Daily Prompt Practice
Get conversation prompts that mirror real CILS topics: family, work, routines, services, and civic life. Build fluency through daily written responses.
CILS B1 & Cittadinanza Exam Prep with Tutor Nico
Tutor Nico helps you build the speaking and writing confidence you need for the CILS B1 and B1 Cittadinanza exams. Practice every day on Telegram with realistic prompts, grammar corrections, and vocab drills — focused on the skills the exam actually tests.
Exam Structure & Scoring
CILS B1
The CILS B1 certificate is issued by the Università per Stranieri di Siena and tests practical Italian communication across four skills.
| Section | Duration | Score | Pass Mark |
|---|---|---|---|
| Listening (Ascolto) | 30 min | /12 | 7/12 |
| Reading & Grammar (Lettura) | 40 min | /12 | 7/12 |
| Writing (Scrittura) | 40 min | /12 | 7/12 |
| Speaking (Parlato) | 15 min | /12 | 7/12 |
| Total | /48 | 28/48 | |
B1 Cittadinanza
The B1 Cittadinanza is the specific variant required for Italian citizenship applications. It follows the same four-section format with a focus on civic life topics — public services, government procedures, and everyday administrative interactions.
| Section | Duration | Score | Pass Mark |
|---|---|---|---|
| Listening (Ascolto) | 30 min | /12 | 7/12 |
| Reading & Grammar (Lettura) | 40 min | /12 | 7/12 |
| Writing (Scrittura) | 40 min | /12 | 7/12 |
| Speaking (Parlato) | 15 min | /12 | 7/12 |
| Total | /48 | 28/48 | |
Partial passes: If you pass some sections but not all, your results are "capitalized" and valid for 18 months. You only need to retake the sections you didn't pass.
Official CILS information — Università per Stranieri di Siena
How Tutor Nico Supports B1 Preparation
Targeted Corrections
Nico explains your errors with clear rewrites so you learn grammar patterns instead of repeating mistakes. Focused on the writing and speaking skills the exam tests.
Vocab Drill Mode
Turn key and tricky words into focused drills so important B1 vocabulary sticks. Covers everyday, administrative, and civic vocabulary.
Practice Conversations
Mistake & Correction
Nico
Raccontami cosa hai fatto ieri al comune.
You
Ieri sono andato al comune e compilavo il modulo per la residenza.
Nico
Good start! One fix: since filling out the form was a completed action (not ongoing), use passato prossimo: "ho compilato" instead of "compilavo" (imperfetto). Full version: "Ieri sono andato al comune e ho compilato il modulo per la residenza."
Natural Flow
Nico
Descrivi la tua routine mattutina.
You
Mi sveglio alle sette, faccio colazione con caffè e biscotti, e poi prendo l'autobus per andare al lavoro.
Nico
Ottimo! Clear and well-structured. Try adding one more detail — what do you do on the bus? For example: "Durante il viaggio leggo il giornale" (During the trip I read the newspaper). The word viaggio is useful for CILS topics about daily routines.
Common B1 Mistakes Nico Helps Fix
- Passato prossimo vs imperfetto confusion — using the wrong past tense for completed vs habitual actions ("compilavo" when you mean "ho compilato").
- Preposition + article contractions — writing "di il" instead of "del", or "a il" instead of "al".
- Avoiding the subjunctive after "che" — saying "Penso che è importante" instead of "Penso che sia importante".
- Gender errors with abstract nouns — "la problema" instead of the correct "il problema".
- Direct translation of English phrasal verbs — saying "guardare per" (look for) instead of the correct Italian verb "cercare".
Nico catches these patterns early and reinforces stronger phrasing through repeated, guided practice.
A Practical 15–20 Minute Routine
- Read Nico's prompt and write your response in Italian (8–10 minutes).
- Review corrections and rewrite one improved version (5 minutes).
- Complete quick vocab drills for your weak words (3–5 minutes).
Repeat daily for steady progress before your CILS or Cittadinanza exam date.
Start Preparing for CILS B1
Build exam-ready Italian with daily feedback and drills.