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Cambridge Business English Certificate (BEC) Vantage and Higher
[CRICOS CODE: 038098E]
Shafston International College offers intensive preparation courses for the Business English Certificate. The Business English Certificate (BEC) preparation courses prepare students in BEC test taking strategies for the BEC Vantage, and the BEC Higher.
The topic areas include the following:
Personal identification
The office, general business environment and routine
Entertainment of clients, free time, relationships with colleagues and clients
Travel and conference meetings
Using the telephone
Health and safety
Buying and selling
Company structures, systems, processes
Products and services
Results and achievements
Business issues
There are four parts to the BEC tests: speaking, listening, reading and writing.
The Business English Certificate (BEC)
preparation courses prepare students in BEC test taking strategies. The course is communication based and focuses on English as it is used in today’s global business world.
A business background is an advantage, but not essential for BEC. Additional course themes may include:
International trade
Meeting and negotiation skills
Teamwork & team-building
Human resources
Stock market
E-business and E-commerce
The BEC examinations can be taken in Brisbane three times each year in March, June and November. Three classes of passing grade are available, A, B and C, and two classes of failing grade, D and E. All candidates are provided with a Statement of Results which includes a graphical display of the candidate’s performance in each paper. These are shown against the scale Exceptional – Good – Borderline – Weak and indicate the candidate’s relative performance in each paper. Passing candidates are awarded a certificate.
Preparation for Cambridge Business English Certificate Vantage (BEC Vantage)
(CRICOS CODE: 038098E)
BEC Vantage is a test aimed at people preparing for a career in business whose level of English is intermediate to upper intermediate. BEC Vantage assesses language ability used in the context of business at the Council of Europe’s Vantage Level (B2) for general language proficiency.
Bec Vantage
Reading
1 hour
Candidates are tested on the five tasks: multiple choice, matching, sentence level gap-filling, multiple choice gap-filling and error identification.
Writing
45 minutes
Candidates are tested on two tasks, both of which are compulsory. Candidates are to produce a piece of internal office communication (40 – 50 words), and a short report, proposal or business correspondence (120 words). This is based on the Reading input.
Speaking
14 minutes
Candidates are examined in pairs by two external examiners. Students are to give a mini-presentation, take part in a collaborative task with the other candidate and take part in a discussion.
Listening
40 minutes
There are three task types: gap-filling or note completion, matching and multiple choice. Students are exposed to a variety of texts including monologues, dialogues, interviews, discussions, telephone conversations and messages.
Preparation for Cambridge BEC-Vantage Sample Timetable
Time
Monday
Tuesday
Wednesday
Thursday
Friday
9.30am–11.30am
Integrated Core Skills – Theme based
- Rights in the workplace - Risk assessment.
- Smoking memo. - Talking about problems at work. - Understanding multi-word verbs.
Rights at work - Injuries in the workplace.
Rights at work - Injuries in the workplace.
Review and Consolidation - Weekly unit review test. - Letter writing test. - Grammar assessment task.
11.30am–11.45am
Morning Break
11.45am–12.45pm
Report writing - Assessing safety practices in a company.
Listening Interview between company CEO and health department officials.
Reading - How safe is your workplace? - Risk assessment.
Speaking - Working environment survey.
Business grammar Modal verbs Vocabulary review: study the unit word list review activity.
12.45pm-1.45pm
Lunch Break
1.45pm-3.45pm
Speaking Expressing obligation; permitting; emphasising; urging. Writing Mini-report with recommendations to improve safety standards.
Reading/ Speaking Stress management in the workplace - discussion - reading comprehension activity.
Listening A day in the life of (unit 12) - informal monologues - work. Listening for gist and specific information.
Vocabulary Labour relations - vocabulary development. - the right to strike. Listening Trade unions - listening for key points.
Write a memo advising staff of smoking policy in the workplace.
Completion of reading comprehension for homework.
Interview preparation An Unusual Job (completion of pre-speaking worksheet for Friday activity).
Review activity Unit 7B student book.
Afternoon Clubs
Cooking Club
Music Club
Pronunciation Club (during Cambridge sessions)
Cambridge Club
Sports Club
Film Club
Preparation for Cambridge Business English Certificate Higher (BEC Higher)
(CRICOS CODE: 038098E)
BEC Higher is a proficiency test of Business English at an advanced level. Success means proof of a high level of competence in English for the workplace. BEC Higher assesses language ability used in the context of business at the Council of Europe’s Effective Operational Proficiency Level (C1) for general language proficiency.
BEC Higher
Reading
1 hour
Candidates are to complete the six task types which include: multiple choice, matching, word level gap-filling, sentence level gap-filling, multiple choice gap-filling and error identification.
Writing
1 hour 10 minutes
Candidates are to complete two tasks. One task is to produce a short report based on some graphic input, and write 120 – 140 words. The second task is to either write a report, proposal or piece of business correspondence.
Listening
40 minutes
Candidates will listen to three tasks of the following task types: gap-filing or note completion, matching and multiple choice.
Speaking
16 minutes
Candidates are examined in pairs by two external examiners. Students are to respond to questions, give mini-presentations, take part in a collaborative task, and take part in a discussion with the other candidate.
Preparation for Cambridge BEC-Higher Sample Timetable
Time
Monday
Tuesday
Wednesday
Thursday
Friday
9.30am–11.30am
Integrated Core Skills – Theme based
- Health and Safety Introduction to health and safety. Minimizing risk and hazards in the work environment Understanding a procedures manual.
Understanding health and safety rules in the workplace. Understanding notices and instructions.
Minimizing risk at work – making the workplace safer
Health and Safety – Reading a workplace health and safety manual. Grammar: Imperatives Writing: Summarizing from notes
Review and Consolidation - Weekly unit review test. - Writing task: Mini report
11.30am–11.45am
Morning Break
11.45am–12.45pm
Report writing - Describing the work environment. Summarizing a report.
Listening Listening to a health and workplace safety lecture. Listening for and noting specific information.
Reading - Reading a new Health and Safety Manual. Comprehension questions.
Speaking - Addressing a group meeting and explaining a new policy
Business grammar Conditionals Vocabulary review: study the unit word list review activity.
12.45pm-1.45pm
Lunch Break
1.45pm-3.45pm
Speaking A mini presentation on health and safety issues. Students prepare for the presentation. Look at some workplace safety manuals, policies and procedures. Compile a summary of the points. Practice timing.
Reading/ Speaking Look at the ways you can justify opinions, speculating, comparing and contrasting, agreeing and disagreeing. Preparation for collaborative task.
Listening Listen to short monologues – the speaker is the director of a large chemicals factory. Take notes and list for specific information as he speaks about his company’s workplace health and safety policies.
Vocabulary Health and safety / medical vocabulary Listening Listen to a medical officer talking about how a workplace accident could have been easily prevented.
Speaking Interview practice – task: Collaborative pair work activity.
Speaking activity - Exam strategy focus: Listening to the discussion and question formation
