Business English Examination (BEC)
The University of Cambridge provides worldwide known exams and tests for learners of English language. The British Council in Poland organizes these exams for learners in Poland.
Most companies in the world recognise BEC because it examines the language skills of a candidate who is willing to perform the office work in international businesses.
BEC has the following levels:
BEC Preliminary, BEC Vantage, BEC Higher.
Further, there is ICFE and ILEC exams.
BEC Preliminary
It has 3 segments, testing your understanding of details and texts structure and ability to find out information from them. It checks your vocabulary, skill of giving a longer speech, information and opinions related to both, everyday life and business contexts which you must be familiar with from your life practice.
Reading/Writing segment (1,5 hs)It contains seven texts (messages, postcards, emails, descriptions, newspaper excerpt, advert or leaflet, etc.) to read and answer questions and also, two tasks for writing an email or memo, etc.
The Listening Segment (ca 40 min.)It has short conversations recorded and multiple choice questions or gaps to fill in (asking for specific information, facts, figures, prices, etc.)
The Speaking Segment (20 min.)You must discuss an issue with another candidate and next with an examiner and further, on your own, about your daily activities, job, hobbies, etc. You also will give a business speech on a given topic and express opinions.
BEC Vantage
It has 4 segments.
Reading Segment (1h)
You will read business texts such as a note, graph, office correspondence, articles with facts, etc. And you will answer questions of the multiple choice, matching words, filling in and form filling character.
Writing Segment (45 min.)
You will make a form, memo, message, report or letter based on a provided text.
Listening Segment (ca 40 min.)
You will listen to recorded business dialogues (announcements, phone calls, presentations, discussions, etc.) and understand them without the necessity to know all the words. You will answer multiple choice and gap filling questions and are requested to grasp specific information from the content of the recorded material.
Speaking Segment (14 min.)
You prove that you can speak with another candidate about yourselves, work or studies and give information.
BEC Higher
It has 4 segments.
Reading (1h)
It has 6 business texts (notice, graph, correspondence, facts, articles) with questions of the multiple choice, matching, right/wrong/none, gap/form filling character.
Writing (ca 1h)
You will be asked to transfer information to a form, letter, message, memo, email, etc.
Listening (40 min.)
You will listen to recorded work-related dialogues and monologues ( phone calls, messages, interviews, presentations, etc.) and answer questions in the form of multiple choice, gap filling, and also listening to specific information.