CILS A2 exam-day guide
CILS A2 · Prepare for the day ahead.
Your checklist
Valid identification document
Bring the same identity document (typically passport or national ID) you used at registration. The exact document types accepted and whether a photocopy is allowed must be confirmed with the provider; do not assume a driving licence or student card will be accepted.
Exam admission confirmation / registration receipt
Print or save the confirmation showing your candidate number, session time and venue. Confirm with the provider whether a printed copy is required or an electronic version is acceptable.
Exact venue address and travel plan
Check the address of the CILS centre on your admission document, not the general address of the institution. Plan the route and a backup route, and note that centres may have multiple buildings or entrances.
Black or blue pens (at least two)
Answer sheets are normally completed in pen. Confirm with the provider whether pencil is permitted for any section; if not stated, bring pens only and avoid erasable ink.
Pencil and eraser
Useful for rough notes and for any multiple-choice answer sheet that requires pencil. Whether pencil is allowed for the answer sheet is set by the centre, so confirm with the provider.
Analog watch
Exam rooms do not always have a visible clock, and phones must usually be switched off and stored. A simple non-smart watch helps you pace the sections. Confirm with the provider whether watches are permitted in your room.
Water and a small snack
There is usually a break between the written sections and the oral test, which may be scheduled much later. Confirm with the provider whether food and drink are allowed at your desk.
Phone switched off and stored
Switch the device fully off before entering the room. Do not keep it in a pocket. Where bags and phones must be left is centre-specific, so confirm with the provider.
Review the format and timings of the five parts
CILS A2 tests listening, reading, grammar and vocabulary (analisi delle strutture di comunicazione), writing and speaking. Know the order used at your centre and the time allowed for each part; confirm the exact schedule with the provider.
Practise the oral test introduction
Be ready to state your name, where you live, work or study, your family, daily routine and hobbies in simple Italian. The oral test is conducted individually or in pairs depending on the centre; confirm with the provider.
Know the pass rule before you sit
In CILS, each section is scored separately and you need a minimum score in every section, not just an overall total. Confirm the current minimum and the rules on retaking individual sections with the provider, because these details can change.
Arrange the return journey flexibly
Do not book a tight train or flight after the written papers. The oral test may be scheduled after the written session or on a different slot, so confirm your personal oral time with the provider before travelling.
Plan the day
Do a full timed mock under exam conditions: listening once only, no dictionary, answer sheet filled in pen. Then review errors by skill rather than re-reading everything. Check the admission document for the venue, reporting time and what is allowed in the room, and contact the centre about anything unclear, such as ID type or oral test timing.
Focus on the sections where your mock was weakest. For listening, replay short recordings and note the words that signal numbers, times and prices, which are common A2 listening targets. For writing, memorise a short message and a short informal email structure with greeting, body and closing. For grammar, revise present tense of regular and common irregular verbs, articles, prepositions and simple past (passato prossimo) agreement.
Light revision only: skim your own error list, the numbers and days of the week, and useful phrases for the oral test. Prepare clothes, ID, pens, watch, water and the venue route in one place. Check transport schedules and set two alarms. Sleep at your normal time; do not start new grammar topics the night before.
Eat a normal breakfast and arrive early, allowing extra time for finding the room and for security or registration checks. Switch your phone off before entering the building if the centre requires it. Go to the toilet before the session starts. Keep your ID on the desk if instructed, and listen carefully to the invigilator's instructions in Italian and any local language used.
Read the questions before each recording starts if the centre allows it. The recording is usually played once, so mark your best answer as you listen and do not stop to agonise over one item. Watch for distractors: a price or time may be mentioned and then corrected.
Pace yourself by the clock, giving each item a limited time and returning to difficult ones at the end if time allows. For gap-fill, read the whole sentence before choosing, and check agreement of gender and number. Transfer answers to the answer sheet exactly as instructed.
Read the task twice and identify the required text type, the recipient and the points you must include. Spend a few minutes planning, write within the word limit, then reserve time to check verb endings, articles and spelling. Cross out mistakes neatly; do not use correction fluid unless the centre permits it.
Greet the examiner in Italian, listen to the whole question and ask for repetition politely if needed (for example, 'Può ripetere, per favore?'). Speak in simple complete sentences rather than single words, and use the preparation time if one is given. It is normal to make mistakes; keep talking and stay comprehensible.
Rules to check
Bring the identity document accepted by your centre and keep it available throughout the session. If your ID is expired, lost or differs from your registration details, contact the provider before exam day; do not assume an alternative document will be accepted.
Arrive at the reporting time stated on your admission document. Late arrival may mean you are refused entry or lose time from a section, and the exact cut-off is set by the centre, so confirm it with the provider.
Switch off phones, smart watches and any other devices and store them as instructed. Unauthorised devices, notes or dictionaries in the exam room are normally treated as a breach of conduct and may lead to annulment of the paper.
Do not communicate with other candidates during the test and do not look at another candidate's answers. Raise your hand and wait for the invigilator if you need help, more paper or to leave the room.
Follow the invigilator's instructions about breaks and leaving the room. Whether you may leave during a section, and whether the oral test has a separate waiting area, varies by centre, so confirm with the provider.
Write only in the spaces provided and do not write identifying details where the paper is meant to be anonymous. Follow the instructions on the answer sheet for multiple-choice and gap-fill items.
Scoring is per section: you must reach the minimum in every section, not only an overall total. The current minimum scores and the rules for retaking a failed section should be confirmed with the provider, as these details can change.
If you believe there was a problem with the room, the audio or your timetable, report it to the invigilator on the day and also inform the centre afterwards. Keep your admission document and any correspondence until results are published.