How to book the Italian A2 test at the Prefettura: step-by-step procedure
5 min read
Booking the A2-level test di conoscenza della lingua italiana is an entirely online procedure: you submit the request to the Prefettura of the province where you live through the portal of the Department for Civil Liberties and Immigration of the Ministry of the Interior. This guide walks through the steps, what to expect after submitting the request, and what happens if something goes wrong — without inventing numbers or deadlines that official sources do not publish.
Before you book: two checks
- Check whether you are exempt. The decree governing the test (decree of the Minister of the Interior of 7 December 2021) provides a series of exemptions: holders of a recognised language certificate at level A2 or higher, an Italian school qualification, children under 14, and several other cases. If one of them applies to you, there is nothing to book — read our guide on who is exempt from the test first.
- Make sure you know what awaits you in the exam room. The test lasts 60 minutes, has three parts and is passed with 80 points out of 100 overall: if you haven't yet, read what the test is and what it looks like.
Step 1 — the online request
The application to take the test is submitted online to the Prefettura of the province of your domicile (art. 3, co. 1 of the decree of 7 December 2021), through the services portal of the Department for Civil Liberties and Immigration: portaleservizi.dlci.interno.it. Access to the portal is via SPID or CIE (the Italian electronic identity card).
You fill in the request with your details and send it. There is no "registration window" as with university exams: the request is filed when you need it, as part of your application for the EU long-term residence permit.
Step 2 — the summons (within 60 days)
The decree sets a precise deadline: the Prefettura must summon you within sixty days of the request, telling you the day, time and venue of the test (art. 3, co. 2). Sessions are organised throughout the year "as needed", following a calendar agreed between the Prefettura and the schools of the province.
The venue is normally a CPIA (provincial adult-education centre) designated by the Prefect; the test takes place before a school commission chaired by the head teacher (art. 6 of the decree).
Step 3 — test day
- Bring a valid identity document: the commission must be able to identify you.
- The test is taken on a computer. If computers are a problem for you, you can ask for the paper version: the decree guarantees that content, marking criteria and time limit are identical (art. 3, co. 4).
- The test lasts 60 minutes net: about 25 for listening (each audio is played twice), about 25 for reading and about 10 for the written-interaction task.
- One golden rule to remember: wrong answers do not subtract points — always answer, even when you are not sure. The reason why is explained in our guide on the scoring.
What if I cannot attend?
An absence can be justified only with medical documentation, delivered before the session. An unjustified absence is not a shortcut: according to the practice stated by the Ministry of the Interior, after an unjustified absence (as after a fail) a new request can be filed after 90 days.
The result — where you see it and who reads it
After marking, the result is communicated to you and recorded in the information system of the Department for Civil Liberties and Immigration; you can find it in your personal area of the portal. You will not receive a certificate: it is the Questura that checks the outcome directly in the system when it processes your file (art. 3, co. 5 and art. 5 of the decree).
If the test goes badly
No drama: the decree expressly provides that the test can be repeated. The decree itself sets no waiting period; the Ministry of the Interior's page states, as administrative practice, that a new test can be requested 90 days after the date of the previous exam. Use that time to work on your weak points: the 80% threshold leaves very little room for error, and it pays to arrive at the second summons much better prepared — here is a 4-week preparation plan.
Summary
| Stage | What happens | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Request | Online, to the Prefettura of your domicile, via portaleservizi.dlci.interno.it with SPID/CIE | art. 3, co. 1, decree of 7-12-2021 |
| Summons | Within 60 days of the request | art. 3, co. 2 |
| Venue | CPIA designated by the Prefect, school commission | art. 6 |
| Test | On computer (paper on request), 60 minutes, three parts | art. 3, co. 3–4 |
| Result | Recorded in the Ministry's system, read by the Questura | art. 3, co. 5 and art. 5 |
| Retake | Provided for by the decree; 90-day wait per ministry practice | art. 3, co. 5 + ministry page |
Before your summons arrives, practise in the real format: our free practice tests reproduce the three parts with the same scoring, and the writing trainer with AI feedback prepares you for the written-interaction task specifically.
The information in this guide is for general information only and is neither legal advice nor official booking instructions. Procedures, portals and timelines can change: only what the official sources publish is binding — always verify the current steps on the portal and with the Prefettura of your province.