve, a short dictation) and Prova n. 2 (brani brevi, short passages with multiple-choice or true/false items).

Dettato: the text is read slowly, then a second time with pauses; you write exactly what you hear, including double consonants and accents.

Dettato scoring is per word or per segment: missing accents (e.g. città, però, è vs e) count as errors, so write them from the first listening.

Prova n. 2 items usually ask chi/che cosa/dove/quando/quanto - numbers, times, places, names are the answer targets.

Numbers are the highest-frequency trap: listen for venti/ventuno/ventidue, tredici/trenta, quindici/cinquanta, sessanta/settanta.

The audio is played twice; on the first pass mark the answer you hear, on the second pass confirm or correct it.

Time allowed is calibrated so you answer while listening; do not wait for the end of the track to start writing.

A1 pass threshold overall is 60% of total; a single prova below the minimum can still be compensated by the others.

CILS A1 lettura has Prova n. 1 (abbinamento, matching short texts to statements or situations) and Prova n. 2 (testo breve with multiple-choice or gap-fill items).

Matching tasks: read the statements first, underline the key noun in each, then scan the texts for that noun or a synonym.

Typical A1 text types: avvisi, cartelli, orari, menu, SMS/email brevi, annunci, biglietti, semplici istruzioni.

Gap-fill items test function words: prepositions (di, a, da, in, con, per, su), articles (il, lo, la, i, gli, le), and verb forms.

False friends to check: camera = room (not camera), parente = relative, firma = signature, salire = to go up.

Register clues: tu = informal (amici, famiglia), Lei = formal (ufficio, negozio, medico); the item's answer must match the register.

Time is generous relative to text length; use the extra minutes to re-read the text once for each uncertain item.

Never leave a blank: an unanswered item scores zero, while a reasoned guess has a real chance.

CILS A1 scrittura typically has two prove: a short message/email or form (Prova n. 1) and a short guided text or description (Prova n. 2), around 30-50 words each.

Answer the prompt point by point: if the prompt lists three things to include, each one must appear in the text or marks are lost.

Open and close with a formula: Ciao ... / A presto / Un saluto for informal; Gentile ... / Cordiali saluti for formal.

Use present tense of essere/avere and regular -are/-ere/-ire verbs; A1 does not require passato prossimo or congiuntivo.

Word count matters: a text far below the requested length loses content marks; count words before finishing.

Accuracy checklist before handing in: subject-verb agreement, adjective agreement (o/a/i/e), accents on è, perché, città, and capital letters for names.

Do not copy sentences from the reading passage; copied text is not credited as production.

Write legibly: illegible words are scored as errors, so avoid last-minute rewriting of whole paragraphs.

CILS A1 oral test is a face-to-face interview with an examiner and is recorded; it has a presentation/description part and a short dialogue part.

Typical tasks: presentarsi (nome, età, nazionalità, lavoro, famiglia), descrivere una foto o la propria giornata, ask and answer simple questions.

Prepare fixed frames: Mi chiamo..., Ho ... anni, Sono ..., Vivo a ..., Lavoro/Studio ..., Mi piace ...

Use the informal tu with the examiner only if invited; otherwise use Lei forms (Come si chiama? Di dove è?).

Numbers, days, months, and clock times are frequent oral targets: lunedì...domenica, gennaio...dicembre, alle due, alle sette e mezza.

Pronunciation focus: double consonants (pala/palla, casa/cassa), gli and gn, and open/closed e and o do not block A1 but affect clarity.

Silence is the main risk: use a filler such as allora, dunque, sì... to keep speaking while you build the next sentence.

Do not switch to English or another language; if you lack a word, paraphrase with a simpler Italian word or describe it.