PLIDA

PLIDA, or Progetto Lingua Italiana Dante Alighieri (Dante Alighieri Society Diplomas), are language diplomas issued by Dante Alighieri Society certifying the holder's proficiency in Italian language as a foreign language. The diplomas could only be obtained after passing a standardised language test. The Rome Branch of the Dante Alighieri Society is the official centre of examination for the issuing of PLIDA Certification.
Recognition.
The PLIDA certificate is officially recognised by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the Ministry of Labour and Welfare and the Ministry of Education, University and Research of Italy.
According to the Decree of the Ministry of the Interior of 4 June 2010, any foreigners should be able to demonstrate proficiency in the Italian language, if they want to obtain the long-term residence permit. Holders of A2 PLIDA certificate could be exempted from the test held by the Prefectures.
With the certificate (B2 or C1 level, depending on university and subject), students can be enrolled into universities or schools without taking the mandatory Italian language examinations.
Eligibility.
PLIDA tests can be taken only by those who are not native speakers of Italian. All candidates can take the test at the level they prefer, and it is not a pre-requisite that they have passed the tests at lower levels.
Test.
The Dante Alighieri Society is the organiser of PLIDA tests, with the academic approval from the Sapienza University of Rome. The Certification test is designed on the principles of the communicative approach, based on real-life tasks so as to test the ability in four areas: listening, reading, writing and speaking. The examination lasts for a minimum of 100 minutes to a maximum of 190 minutes, depending on the level.
There are tests of six levels, A1 to C2, set according to the levels in the Common European Framework of Reference for Languages.
Results.
Tests are marked in terms of a maximum of thirty points. To pass the examination, the candidate has to obtain a minimum of 18/30 in every tested areas, namely, listening, reading, writing and speaking. A candidate who passes at least three of the four areas obtains a credit in the areas passed, and these three credits may be used in the next attempt in the failed area.