Most versions include an answer key in the back, allowing self-study. This is rare for official exam prep materials, which often require a teacher’s guide.

These are exercise books designed to prepare students for the exam, specifically the lowest two levels of the Common European Framework (A1 and A2).

Because the book contains several full mock exams, the tasks can feel monotonous. You will write "Ciao, mi chiamo..." about 15 times.

You have an exam date booked in 4 weeks. Skip it if: You are still learning "io sono, tu sei."

Use the Nuovo CILS series (by Simone Scafi) – it offers slightly better explanations for self-study than the standard "Quaderni."

Unlike academic textbooks, these levels focus on real-life tasks: filling out a hotel form, reading a train timetable, ordering food, or writing a short postcard. This is very practical for beginners.

If you download a free PDF from the internet (without the official CD or digital access code), you will have no listening exercises. Since the CILS exam is 20% listening, this makes the PDF incomplete. You must hunt for the audio files separately.