What is a B1 certificate?
When applying for Italian citizenship through marriage, one of the requirements is an official B1 proficiency certificate.
This certificate is issued after passing a B1 PLIDA exam which we host once or twice per annum as an accredited PLIDA institution.
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What is a B1 PLIDA exam?
PLIDA exams are official tests that we receive from Italy and get graded in Italy.
Dante Alighieri is the only accredited institution in South Africa to administer PLIDA exams.
– For more information hop over to the official PLIDA website
– Or follow this link to view all accredited institutions
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How do I prepare for my B1 exam?
You need to have a knowledge of Italian at a B1 level (completed) to pass this exam.
If you are a beginner you can take classes to cover the levels up to, and including, B1 (A1, A2 and B1).
- ARE YOU A BEGINNER?
Learn Italian, starting from A1 level: visit our adult courses page for more information. - DO YOU HAVE A B1 LEVEL?
Join our next Exam Study Group to get useful tips and take mock tests to best prepare for the PLIDA exam format. - FEELING CONFIDENT?
Reach out to us via email to book your place in the next exam session.
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When do PLIDA exam sessions take place in Cape Town?
There are generally two sessions a year at our premises in Gardens, Cape Town.
Check out our Latest News page or contact us to find out when our next session will take place.
What is the price of the PLIDA exam session?
The price for each session is determined by the number of students participating, and by the exchange rate at the time of the exam session announcement (Euro-South African Rand). The current price for 2025 with La Dante in Cape Town is R3700 for the full examination.
Fast-tracked results for urgent cases?
The price for fast-tracked results is €20 on top of your overall examination fees. This amount must be calculated at the time of payment based on the ZAR to EUR exchange. This is not a mandatory fee, but will ensure that you receive your results in a faster turnover than usual. Fast-tracked result requests received after the registration process, once all payments have gone through, will not be tended to. As per PLIDA regulations all fast-track requests and payments must be made within the registration period stipulated. The certified examination centre is not responsible for the correction processes or correction timelines. Any queries or complaints received in this regard will not be tended to.
Special needs or audiovisual impairments that need to be communicated?
Any examination candidate who requires special measures to be taken to take on the PLIDA examination must communicate this to the examination centre with over 1 month of time from the opening of the registrations. It is in the candidates’ best interest to communicate all necessities as soon as he/she is intent on taking on the examination. Supporting documents will be required as these will be sent to PLIDA for approval of the special measures. This includes, but is not limited to, dyslexia, auditory impairments, and visual impairments.
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Citizenship application services
La Dante offers sworn translations of the certificates that need to be presented with your Italian citizenship application, as well as assistance in submitting your application online.
Please contact us for a quote should you wish to make use of our professional translation and assistance services.
DISCLAIMER FOR INTERESTED CANDIDATES:
As you may already be aware, the PLIDA organization falls part of Dante Global. While we are an accredited/certified examination centre, authorized to administer examinations, we are not authorized to change the rules and regulations provided to us by PLIDA for us to adhere to. Since the changing of the registration process on 17 October 2024, the candidate is bestowed the responsibility to reach out to PLIDA should they not agree with any one of their terms and conditions, as we, at the examination centre, are only authorized to receive, provide and give feedback on the examination itself as well as fall part of the final step of the registration process and provide all relevant and necessary examination information to candidates in a clear manner.
The examination centre is not responsible for any registration that arrives after the stipulated cutoff date. While the registrations are open until 23:59 on the final date of registrations, our opening times only allow for us to put through registrations that are received within our working hours (09:30 – 15:30 on weekdays) which means the final cutoff for candidates wishing to take on the examination through our examination centre is 14:00 on the final date of registrations to ensure we are able to submit your request in time.
Should an examination present with any printing errors, this MUST be communicated to the examiner or invigilator to ensure you are provided with a flawless examination to complete.
Candidates should not complete sections of the examination that they are not registered for.
All examination rules for oral and written sections of the examination will be explained in the communications sent out once registrations are finalised, as well as on the day of examination prior to candidates entering the examination halls.
Any candidate who fails to inform us of any auditory or visual impairments prior to registrations opening will not be permitted to make special requests for the examination thereafter. This includes any learning impairments or various other impairments that may impede on your ability to complete the examination following the rules and regulations that apply to each candidate. Any impairments will need to be communicated timeously by providing us with medical certificates that will need to be reviewed and accepted by PLIDA in Rome.
Any candidate who fails to request fast-tracked results or fails to make payment for fast-tracked results before the closing of registrations (date stipulated clearly in all communications sent out) will not be permitted to make the request thereafter and will be held to the normal waiting time for the release of results along with all PLIDA examination candidates worldwide.
The candidate is bestowed full responsibility to read carefully and attentively through all examination communications from Società Dante Alighieri Cape Town. Should any confusion arise, you may ask for clarification and a member of staff will assist you. Società Dante Alighieri Cape Town is not responsible for any communications left unread on behalf of the candidate. It is in the best interest of each candidate to ensure they have fully understood the rules, regulations and cutoff dates for all examination procedures from registration to examination, as explained clearly in the communications sent out by the exam centre.