Business English Vantage - Exams - British Council

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	BEC Vantage

Business English Certificate VANTAGE is an examination for intermediate level candidates already in work or preparing to work in a range of business-related jobs, from general office work to production and financial services. This level is equivalent to the First Certificate in English (FCE - Cambridge general English exam).

	EXAMINATION CONTENT

		Reading (1 hour)

	The reading paper has 5 parts with different types of text, e.g. articles, reports, fiction, advertisements, letters, messages, brochures, etc. In one Part you may have to read one long text or two or more shorter, related texts.Length of texts ranges from 150-550 words. Reading carries 25% of total marks.

		Writing (45 minutes)

In this part you have to produce two pieces of writing. Both tasks are compulsory and may include the following types of texts:

communication with a colleague on a business related matter, such as a note, a message, a memo or an e-mail
a piece of correspondence with somebody outside the company (e.g. a customer or supplier) on a business-related matter. It may be a letter, a fax or an e-mail
a report; this means a presentation of information in relation to a specific issue or event
a proposal; this has a similar format to a report, but focuses on the future and includes recommendations for discussion

Writing carries 25% of total marks.

		Listening (40 minutes)

	This section has three parts. For each part you have to listen to a recorded text or texts and answer questions (total of 30). Tasks include gap filling, multiple matching, multiple choice. You hear each recording twice. Listening carries 25% of total marks.

		Speaking (approx. 14 minutes per pair of candidates)

The Speaking test consists of 3 parts. The first part is a conversation with an examiner, business-related. The second part is a mini-presentation: you choose one of 3 topics, prepare for 1 minute and then speak for 1 minute. You should also react to the other candidate’s speech. The third part is a discussion with the other candidate on a business-related topic. You should be able to express and justify opinions, use comparisons, agree and disagree. Speaking carries 25% of total marks.

		What grades can I receive?

The minimum successful performance which a candidate typically requires in order to pass the exam corresponds to about 60% of the total marks. It is not necessary to achieve a satisfactory level in each paper in order to pass the exam. Successful candidates obtain a certificate with one of the passing grades – A, B or C. If candidate performance is below Level B2, but falls within Level B1, candidate will receive a Cambridge English certificate stating ability at B1 level.

		Preparation materials

Textbooks for exam preparation:

Business Benchmark 2 (CUP)
Cambridge BEC Vantage 1-3 (Past Papers) (CUP)
New International Business English (CUP)
Company to Company (CUP)
Business Objectives / BEC 2 (OUP)
Business Opportunities / BEC 2 (OUP)
BEC Vantage Masterclass (OUP)
BEC Vantage Testbuilder (Macmillan)

Do you want to register for BEC Vantage? Click here for more information about registration.

For more information about BEC Vantage and useful resources visit the Cambridge ESOL candidate support website – BEC V.