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Italian language proficiency test

How it works

All those who intend to enroll at the University of Genoa and do not hold a high school diploma obtained in Italy, regardless of their citizenship, must take an Italian language test to ascertain their level of proficiency in Italian.

Only those who hold a certification of proficiency in the Italian language of at least level B2 among those indicated by the Ministry of University and Research of the Italian Republic (https://www.studiare-in-italia.it/studentistranieri) do not have to take the test. Certifications accepted by the University of Genoa and valid for the purpose of exemption from the Italian test must have been taken as of January 2022 and are those issued by the University for Foreigners of Perugia; the University for Foreigners of Siena; the University "Roma Tre"; the "Dante Alighieri" Society; and the University for Foreigners "Dante Alighieri" of Reggio Calabria. 

Those who hold one of these certifications at least B2 level must send it to sass@unige.it

Those who do not hold one of these certifications must take the Italian test.

IMPORTANT. To be exempt from the Italian test, you must send your B2 certification within 20 days prior to the test date.

If the certification is earned or sent after the date you took the test, the test result will be valid. This means that someone who took the test and was found to be ineligible for A2 will not be able to enroll in the University of Genoa, even if he or she obtained B2 certification after the date of the test; in addition, someone who was found to be eligible for A2 and ineligible for B2 will have to attend the Italian course in which he or she was placed and take the final exam.

Starting from A.Y. 2023/2024, first-time pre-registered students must pass at least the A2 level test in order to perfect matriculation. Those who do not obtain at least A2 level on the test will not be able to enroll in any course at the University of Genoa.

If the student obtains A2 level but not B2, he or she may enroll at the University of Genoa with an educational debt (OFA), which must be made up by attending a free compulsory course organized by the University of Genoa.

The test can only be taken once by students who are pre-registered for the first time.

The Language Skills Development Department will send each student an email with instructions on how to register for the Italian test and how to take it.

Italian language course

Courses are reserved for those enrolled in the first year results eligible for A2 level but not B2 level in one of the fall session tests (September - November).  Students who enroll at the University of Genoa after December 1, 2023 can take online Italian courses in self-study (without a lecturer). 

Students enrolled in the first year as repeaters will not be placed in any Italian courses.

Course attendance is compulsory and one must attend at least 50 percent of the course hours to be eligible for the final exam.

At the end of the courses, the student will take a new test to verify his or her knowledge of Italian. 
Those who fail the test at the end of the course may try again until the deadline for completing the second-year syllabus. Those who fail it, may complete the first-year exams, but will not be able to fill out the study plan for the second year, because they will still have the educational debt in Italian: they will then have to;enroll in the first year as a repeat student.

Reserved for freshmen

Contents and scores for the Italian language proficiency test reserved for freshmen (enrolled for the first time in A.Y. 2023/24)

The Italian language proficiency test is divided into two parts: Test A2 and Test B2. Both tests must be taken in order for the exam to be considered valid.

The total duration of the test (Test A2 + Test B2) is 35 minutes. 

Part I (Test A2) assesses proficiency up to A2 level, lasts 20 minutes and consists of 5 questions. In the first 3 questions, relating to grammatical structures, you must complete sentences, choosing the correct answer from the possible options given; in question 4, you must indicate the word that correctly completes the text, choosing from four possible options. In question 5, you will listen to a text and have to answer true or false to six questions. 

Part I of the test is passed with a minimum score of 20/25.

Part II (Test B2) assesses B1 to B2 proficiency, lasts 15 minutes and consists of 5 questions. In the first 4 questions, related to grammatical structures, you have to complete sentences, choosing the correct answer from the possible options given. Question 5 is a test of lexical competence and reading comprehension: you have to indicate the correct word that completes the text, choosing from 4 possible options. There is no listening exercise in the B2 Test. 

Part II of the test is passed with a minimum score of 17/21.

An example of the A2 Test can be found at page https://cla.aulaweb.unige.it/mod/quiz/view.php?id=2214

An example of Test B2 can be found at page https://cla.aulaweb.unige.it/mod/quiz/view.php?id=2215

To prepare to take the test, you can follow the directions of the Syllabus.

Reserved for those enrolled in previous years

Contents and scores for the Italian language proficiency test reserved for those enrolled in the years prior to A.Y. 2023/24

The test lasts 30 minutes. You have to complete 9 questions, for a total of 34 questions. 
To pass the test and prove you have B2 level you must achieve a score of at least 27/34.

To see an example of what the test looks like click here.

From question 1 to question 8, you need to complete the sentences, choosing from 4 possible options.
In question 9, you need to indicate the correct word that completes the text, choosing from 4 possible options.

To prepare yourself to take the test, you can follow the directions of Syllabus.

Italian language tests a.y. 2023/2024

I semester

  • September 14, 2023 
    Online test reserved for all students with foreign title enrolled in the academic year 2023/2024
  • September 15, 2023
    In-person test reserved for all students with foreign title enrolled in the academic year 2023/202
  • September 29, 2023
    In-person test reserved for students enrolled in the years prior to the a.a. 2023/2024 who have not yet discharged their educational debt
  • October 13, 2023 
    Online test reserved for all students with foreign title enrolled in the academic year 2023/2024
  • November 24, 2023 
    Online test reserved for all students with foreign title enrolled in the academic year 2023/2024.

II semester

  • February 23, 2024
    In-person test reserved for students enrolled in previous years
    to the a.y.2023/2024 who have not yet passed the test and to students
    enrolled in the a.y. 2023/2024 who have never taken the test
  • April 19, 2024
    In-person test reserved for students enrolled in the previous years
    to the a.y.2023/2024 who have not yet passed the test and students
    enrolled in the a.y. 2023/2024 who have never taken the test
  • June 28, 2024
    In-person test reserved for students enrolled in the years prior
    to the a.y.2023/2024 who have not yet passed the test, students
    enrolled in the a.y.2023/2024 who have never taken the test and
    those who have not passed the exam at the end of the Italian course"

Outcomes evidence

Last update 24/04/2024