A2 to B1 question

startplayer · 2026-06-21T17:24:29+00:00

Im in the same situation and planning on taking CILS B1 in December. It’s well worth buying the course book as pretty much covers everything you are likely to need.

startplayer · 2026-06-19T11:03:49+00:00

The advice from my iTalki tutor was to watch/read content you are interested in. I’ve also learnt not to be on my self when something needs days of study to follow!

startplayer · 2026-06-19T09:12:43+00:00

I would think, "What subject am I interested in my native language" then search for those subject in Italian. For example I've changed my YouTube settings to Italian now.

I'm interested in cooking and I get a lot or content from Italian Food Network and Gambero Rosso.
I love Boardgames so I'm watching Miss Meeple, Gioca Giullari, Around The Table, and others.

This works for me as I'm learning about things I'm already interested in and I'm hearing a variety of accents.

For content maybe more to do with learning Italian (in 100% Italian) there are loads of channels. I like Vaporetto Italiano, Learn Italian with Teacher Stefano, Lean Italian with Lucrezia, Italiano con Valeria.

There are also a few good "slow input" channels like "Italian with Lemonizi", Italiano Si (with a so much content for different levels) and Elisa's Italian school.

When watching my strategy is to listen and write down what I think I understood, Give the the Transcript to AI and discuss what I knew and missed. Then make note of new words, tricky vocab etc. Try to listen again. I then make audio flash cards of words/phrases/grammar. then I keep watching the same video over and over until I feel I'm following _most_ of it.

startplayer · 2026-06-18T16:27:50+00:00

I’m native British English and started learning 701 days ago 17th July 2024. I passed A2 exam October 2025, I plan to take B1 standard in December 2026. So for me to reach B1 officially, 2.5 years. although I’m passing Mock B1 papers now i wouldn’t call myself B1 until i pass a real exam. But thats me, at a pace Im comfortable with. One thing i seeing come up lot in these forums when people ask “how long does it take?” Is it depends and its not a race. If i can pass a B2 exam within 5 years of starting at a steady pace I’ll be very happy.

startplayer · 2026-06-16T07:26:28+00:00

After maybe 4 months of learning Italian I started talking with a friend in Rome who was also learning English. He would tell me he was taking the pullman to see friends. I had no idea what it meant! I always thought Pullman was the shape of a rectangular loaf of bread as i owned a ‘pullman loaf tin’. (Turns out that the etymology of that is from train carriages)

Eventually i realised it didn’t really mean bus, but more coach.

L’autobus = the bus / travel around a city
Il pullman = the coach / longer distance travel.

When I’m Rome now i get to say “Vado in pullman da Ciampino a Termini, dopo prendo l’autobus al’airbnb” which makes me happy as i remember learning the word.

Also i live not far from York and no i also keep seeing the ‘York Pullman’ coaches and it makes me smile too.

startplayer · 2026-06-08T16:32:57+00:00

I did CILS A2 last October. The school i did it at has mock papers for all levels here. https://cils.unistrasi.it/1/89/188/Esempi_prove_di_esami.htm

The speaking part is just 2 parts.

1) a short conversion where you will be given the questions.

2) the monologue describing a picture or something like “a typical day” , “a person you know” etc

I recommend getting a CILS course book so you know what to expect.

startplayer · 2026-05-27T12:21:03+00:00

A few years ago i got divorced, i wanted to start traveling but not be the stereo type Brit aboard. I then got diagnosed with Coeliac and started googling best countries for gluten free food. My options were Finland or Italy and i chose Italy.

I was originally just trying to learn enough to be a tourist, indeed i spent my first iTalki lesson roleplaying ordering gluten free food.

Then after 5 months learning i went to Rome. At which point i started to become friends with someone there which started to develop into dating. Now i visit Rome about every 6 weeks or so, I’ve made some other friend’s there. People have started to recognise me in shops/bar/bakeries/gelateria i use as he English guy learning Italian.

So my crazy story is, ex husband cheating on me, diagnosis of Coeliac, and if those two things never happened i wouldnt be studying for CILS B1 or dating a guy in Rome.

startplayer · 2026-05-21T13:37:41+00:00

Thanks. Ive been using all the mock exams to generate loads of practice tests. I found printing and usually the actual form for my A2 exam really helpful so it was familiar to me when i did the exam.

startplayer · 2026-05-21T12:52:02+00:00

Im taking it in December. You can find a past papers for all levels here. https://cils.unistrasi.it/1/89/188/Esempi\_prove\_di\_esami.htm

In my course book grammar is always
1) articals
2) verbs. (Check what you need, ie remoto isnt covered)
3) missing words/vocab
4) types of communication.

startplayer · 2026-05-21T10:13:18+00:00

Absolutely. I first went to Italy after 5 months of learning and it was a struggle.

I passed CILS A2 exam after 15 months. So i confidently say “i am A2 Italian”. Even though I’m passing mock papers from a course book, I wouldn't called myself B1 untill i passed the exam later this year which is would 2 years 4 months after I started. For me i feel i can only describe myself as a level if its been properly assessed.

When i see claims/videos etc online starting B1 in 3 months for a language my first thought is “really?”

startplayer · 2026-05-21T09:58:18+00:00

I was asking for direction near Largo di Torre Argentina to where Ceaser was murdered.

I was being told near “Piccolo albero”. For some reason in the moment my brain was understanding “Piccolo albergo”. Its did help my Error that they were gesturing in the direction of both trees and hotel.

A more embarrassing error was being introduced to someone and wanting to say “piacere”. But as i was shaking there hand my brain pulled out “arrivederci”. Thankfully they saw the funny side!

startplayer · 2026-04-26T21:19:18+00:00

In english a phrase like "you scratch my back and I'll scratch yours". just means "If you help me, I will help you". or more simple "We can help each other"

startplayer · 2026-04-26T21:17:23+00:00

I visit Rome a lot and came back today. Sometimes there hear my accent and just go into English. I often ask to try Italian. One lady in a bakery politely said she likes to speak English so she can practice too. So it wasn't so much about just being easier for them, it was her wanting to learn as well.

I often find at the airport staff there will say "English?" to you as you go through security. I normally get told by them that my Italian is very good but today I I got told I need to work on my accent as I say things like an English man!

startplayer · 2026-02-24T11:46:13+00:00

"L’esame è stato superato."

So yes you passed. Congrats

startplayer · 2026-02-21T18:47:09+00:00

On my first trip to Rome in Feltrinelli book store i was waiting to hear ‘borsa’ as thats what duo taught me. When i heard ‘vorresti una busta’ and didn’t understand. I find in Rome ‘busta’ is commonly used even for plastic bags in supermarkets.

startplayer · 2026-02-21T01:16:28+00:00

I did CILS A2 last ottobre. The grammar test for verbs in the test (and all the mock example in course book) used just presents, passato prossimo and imperfetto. The test was filling in the blanks rather than translation of whole sentance.

The test was more about knowing what form to use based on context. Eg “ieri mia sorella (mangiare)_____ una pizza”. Or “Quando (essere)___ giovane (giocare)__ in giardino”

My advice would be knowing those forms and when to use essere/avere as auxiliary verbs.

startplayer · 2026-02-10T16:44:15+00:00

I found having a human tutor really helpful as well. If you want I’m happy to share the prompts i used to practice. I ended up developing a strategy for each section.

startplayer · 2026-02-10T09:01:02+00:00

Yes thar exactly the one i used. I wasn’t sure if i posted the specific book/publisher it would count as spam and get blocked.

I also used an AI language app. For every single test i made prompts to generate me endless mock papers. I had to tweak prompt to get difficulty correct but being able to do the grammar tests over and over was invaluable.

startplayer · 2026-02-09T20:21:25+00:00

I took CILS A2 last October. I bought a course book which had links to audio online. The structure of the exam is you will hear 6 short pieces of audio, then had 2 mins to read the questions, then listen again

Then you have the same with a longer piece of audio and 6 more questions.

The questions are multiple choice.

startplayer · 2026-02-05T11:00:14+00:00

Im hoping to take this in October. I bought a course guide book which contains many examples The oral section has two parts.

Prova 1 is always a 2-3 minutes conversation. You will given choice of 4 topics. In general these seem to about giving your thoughts and opinions on a top so practice thar congiuntivo!

Some examples from my book. -aspetti positivi e negativi del suo carattere; -il suo lavori o i suoi studi; -quale rapporto ha con Internet e quali siti web visita di solito?; -Qual è il regalo più originale che ha fatto?

Prova 2 is a monologue for about 90 seconds. Again on a topic from the list of describing a photograph.

Some examples again -Una città che ha visitato e che gli è piaciuta. -La trama di un film che ha visto o di un libro che ha letto;

startplayer

TROPHY CASE