Certificato di Conoscenza della Lingua Italiana, Livello 4 (CELI 4)

This is an examination at an advanced level, which is suitable for people who are required to study or work in an Italian-speaking environment. Candidates are expected to be able to discuss topics relating to their own particular interests and special fields of competence.

There are five components:

Reading

Candidates must be able to understand texts related to areas of general and specialist interest. They must be able to understand the gist of the text as well as specific details and be able to make appropriate inferences. They must also be able to expand and summarise parts of texts.

Texts are taken mainly from newspapers and magazines. They deal largely with a range of general topics (e.g. current affairs). However, there are some short texts on more specific subjects (e.g. tourism).

There are approximately four texts with twenty-four items of the following task types: four-option multiple-choice, matching, open-ended questions.

Writing

Candidates are expected to write a composition on a topic chosen from the wide range offered. These include personal experiences, aspects of contemporary society and a topic requiring creative writing. Candidates must be able to organise their writing and fully develop a theme. They must also be able to summarise a text.

There are two tasks. The first is to select and summarise a text (between 150 and 200 words in length). For the second there is a choice of two tasks of which one must be attempted. These include letters, notes, invitations, reports, etc. Responses should be about 250 words in length.

Listening

Candidates must be able to understand the text as a whole. They must also understand specific details and make inferences regarding the context. Awareness of the rganisational structure and sensitivity to social and cultural references is also expected. Texts are taken from radio or television programmes, and normally involve one or more native speakers talking on a range of topics.

There are three texts lasting twenty-five minutes with a total of thirty items. The following task types are used: gap-filling, two-options multiple-choice, information transfer.

Speaking

Candidates are tested individually. They are expected to participate actively in a conversation on a topic agreed beforehand. They must be able to discuss factual topics related to particular interests and areas of special competence. They have to be able to support opinions, explain in detail, hypothesise and express feelings. They should be able to demonstrate considerable fluency and use their vocabulary to communicate nuances in meaning.

The first task involves a conversation with the Examiner in which candidates are tested on their ability to interact and use social language. They are then asked to discuss a text they have previously seen, to describe and compare a set of thematically linked photographs, and to explain a diagram, form, table, schedule, etc.

Structural Competence

Candidates must show a knowledge of the language system. They are expected to do this by completing a number of tasks, which are based on use of structure and lexis.

There are three sections with a total of thirty-eight items. The first section requires the candidate to do two gap-filling exercises with twenty-four items. The second section requires the candidate to do a proof-reading Exercise. The third section involves a set of notes or other examples of abbreviated written Italian for expansion into a complete text.

Weighting of components

The Speaking component carries 30% of the total marks, Writing 25%, Reading 20%, Listening 15% and structural competence 10%.

Results

There are three pass grades (A, B and C) and certificates are awarded to all successful candidates.