Certificato di Conoscenza della Lingua Italiana, Livello 1 (CELI 1)

This is an examination at an elementary level, which tests the language needed for basic communication in everyday situations, in order to survive in an Italian-speaking environment.

There are four components:

Reading

Candidates are expected to understand the gist of approximately twenty short written messages. Sources of texts are public notices, road signs, advertisements, news articles, letters, notes, signs, programmes, etc.

There are five tasks, with a total of twenty-eight items of the following task types: various types of matching, two- and three-option multiple-choice.

Writing

Candidates are expected to fill in the missing parts of short, simple texts of a descriptive or narrative kind which deal with everyday topics. They must also be able to expand short texts related to everyday situations and to give general information about themselves.

There are two tasks. The first is a gap-filling exercise with ten items. The second is a guided composition which reports on or describes a series of events. The composition should be about eighty words in length.

Listening

Candidates are expected to understand the gist of short messages related to everyday situations. They must be able to recognise the communicative function of the message and understand simple descriptions of people.

There are usually thirty texts, lasting twenty minutes, with thirty-one items of the following task types: matching, two-option multiple-choice.

Speaking

Candidates are tested individually. They are expected to talk about themselves and to describe important facts and situations. They must also demonstrate the ability to cope with everyday situations.

Candidates are first required to introduce themselves. They then take part in a role-play based on an authentic communicative situation. The final task involves describing a scene shown in a cartoon.

Weighting of components

The Listening and Speaking components each carry 30% of the total marks, Reading 25% and Writing 15%.

Results

Results are given in the form of Pass or Fail and certificates are awarded to all successful candidates.