What you should know about the Italian PLIDA exam
The Dante Alighieri Italian Language Project or PLIDA is the exam that validates the competences of the Italian language based on 6 levels that are divided into oral expression, written expression, oral comprehension and written comprehension.
The levels correspond to a specific skill that allows one to function socially and professionally, and they can also be used to obtain residence permits.
The project is officially recognized by the MAE (Ministry of Foreign Affairs). The PLIDA exam is the only test recognized by the SEP (Secretariat of Public Education) in Mexico, which authorizes the CENNI (National Language Level Certification) procedure for the level of Italian verified, with the PLIDA certificate.
PLIDA levels
The PLIDA exam adheres to what is proposed by the CEFR (Common European Framework of Reference for Languages) and its 6-level structure is as follows:
- Basic Italian.
1. Initiation level. Basic comprehension and expression, it is required to be able to formulate simple and short sentences.
1.1 Level A1 of the CEFR - PLIDA A1.
1.2 PLIDA juniors A1.
2. Survival level. Learning continues to be assessed at a slightly higher level than basic.
2.1 Level A2 of the CEFR - PLIDA A2.
2.2 PLIDA juniors A2.
- Fundamental Italian.
3. Threshold Level. The participant must understand expressions and be able to use them by himself.
3.1 Level B1 of the CEFR - PLIDA B1.
3.2 PLIDA juniors B1.
- Advanced level. At this stage you should be able to start conversations on various topics.
4. Level B2 of the CEFR - PLIDA B2.
4.1 PLIDA juniors B2.
- Professional Italian.
5. High level. Autonomy of expression and the ability to tackle complex issues are evaluated.
5.1 CEFR level C1 - PLIDA C1
- Language proficiency. Here the participant masters the language as a second language.
5.2 Level C2 of the CEFR - PLIDA C2.
Structure of PLIDA
The Italian certificate can be awarded by assessing the participant's immersion in the language with each category. The structure is based on the levels and times granted to present each evaluation.
The length of time for each part of the exam, which is very strict, is as follows:
1. A1 - Total time of 1 hour and 55 minutes.
° Oral Compensation - 35 minutes.
° Written comprehension - 30 minutes.
° Written expression - 40 minutes.
° Oral expression - 10 minutes.
2. A2 - Total time of 1 hour and 45 minutes.
° Oral Compensation - 25 minutes.
° Written comprehension - 30 minutes.
° Written expression - 40 minutes.
° Oral expression - 10 minutes.
3. B1 - Total time of 2 hours and 5 minutes.
° Oral Compensation - 35 minutes.
° Written comprehension - 30 minutes.
° Written expression - 50 minutes.
° Oral expression - 10 minutes.
4. B2 - Total time of 2 hours and 5 minutes.
° Oral Compensation - 35 minutes.
° Written comprehension - 30 minutes.
° Written expression - 50 minutes.
° Oral expression - 10 minutes.
5. C1 - Total time of 3 hours and 5 minutes.
° Oral Compensation - 35 minutes.
° Written comprehension - 45 minutes.
° Written expression - 90 minutes.
° Oral expression - 15 minutes.
6. C2 - Total time of 3 hours and 55 minutes.
Oral Compensation - 40 minutes.
° Written comprehension - 45 minutes.
° Written expression - 135 minutes.
° Oral expression - 15 minutes.
Levels A, also called basic, are used to categorize minors or people who want to enter the country without having to use the language in their activities.
Levels B or intermediate are used to determine people who can face slightly greater challenges with high immersion in the language.
Levels C or advanced, are used to qualify people who can face any challenge in the Italian language, which includes regional languages and contexts of each culture.
Parameters for the development of the exam
In addition to the duration and levels of the PLIDA, it is important to know the development of the tests.
- Auditory evaluation: For the basic levels, short phrases of daily use spoken slowly are used for greater assimilation of the participant. In advanced levels, parts of texts and speeches are used.
- Reading assessment: The difficulty of this part is based on the same principles of the listening test, questions are asked with multiple-choice answers.
- Oral evaluation: The participant must orally answer some questions, the difficulty will depend on the level of the test being presented, in advanced levels the applicant is requested to give a brief speech.
- Writing assessment: at the basic levels, questions are asked in which the evaluated person must answer 1 to 2 words or short sentences of "normal" or everyday situations.
As the difficulties of the levels progress, it will be requested that the answers be argued and it will also be requested that a medium-length text be developed.
The tests are presented in 2 stages, first is the written test that is carried out personally and material and instructions are delivered. The second part is oral, it is carried out in an interview also in a personal way.
The evaluation is scored with a total of 120 points distributed among the levels. The applicant must pass at least 60% to obtain the certification. If any level is failed, one year is given to certify that part.
Preparation for the PLIDA exam
The project offers past forms for practice, there are also conversation groups, online courses and the following bibliography is recommended:
- Quaderni Del PLIDA - A1 (Kitap + CD) Italyanca Sinavlara Hazirlik
- Quaderni del PLIDA. A2. With Audio CD (Italian) Paperback? 2009
- Quaderni del PLIDA: Quaderni del PLIDA Nuovo esame B1 - book + mp3 online (Italian Edition) (Italian) Paperback? April 5, 2019
- Quaderni Del PLIDA - B2 (Kitap + CD) Italyanca Sinavlara Hazirlik
- Quaderni del PLIDA c1 (Italian) Paperback? May 16, 2017
- Quaderni del PLIDA C2 L \ 'Italian scritto parlato certificato + CD
The Italian title is given based on the PLIDA certification, once all levels have been passed. It is extremely important to prepare for evaluations at whatever level the participant is at.
The PLIDA is a very strict official test and all protocols must be respected, punctuality being very important. The job of the professionals who administer the exams is only to assess the ability without judging the nervousness of the applicant.