English for your future: Cambridge ESOL certificates for the world of work
The Business English Certificates

The Business English Certificates (BEC) are internationally recognised qualifications that show employers your skills for using English in the workplace.

BEC is an ideal English language exam if you are preparing for a career in business. There are three different levels of BEC: BEC Preliminary, BEC Vantage and BEC Higher.

Is BEC for you?

If your English language ability is sufficient for most simple communications, such as shopping, you may consider progressing towards BEC. You should have an understanding of, or interest in, the world of work, business and commerce.

Why take BEC?

More than ever, a good knowledge of English is needed to succeed in international business and commerce. If you can show you have relevant language skills, you'll have a great advantage in the jobs market and much greater flexibility if you want to work abroad.

BEC can help you show that you have learned English to an appropriate standard and can use it in a business context.

The BEC exams are aligned with Levels B1 to C1 of the Common European Framework of Reference for Languages — an internationally recognised benchmark of language ability. The framework uses six levels to describe language ability, from A1 to C2. 'Can Do' statements have been used to describe these levels in terms of real skills with language, such as being able to write a report, or take a telephone message. This means that preparing for BEC will help you develop real-life skills and the confidence to use them.

BEC is also linked with the UK Qualifications and Curriculum Authority's National Standards for Literacy, within the National Qualifications Framework (NQF).

Recognition

BEC is officially recognised by more than a thousand educational organisations, employers, ministries, government bodies and professional organisations throughout the world as a suitable qualification for business use.

Leading international companies such as Sony Ericsson, Shell, Vodafone, Bayer, Coca-Cola and HSBC have all recognised BEC in their offices around the world.

Exam dates

BEC Exam details and timetables for 2009

BEC Preliminary

BEC Vantage

BEC Higher

BEC Exam details and timetables for 2010

BEC Preliminary

BEC Vantage

BEC Higher

Next steps

Register

To register for the exam, you need to contact an authorised exam centre at least 10 weeks before the exam. Entries cannot be made directly to Cambridge ESOL. The centre will give you full information about the fees for taking BEC, the dates of the tests and other arrangements. Some centres may set registration deadlines that are earlier than those published.

If you have a disability or a specific learning difficulty (such as dyslexia) it may be possible to ask for Special Arrangements to be made when taking the exam.

Preparation

While you can choose to prepare for BEC on your own, many candidates prefer to take the preparation courses.  As with all of Cambridge ESOL's certificates, Expressway Anglais can help you prepare for your exam.

Computer based BEC

The BEC examination is now available as a computer based test. You can take the reading, writing and listening parts of the test on a computer using an attractive and easy to understand interface, while the speaking test is conducted face to face. With Computer-Based BEC you also have the flexibility of more test dates and registration much nearer to the exam date. The standard pen and paper version will continue to be available.

Results

A single, overall grade is awarded, based on the aggregate of marks gained in the four components (Reading, Writing, Listening and Speaking). There are no Pass/Fail marks for individual papers, so you do not need to reach a particular level in any component in order to achieve a Pass in the examination. You will also receive a Statement of Results which shows your performance in each paper against the scale Exceptional — Good — Borderline — Weak. The report will indicate your relative performance in each skill. If you pass, you will be awarded a certificate from University of Cambridge ESOL Examinations.

Once awarded, Cambridge ESOL BEC certificates are valid for life.