Italian CEFR Levels: A Tutor's Guide from A1 to C2

May 2026  ·  9 min read

The Common European Framework of Reference for Languages (CEFR) divides ability into six levels, from A1 for beginners to C2 for mastery. For Italian tutors it is a practical map: it sets the order in which you teach the tenses, what a student can realistically do, which materials fit them and which exam to prepare. This guide takes each level in turn for Italian specifically, with can-do descriptors, the grammar usually taught, and a method for placing a new student.

Italian is welcoming to English speakers, its spelling is consistent, its sounds are clean, and Latin roots make much vocabulary transparent. That smooth start means A1 and A2 often move quickly. The challenge that defines the higher levels is the verb system, especially the network of past tenses and the congiuntivo, the mood that pervades intermediate and advanced Italian.

The six Italian CEFR levels at a glance

A1: the foundations

At A1 your student learns to greet, introduce themselves, order in a bar, count and ask simple questions. The grammar rests on the present tense of regular -are, -ere and -ire verbs plus the essential irregulars essere and avere, on gender and articles, and on noun-adjective agreement. Italian pronunciation is a gift here, almost entirely phonetic, so encourage confident speaking from the first lesson and build whole phrases rather than isolated words.

A2: the past arrives

A2 opens Italian up through the past. Learners can describe their routine, recount what they did, and talk about plans. The two key tenses are the passato prossimo for completed actions, with its choice between avere and essere as auxiliary and the agreement of the past participle, and the imperfetto for description and habit. Teaching the contrast between them is the central job of A2. Reflexive verbs, direct and indirect object pronouns, and the simple future complete the level.

B1: the congiuntivo enters

B1 is the threshold of independence, and the headline event is the arrival of the congiuntivo (subjunctive). Introduce the present congiuntivo through frequent, concrete triggers, penso che, voglio che, bisogna che, before broadening to doubt, emotion and opinion. The condizionale, comparatives, the particles ci and ne, and the imperative also belong here. Many learners find B1 a plateau because the congiuntivo feels alien at first; steady exposure and spaced repetition of the forms make it click.

B2: confident, complex Italian

At B2 the learner is genuinely independent. They can argue a viewpoint, follow most film and journalism, and converse with native speakers comfortably. You complete the subjunctive picture with the imperfect congiuntivo and the full periodo ipotetico, the if-clause system (se avessi tempo, viaggerei), alongside the passive voice, reported speech and a wide range of connectors. B2 is the level most adult students target for university or work in Italy, and the most common goal a private tutor prepares them for.

C1 and C2: toward mastery

At C1, Italian becomes a flexible tool for academic and professional life. New structures matter less than precision, register and idiom; students learn to recognise the passato remoto in literature and to move between formal and informal registers. C2 is mastery: the learner understands virtually everything, catches implicit meaning, and expresses fine nuance with stylistic control. At these levels you coach with authentic literature, journalism, film and debate, and build awareness of Italy's strong regional varieties.

The official Italian exams

Italy's recognised certifications come from three universities and the Dante Alighieri society. The CILS (Universita per Stranieri di Siena) and the CELI (Universita per Stranieri di Perugia) both offer exams mapped to each CEFR level from A1 to C2. The PLIDA (Progetto Lingua Italiana Dante Alighieri), run by the Societa Dante Alighieri, is a third widely accepted option. All are valid for study and residency in Italy. Match the choice to the student's destination institution or purpose, since some universities specify a preferred certificate.

How to place a new Italian student

Accurate placement saves weeks of mismatched teaching. Combine a short writing sample with a spoken interview. Ask the student to narrate a recent event: their handling of the passato prossimo and imperfetto reveals whether they are A2 or beyond. Then prompt opinions and wishes (penso che..., vorrei che...) to test the congiuntivo, which separates B1 from B2 and above. Listen for vocabulary range, pronunciation and fluency. Derstina makes this easy by letting you assign a level-appropriate diagnostic lesson and review the results before planning a course.

How a CEFR-aligned curriculum helps

Italian grammar builds in a fixed order, present before past, indicative before congiuntivo, so sequencing decides whether lessons succeed. A CEFR-aligned curriculum encodes that order and stops you introducing the congiuntivo before the past tenses are firm. Derstina's curriculum is aligned to the CEFR levels above, with hundreds of ready-made Italian lessons, progress tracking, a student portal and spaced-repetition review for the verb forms that define each level. Every paid plan includes a 30-day free trial. If you also teach a sister language, our Spanish CEFR guide covers a parallel subjunctive system, and the guide to teaching Italian online covers lesson delivery in depth.

Frequently Asked Questions

When should I teach the passato prossimo and imperfetto?

The passato prossimo is usually introduced at A2 for completed past actions, including the choice of avere or essere and past-participle agreement. The imperfetto follows for description and habit, and the contrast between them is a key A2 to B1 skill. The passato remoto is largely a reading and regional matter, often left to B2 and above.

At what level do learners meet the congiuntivo?

The present congiuntivo is normally introduced at B1, after the indicative tenses are secure. Start with frequent triggers such as penso che, voglio che and bisogna che, then widen to doubt, emotion and opinion. The imperfect congiuntivo and the periodo ipotetico (if-clauses) usually arrive at B2, completing the mood for hypothetical and unreal situations.

Which exam aligns with each Italian CEFR level?

The CILS (Universita per Stranieri di Siena) and the CELI (Universita per Stranieri di Perugia) both offer exams mapped to each CEFR level from A1 to C2. The PLIDA, run by the Societa Dante Alighieri, is a third recognised certification. All are accepted for study and residency in Italy, so match the choice to the student's institution or purpose.

How do I place a new Italian student at the right level?

Combine a short writing sample with a spoken interview. Ask the student to narrate a recent event to test the passato prossimo and imperfetto, then prompt opinions and wishes to probe the congiuntivo. Their handling of these tenses, plus vocabulary range, pronunciation and fluency, places them reliably between A1 and C1.

Is Italian easy for English speakers to learn?

Italian is among the more approachable languages for English speakers thanks to phonetic, consistent spelling and a large shared Latin vocabulary, so A1 and A2 often move quickly. The real challenge is the verb system, especially the congiuntivo and the network of past tenses, which is what slows learners as they push from B1 toward B2 and beyond.