What are the Business English Certificates (BEC)?
BEC are designed to show employers your skills for using English in the workplace. BEC is an internationally recognized suite of three tests, Preliminary, Vantage and Higher, which are aligned with the Common European Framework of Reference for Languages:
- Preliminary (Level B1)
- Vantage (Level B2)
- Higher (Level C2)
How can BEC help my career?
These exams are officially recognised around the world by more than a thousand educational organisations, employers, ministries, government bodies and professional organisations as evidence of your skills in business English.
Leading international companies such as Sony Ericsson, Shell, Vodafone, Bayer, Coca-Cola and HSBC all recognise BEC.
Why take BEC with the British Council?
A million people take exams with the British Council every year. In Spain, we have many years’ experience working with the Business English Certificates and other Cambridge exams. We provide pre-exam support and a professional and efficient service to make your exam day run as smoothly as possible.
What’s in the exam?
The BEC exams evaluate your ability to communicate in English in a business context and tests the four language skills:
- reading,
- writing,
- listening,
- speaking.
Find out more about the exam and how to prepare for it.
How to Register
Registering is quick and easy. Register for your Business English Certificate exam.
Useful Links
BEC – official Cambridge exam site.
Register for your Cambridge BEC Exam
Registering for your exam is simple:
- Check exam dates and locations in the table below.
- Download and complete the registration form and instructions for your exam.
You’ll find all the information you need on the exam registration form for your centre.
- Registration forms are only available during the registration periods shown in the table below.
- The registration forms below are for individual candidates only.
- If you are a school, academy or other organisation and want to register multiple candidates, please visit our exams for schools and academies page.
About Cambridge Business English Certificates (BEC)
BEC is made up of three tests, Preliminary, Vantage and Higher, which are aligned with the Common European Framework of Reference for Languages at Level B1, B2 and C2 respectively.
Preparing for the BEC Preliminary Certificate
BEC Preliminary is designed to test your English skills in real-world business tasks, such as:
- reading short messages
- interpreting charts
- writing a short email
- following short telephone conversations and discussions
- talking about business-related matters
Learn more about preparing for BEC Preliminary
Preparing for the BEC Vantage and Higher Certificates
BEC Vantage and Higher show you can use English with confidence in a business environment. You will be tested on four areas:
- Reading different types of text, such as business publications and correspondence
- Writing two different pieces of writing, such as letters, reports, proposals and emails
- Listening to a range of spoken materials, such as interviews, discussions and presentations, and demonstrating that you’ve followed and understood them
- Speaking effectively in face-to-face situations. You will take the speaking test with one or two other candidates
Your Cambridge Business English Certificates (BEC) results
You will receive detailed results for your BEC in a “Statement of Results” document. You will also be awarded a certificate if your performance is above a certain level based on the Common European Framework of Reference.
What is the Statement of Results?
It contains:
- Your candidate result. This result is based on your total score in all papers.
- A graphical display of your performance in each paper (shown against the scale Exceptional – Good – Borderline – Weak).
- A standardised score out of 100 which allows you to see exactly how you performed.
Find out more about Understanding your Statement of Results:
Can I get my results online?
You can access your results online through the Cambridge ESOL Results Online website. Please note that you are required to register to receive this service.