CAMBRI DGE
EXAMI NATI ONS, CERTI FI CATES & DI PLOMAS
BEC
BUSI NESS ENGLI SH CERTI FI CATES
English as a
Foreign Language
© UCLES 2000 NOT FOR RESALE
HANDBOOK
PREFACE The BEC Suite of Examinations provides qualifications for
learners who wish to use English for international business.
This Handbook is intended principally for teachers and
The examinations cover the four language skills  listening,
course designers who are involved in preparing candidates
speaking, reading and writing  and assess the ability to use
for the Cambridge Business English Certificates (BEC). There
a full range of structures and language functions in a
are separate Handbooks for other Cambridge EFL
business context.
examinations.
CONTENTS
This Handbook provides the following information about BEC:
Introduction to UCLES .......................................................................................................... 3
ALTE ...................................................................................................................... 3
The production of EFL Question Papers ............................................................................ 4
Background to BEC .............................................................................................................. 4
History of BEC .......................................................................................................... 4
Level ...................................................................................................................... 4
Recognition ............................................................................................................ 4
BEC Candidature ...................................................................................................... 4
Topic Areas ...................................................................................................................... 5
Exam Content: An Overview .................................................................................................. 6
Assessment ........................................................................................................................ 6
Grading and Results ............................................................................................................ 7
Interpretation of Grades .............................................................................................. 7
Support for Teachers ............................................................................................................ 8
Examination Dates .............................................................................................................. 9
BEC contacts at UCLES ........................................................................................................ 10
BEC1
Exam Structure .................................................................................................................................... 11
A detailed look at the tasks including Candidate Preparation ................................................ 13
Sample Papers incl. Keys/Marked scripts/Tapescript/Speaking Tasks ........................................ 17-37
BEC2
Exam Structure .......................................................................................................... 38
A detailed look at the tasks including Candidate Preparation ................................................ 40
Page 1
Sample Papers incl. Keys/Marked scripts/Tapescript/Speaking Tasks ........................................ 44-63
BEC3
Exam Structure .......................................................................................................... 64
A detailed look at the tasks including Candidate Preparation ................................................ 66
Sample Papers incl. Keys/Marked scripts/Tapescript/Speaking Tasks ........................................ 71-88
Page 2
The principal objectives of ALTE are:
I NTRODUCTI ON TO UCLES
" to establish a framework of levels of proficiency in
The Business English Certificates (BEC) are provided by the
order to promote the transnational recognition of
University of Cambridge Local Examinations Syndicate
certification, especially in Europe;
(UCLES).
" to establish common standards for all stages of the
UCLES was established in 1858 and is a department of the
language testing process: i.e. for test development,
University of Cambridge. Today, UCLES is a world-leader in
question and item writing, test administration, marking
educational assessment, offering a wide range of
and grading, reporting of test results, test analysis and
examinations and assessment services throughout the world.
reporting of findings;
" to collaborate on joint projects and in the exchange of
BEC forms part of the range of Cambridge Examinations in
ideas and know-how.
English as a Foreign Language (EFL), which together attract
more than 600,000 candidates every year, in more than 135
For more information on Cambridge EFL examinations or the
countries. BEC is linked to the five level scale for language
ALTE five level system, please contact:
assessment established by the Association of Language
Testers in Europe and used for most other Cambridge EFL
EFL Information Tel: [phone]
Examinations.
UCLES Fax: [phone]
1 Hills Road
All BEC Examinations are based on an extensive programme
Cambridge
of research and validation, and are assessed according to
CB1 2EU
rigorous criteria designed to deliver assessment of the highest
possible standards of integrity, reliability and fairness.
UCLES' Provision for testing Business Language
UCLES offers two complementary products to cover a
comprehensive range of Business Language testing needs.
The Business Language Testing Service (BULATS) is non-
certificated, and offers employers a quick, reliable and
flexible method of assessing employees' language skills.
The Business English Certificates (BEC) are certificated
examinations which can be taken on six fixed dates per year
at approved BEC centres. They are aimed primarily at
individual learners who wish to obtain a business-related
English language qualification, and provide an ideal focus
for courses in Business English.
For more information about BULATS, please contact:
EFL information Tel: [phone]
UCLES Fax: [phone]
1 Hills Road email: [e-mail]
Cambridge www.bulats.org
CB1 2EU
UK
The Association of Language Testers in Europe (ALTE)
UCLES is a member of The Association of Language Testers
in Europe (ALTE), which was formed in 1990. The members
are all providers of language examinations and certificates
from countries within Europe.
Page 3
The Production of EFL Question Papers skills such as understanding the gist of a text or guessing
unfamiliar words in a listening situation are tested.
The production process for question papers for EFL
examinations and ELT schemes begins with the Work-related  can-do statements linked to the five
commissioning of material and ends with the printing of ALTE/Cambridge levels are due to be published in the
question papers. second half of 2000. These statements, which describe the
work-related functions that a typical candidate at any one of
There are five main stages in the process:
the five ALTE/Cambridge levels is likely to be able to
perform, are the result of a major on-going ALTE project. The
" commissioning;
published statements will be fully validated and will provide
" editing; a detailed, accessible description of the level of the BEC
suite, based on empirical evidence.
" pretesting / trialling;
" analysis and banking of material;
Recognition
" question paper construction.
ALTE/Cambridge Level 5:
This process can be represented in the diagram below.
Certificate of Proficiency in English
(CPE)
Commissioning of material for question papers
ALTE/Cambridge Level 4:
Certificate in Advanced English
BEC 3
Writing/Speaking
Reading/Listening
(CAE)
Vetting and editing of material
ALTE/Cambridge Level 3:
Trial construction Pretest construction
First Certificate in English
BEC 2
(FCE)
Trialling Revision Pretesting
ALTE/Cambridge Level 2:
Trialling review Rejection Item Analysis
Preliminary English Test
(PET)
MATERIALS BANK
BEC 1
ALTE/Cambridge Level 1:
Question paper construction
Key English Test
(KET)
Recognition of BEC is increasing rapidly as a growing
BACKGROUND TO BEC
number of companies are using the examination as a focus
for in-company training courses. A list of companies who use
History of BEC
the BEC examinations for a variety of purposes including
recruitment can be found on the BEC pages of our web-site.
BEC was originally developed to meet a specific demand in
the Asia-Pacific region, with BEC 1 being launched there in
Many Higher Education institutions in the United Kingdom
1993. BEC 2 and BEC 3 were added over the following three
recognise BEC 3 as a suitable entry requirement for
years, and the BEC suite is now available in over sixty
international students to business-related and other courses
countries worldwide.
of study.
Level
Further information concerning recognition of the
examination is available from EFL Information at UCLES.
The BEC suite is linked to the five ALTE/Cambridge levels as
illustrated in the following chart
BEC Candidature
At all three BEC levels, the  business aspect of this
In 1999 there were approximately 35,000 candidates for
examination affects the vocabulary, the types of texts
BEC in forty-five countries.
selected and the situations presented in the tasks. In
addition, as in the UCLES General English exams, other
Page 4
Cambridge Main Suite Examinations
TOPI C AREAS Using the Answering the phone and making a phone
telephone call
Materials used in the BEC suite of examinations relate to the
Giving and interpreting numerical data,
areas of language use given below. The coverage of the
common abbreviations and acronyms
topics is spread across the four components of each
(as used in international business)
examination. In general terms, the topic areas are similar for
Exchanging information
each level but a greater range of linguistic knowledge and
Taking messages
degree of skill are required as the levels progress. Note,
however, that certain topics will be more prevalent at certain Health & Safety Understanding health and safety rules in
levels, e.g. socialising and personal details are areas of the workplace
language tested more at BEC 1 level. Discussing leisure activities, interests and
sports
TOPIC AREAS FUNCTIONS/COMMUNICATIVE TASKS
Producing instructions and notices
Personal Greeting people and responding to
identification greetings Buying and Understanding prices and delivery dates
Introducing oneself and other people selling Making and accepting offers
Asking for and giving personal details Making agreements
(name, occupation, etc.) Negotiating contracts
Asking about and describing jobs and
Company Presenting and describing company
responsibilities
structures, structures and processes
Asking about and describing a company
systems, Exchanging information on company
and its organisation
processes facilities
Completing forms with personal or
Understanding and explaining a
company details
company s production, ordering and
Understanding and writing letters which
delivery systems
give personal details
Understanding and explaining
Understanding and writing simple CVs
manufacturing processes
Understanding references
Understanding and describing processes
The office, Arranging and re-arranging appointments in one s company (including staff
general business and meetings selection, promotion, etc.)
environment Planning future events and tasks Asking about and explaining errors
and routine Confirming or changing plans
Products and Describing and presenting products
Asking for and giving permission
services Explaining how something works
Giving and receiving instructions
Asking for and giving information about a
Predicting and describing future
product or service
possibilities
Making comparisons, expressing opinions,
Asking for and giving opinions: agreeing
preferences, etc.
and disagreeing
Making and receiving complaints
Making, accepting and rejecting
Apologising and accepting apologies
suggestions or recommendations
Justifying decisions and past actions
Results and Describing and explaining company
Understanding records of meetings
achievements performance and results, trends, events
Understanding office communications
and changes
(reports, letters, memos, etc.)
Business issues Understanding and talking about general
Entertainment Discussing interests and leisure activities
business topics, such as management
of clients, Inviting, accepting and refusing offers and
skills, promotional strategies, training
free time, invitations
courses, business services, etc.
relationships Thanking and expressing appreciation
with colleagues Welcoming a foreign visitor
Other topic A number of other topic areas of general
and clients Talking about own region/country
areas interest, such as food and drink, education
Making, accepting and refusing offers
(training, courses), consumer goods,
shopping and prices, current events,
Travel and Making enquiries, reservations, orders and
places, weather, etc. may occur.
conference bookings
meetings Checking into and out of a hotel
Ordering a meal
Following directions
Page 5
EXAM CONTENT: AN OVERVI EW Reading and Writing are tested in a single paper. The
Listening Test is administered immediately after the Reading
The BEC examinations cover the four language skills:
and Writing Test. The Speaking Test may be administered on
Reading, Writing, Listening and Speaking.
the same day or on a different day, depending on local
arrangements.
The BEC Suite
The table below indicates the common characteristics and variations in the different levels of the BEC suite.
BEC 1 BEC 2 BEC 3
READING & WRITING Reading Reading Reading
6 parts/40 items/40 marks 5 parts/45 items/45 marks 6 parts/50 items/50 marks
Writing Writing Writing
3 writing tasks: two short, 2 writing tasks: one short, 2 extended writing tasks
one medium-length one extended
20 marks 25 marks 30 marks
Approx. 90 words required Approx. 150 words required Approx. 350 words required
Overall Overall Overall
70 minutes 90 mins 100 mins
60 marks 70 marks 80 marks
LISTENING 4 parts/30 items 3 parts/30 items 3 parts/30 items
Approx. 40 mins Approx. 40 mins Approx. 40 mins
including transfer time including transfer time including transfer time
30 marks 30 marks 30 marks
SPEAKING 2 parts 2 parts 3 parts
10 mins 12 mins 14 mins
2:2 format 2:2 format 2:2 format
(2 examiners, 2 candidates)
ASSESSMENT To ensure consistency in marking, examiners refer to a
General Mark Scheme which gives detailed descriptions of
The methods of assessment used in the three BEC
performance at each of five bands. In addition to this, a Task
examinations are the same in principle at each level.
specific Mark Scheme for each question gives guidance on
the features an answer should contain.
Reading and Listening
Examiners assess an answer according to the following
All answers for these components are assessed simply as
criteria:
 correct or  incorrect . Spelling should be correct, though
some minor spelling errors in the listening test are tolerated " content
at BEC 1 and BEC 2. Both British and American spellings are
" range of vocabulary and structure
accepted.
" accuracy
" organisation of information and text
Writing
" appropriacy of register and format
Each writing task is marked by a trained examiner. Examiners
" effect on target reader
mark in teams, monitored by a Team leader. Each marking
session is led by a Principal Examiner.
Page 6
Speaking BEC 1 (90 marks available)
The standard test format is two candidates and two
A78
examiners: an assessor and an interlocutor.
B 68
C 60
Each examiner marks a candidate s performance
D 50
independently. The interlocutor, who speaks to the
candidates, gives a single mark based on a global
BEC 2 (100 marks available)
achievement scale. The assessor gives four separate marks
for grammar and vocabulary, discourse management,
A85
pronunciation and interactive communication.  Grammar
B 77
and Vocabulary covers both the accuracy and range of
C 65
language used.  Discourse Management refers to the
N 60
candidate s ability to use English beyond single, short
utterances: organising and linking ideas, and maintaining a
BEC 3 (110 marks available)
flow of language.  Pronunciation includes the production of
individual sounds, appropriate linking of words, word and
A90
sentence stress and intonation.  Interactive communication
B 82
refers to the candidate s ability to interact by responding and
C 70
initiating appropriately. This includes the ability to develop
N 65
the task and move it towards a conclusion, and the degree to
which a candidate depends on the support of others to
ANSWER SHEETS
complete the communicative task.
Candidates record their answers to the Reading and Listening
GRADI NG AND RESULTS components on Answer Sheets designed to be machine
read.
In BEC all four skills  Reading, Writing, Listening and
Speaking  are integrated. However, two separate grades are For the Reading component, candidates may, if they wish,
given. write the answers on their exam paper first, but must transfer
those answers to their Answer Sheet before the end of
For components 1, 2 and 3 (Reading, Writing and Listening),
the test.
successful candidates are awarded grade A, B or C (for BEC
1, they are awarded A, B, C or D). Successful candidates For the Listening test, candidates write on their exam papers
receive a certificate. as they listen. When the final task ends they are allowed an
extra ten minutes to transfer answers to their Answer Sheet.
For component 4 (Speaking), successful candidates are
awarded a separate grade, 1 or 2. Grade 1 is awarded to A soft or medium pencil must be used for recording marks
those showing a higher level of performance; grade 2 is on Answer Sheets. If an answer needs to be changed, an
awarded for a minimum satisfactory performance. eraser should be used.
This result is added to their BEC certificate. For other Where questions require candidates to choose an option,
candidates, the certificate will say  No Grade for Speaking. answers are recorded by shading one of the lozenges on the
Answer Sheet. Where the production of a word or phrase is
Although it is possible for a candidate to receive a certificate
required, candidates write each letter (or numeral,
for Reading, Writing and Listening without passing the
punctuation mark etc) in a separate box on the Answer
Speaking Test, it is not possible to receive a certificate for
Sheet. Each letter should be written as a CAPITAL.
passing the Speaking Test only.
Answers for the Writing component are also written on an
It is not possible for candidates who obtain a certificate with
Answer Sheet, although these Answer Sheets have lines
 No Grade for Speaking to re-sit the Speaking Test only.
rather than individual boxes for candidates responses.
Answers for the Writing component are marked by
examiners, and candidates write in normal handwriting.
Interpretation of Grades
The number of marks needed to achieve each grade may
vary from session to session depending on the precise
difficulty of the individual components which make up the
examination. However, for guidance, approximate Reading,
Writing & Listening scores at each grade are typically as
follows:
Page 7
SUPPORT FOR TEACHERS
Past Papers
Past examinations papers, which can be used for practice,
are available from the Publications Department at UCLES. A
charge is made for these. If you require an order form, please
contact EFL Information at UCLES.
Seminars for Teachers
UCLES offers a wide range of seminars designed for teachers
concerned with its EFL examinations, including BEC. Please
contact the Business Support Group at UCLES (ext. 3759) for
further details.
Course MaterialE
Please note that UCLES does not undertake to advise on text
books or courses of study.
Page 8
EXAMI NATI ON DATES 2000 EXAMI NATI ON DATES 2001
Session 1 Session 1
BEC 1 Friday 10 March BEC 1 Friday 23 March
BEC 2 Saturday 11 March BEC 2 Saturday 24 March
BEC 3 Thursday 9 March BEC 3 Thursday 22 March
Session 2 Session 2
BEC 1 Saturday 27 May BEC 1 Saturday 26 May
BEC 2 Saturday 3 June BEC 2 Saturday 2 June
BEC 3 Saturday 20 May BEC 3 Saturday 19 May
Session 3 Session 3
BEC 1 Wednesday 7 June BEC 1 Wednesday 6 June
BEC 2 Thursday 8 June BEC 2 Thursday 7 June
BEC 3 Tuesday 6 June BEC 3 Tuesday 5 June
Session 4 Session 4
BEC 1 Friday 21 July BEC 1 Friday 20 July
BEC 2 Saturday 22 July BEC 2 Saturday 21 July
BEC 3 Thursday 20 July BEC 3 Thursday 19 July
Session 5 Session 5
BEC 1 Thursday 16 November BEC 1 Thursday 15 November
BEC 2 Friday 17 November BEC 2 Friday 16 November
BEC 3 Wednesday 15 November BEC 3 Wednesday 14 November
Session 5 Session 5
BEC 1 Saturday 2 December BEC 1 Saturday 1 December
BEC 2 Saturday 9 December BEC 2 Saturday 8 December
BEC 3 Saturday 25 November BEC 3 Saturday 24 November
Each centre chooses the date of the Speaking Test from a
range of dates specified by UCLES.
Page 9
BEC Contacts at UCLES Our address is:
Contact
UCLES EFL
1 Hills Road
EFL Liaison Officer (Ext. 3820) about:
Cambridge
" BEC Centre approval
CB1 2EU
United Kingdom
Contact
Tel: + 44 1223 553355
The Specialised Exams Group (Ext. 3126) about:
Fax: + 44 1223 460278
" the content of BEC
email: [e-mail]
" the method of assessment
www.cambridge-efl.org
Contact
The Publications Department (Ext. 3265) about:
" BEC past papers
Contact
EFL Information (Ext. 3822) about:
" publicity material
" sample material
Contact
The Business Support Group (Ext. 3489) about:
" recognition of BEC
Contact
The Entries Unit (Ext. 3454) about:
" exam entries and entry forms
Contact
The Results Unit (Ext. 3477) about:
" exam results
Contact
The Examiners Unit (Ext. 3575) about:
" Oral Examiner visit arrangements for UK centres
Contact
The Finance Department (Ext. 3244) about:
" exam fees
Page 10