It is not always easy to objectively assess one’s own level of Italian. With this quiz you will be able to understand your real level — whether you are a beginner, intermediate or advanced — by testing your grammar, your vocabulary and the naturalness with which you use the language. A quick but effective test.
Are You Beginner, Intermediate, or Advanced in Italian? Take the Quiz
The Quiz Rules
Before you start, keep these simple guidelines in mind.
- Do not use dictionaries or translators — rely only on your own knowledge.
- Answer each question mentally, before reading the solution.
- Be honest with yourself: the result will be all the more useful the more sincere you are.
For each correct answer you earn one point. At the end you will find out what your score means.
The 5 Quiz Questions
Question 1 — Grammar: The Hypothetical Sentence
Choose the correct form to complete the sentence:
«Se _____ più tempo, imparerei l’italiano più in fretta.» [If I _____ more time, I would learn Italian faster.]
A) avessi B) avrò C) ho
[…]
Correct Answer: A) avessi
This is a sentence with the hypothetical sentence of possibility: the imperfect subjunctive is used in the part with “se” and the present conditional in the result part. Therefore: «Se avessi più tempo, imparerei l’italiano più in fretta.»
The form “avrò” [simple future] is the simple future and “ho” [present indicative] is the present indicative — neither is used after “se” in this type of sentence. This is one of the most frequent mistakes among people studying Italian.
Question 2 — Grammar: Prepositions
Which sentence is correct?
«Mi sono innamorato _____ Maria.» [I fell in love _____ Maria.]
A) per B) con C) di
[…]
Correct Answer: C) di
In Italian the verb “innamorarsi” always takes the preposition “di” — not “per”, not “con”, not “da”. You say «mi sono innamorato di Maria» [I fell in love with Maria], just as you say «ho bisogno di aiuto» [I need help] or «sono stanco di aspettare» [I am tired of waiting].
Prepositions in Italian are one of the greatest difficulties for foreigners, because they do not always follow a logic that can be translated from other languages. For example, in English you say “I fell in love with Maria” — whereas in Italian you use “di”. This is why it is worth learning these combinations without relying on literal translation.
Question 3 — Grammar: Adjectives
Choose the correct word:
«Il film era _____, mi sono addormentata sul divano.» [The film was _____, I fell asleep on the sofa.]
A) noioso B) annoiata C) noiosamente
[…]
Correct Answer: A) noioso
In Italian you need to distinguish between adjectives that describe the thing and adjectives that describe how someone feels:
- «Il film era noioso» [The film was boring] → it is the thing that causes boredom
- «Io ero annoiata» [I was bored] → it is the person who feels boredom
- Noiosamente is an adverb — it modifies a verb, not a noun
Saying «Il film era annoiato» [The film was bored] would mean attributing the feeling of boredom to the film itself, which makes no semantic sense.
Question 4 — Grammar: Subjunctive or Indicative?
Choose the correct verb form:
«Penso che Marco _____ già a casa.» [I think Marco is already at home.]
A) è B) sia C) sarà
[…]
Correct Answer: B) sia
After the verb “pensare che” the present subjunctive is used — not the indicative, not the future. The correct form is therefore: «Penso che Marco sia già a casa.» [I think Marco is already at home.]
The subjunctive in Italian is used after verbs that express opinion, doubt, emotion or desire, such as: pensare che, credere che, sperare che, volere che, temere che. The form “è” [is] (present indicative) is grammatically incorrect in this context, although it is widespread in informal speech. The form “sarà” [will be] (future) indicates instead a future hypothesis, not a present one.
| Main Verb | Required Mood | Example |
|---|---|---|
| Penso che [I think that] | Subjunctive | Penso che sia vero [I think it is true] |
| Credo che [I believe that] | Subjunctive | Credo che abbiano ragione [I believe they are right] |
| Spero che [I hope that] | Subjunctive | Spero che venga presto [I hope he comes soon] |
| So che [I know that] | Indicative | So che è vero [I know it is true] |
| Vedo che [I see that] | Indicative | Vedo che ha capito [I see that he has understood] |
Question 5 — Naturalness: Word Order
Which sentence would an Italian speaker say more naturally?
A) Ogni giorno vado al lavoro alle 8. [Every day I go to work at 8.]
B) Vado al lavoro ogni giorno alle 8. [I go to work every day at 8.]
C) Entrambe sono corrette. [Both are correct.]
[…]
Correct Answer: C) Entrambe Sono Corrette — but with Different Nuances
When “ogni giorno” is placed at the beginning, the frequency is emphasised — every day, without exceptions. When you start with “Vado”, the action is emphasised — and this is the most neutral and common structure in everyday conversation.
Italian is flexible in word order: it is possible to shift elements of the sentence to modify the focus. With practice, this sensitivity progressively becomes more instinctive.
Quiz Results
Count your points and discover your level.
| Score | Level | Description |
|---|---|---|
| 0–1 point | A1 — Beginner | Don’t be discouraged: everyone starts from here. The fact that you are studying is already an excellent starting point. |
| 2–3 points | B1 — Intermediate | Good work. You understand the basic structures and are building a solid grammatical foundation. Keep going. |
| 4–5 points | C1 — Advanced | Your Italian is truly solid. You could consider exposing yourself to authentic content, such as Italian films or podcasts, without any support. |
Bear in mind that this is an indicative test, useful for getting a general idea of your level.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is the Subjunctive Really Necessary in Italian?
Although in informal speech many Italians tend to avoid it, the subjunctive is fundamental for correct and formal Italian. Using it appropriately contributes significantly to the naturalness and competence perceived by a native speaker.
How Can I Improve with Italian Prepositions?
The most effective way is to learn verbs together with their preposition, as a fixed unit. Not just learning “innamorarsi”, but «innamorarsi di». Reading and listening to authentic content helps to gradually and naturally internalise these combinations.
Does This Test Determine My Official Level?
No, this is an indicative and quick test. For an officially internationally recognised level, you can turn to certifications such as CILS, CELI or PLIDA, which assess the four language skills: reading, writing, listening comprehension and spoken expression.
A good test doesn’t just give answers, it opens new questions — find them with the article dedicated to the guide to pronouns.
Do pronominal verbs trip you up and fill you with doubts? Turn confusion into confidence with our exclusive course:“Da «Non ce la faccio più» a «Ora me la cavo»: i verbi pronominali in 30 giorni.” With fun, bite-size lessons and targeted practice, you’ll learn to use them naturally in just one month.
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