Achieve your ambitions in international business
The Cambridge English Qualifications for Business, previously known as Business English Certificates (BEC), are a suite of three qualifications for international business:
- B1 Business Preliminary
- B2 Business Vantage
- C1 Business Higher
Cambridge English
B1 Business Preliminary
Cambridge English
B2 Business Vantage
Cambridge English
C1 Business Higher
They will help you to achieve your ambitions to:
- Work abroad.
- Work with international organisations in your own country.
- Study business-related subjects taught in English.
They show that you can use English confidently in international business environments.
Cambridge English: B1 Business Preliminary
B1 Business Preliminary, previously known as Business English Certificate (BEC) Preliminary, it is the first of the three certificates. It is an intermediate level exam.
Proving your Business English abilities can open the door to career opportunities with a new employer, or help you achieve a promotion or develop your career. Passing this exam shows employers that you have a good knowledge of English for practical, everyday use in business.
What level is B1 Business Preliminary?
This Cambridge English Qualification is set at Level B1 of the Common European Framework of Reference for Languages (CEFR). This is the level of English required for professional and academic settings at an intermediate standard for business. Reaching this level shows employers that you can:
- Read short business messages.
- Interpret charts.
- Write a short business email.
- Follow short telephone conversations and discussions.
- Talk about business-related matters.
The content of B1 Business Preliminary reflects intermediate level everyday business tasks. By preparing for this exam, you gain skills that will make you an asset to your employer.
What is assessed in B1 Business Preliminary?
The exam is made up of three papers developed to test your English skills. You can see exactly what is in each paper below:
Paper | Reading and Writing | Listening | Speaking |
Time allowed | 1 hour 30 minutes | About 40 minutes, including transfer time | 12 minutes per pair of candidates |
Content | Reading: 7 parts | 4 parts | 3 parts |
Marks | 50% | 25% | 25% |
Purpose | Shows you can read and understand the main points from graphs or charts, messages and emails, and can use vocabulary and structure correctly. You are also required to be able to produce two short pieces of writing: an internal communication, such as a note or a message, and some business correspondence, such as an email or a letter. | Requires you to be able to follow and understand a range of spoken materials including interviews and discussions about everyday life. | Shows your spoken English as you take part in conversation, asking and answering questions, and talking freely about your opinions, for example, when discussing business-related topics. Your Speaking test will be face-to-face with one or two other candidates. |
Cambridge English: B2 Business Vantage
B2 Business Vantage, previously known as Business English Certificate (BEC) Vantage, is the second of the three certificates. It is an upper-intermediate level exam. Passing it proves to employers that you are ready for international success.
What level is B2 Business Vantage?
This qualification is set at Level B2 of the Common European Framework of Reference for Languages (CEFR). This is the level of English required for professional and academic settings at an intermediate standard. Reaching this level shows employers you can:
- Write short pieces of business correspondence, reports or proposals.
- Read extracts from business publications.
- Listen to, understand and contribute to discussions in meetings.
The content of B2 Business Vantage reflects everyday work and business tasks. By preparing for this exam, you gain skills that will be valued by employers.
What is assessed in B2 Business Vantage?
The exam is made up of four papers developed to test your English skills. You can see exactly what is in each paper below:
Paper | Reading | Writing | Listening | Speaking |
Time allowed | 1 hour | 45 minutes | About 40 minutes, including transfer time | 14 minutes per pair of candidates |
Content | 5 parts | 2 parts | 3 parts | 3 parts |
Marks | 50% | 25% | 25% | 25% |
Purpose | Shows you can deal confidently with different types of text, such as business publications and correspondence. | Requires you to be able to produce two different pieces of writing, such as letters, reports, proposals and emails. | Requires you to be able to follow and understand a range of spoken materials, such as interviews, discussions and presentations. | Tests your ability to communicate effectively in face-to-face situations. You will take the Speaking test with one or two other candidates. |
Cambridge English: C1 Business Higher
C1 Business Higher, previously known as Business English Certificate (BEC) Higher, is the third of the three certificates. It is an advanced level exam. Obtaining this qualification shows employers that you have the drive and motivation to achieve an advanced level of Business English, and can use your skills to function effectively in international business situations.
What level is C1 Business Higher?
The level is set at C1 of the Common European Framework of Reference for Languages (CEFR). This is the level of English required for demanding professional and academic settings and shows employers you can:
- Communicate effectively at managerial and professional level.
- Participate with confidence in workplace meetings and presentations.
- Express yourself with a high level of fluency.
- React appropriately in different cultural and social situations.
If you have not yet entered the job market, it can also be used to show universities and colleges that you can study business-related subjects at university level and carry out complex and challenging research. The content of B1 Business Higher reflects everyday work and business tasks. By preparing for this exam, you gain skills that will be valued by employers.
What is assessed in C1 Business Higher?
The exam is made up of four papers developed to test your English skills. You can see exactly what is in each paper below:
Paper | Reading | Writing | Listening | Speaking |
Time allowed | 1 hour | 1 hour 15 minutes | About 40 minutes, including transfer time | 16 minutes per pair of candidates |
Content | 6 parts | 2 parts | 3 parts | 3 parts |
Marks | 50% | 25% | 25% | 25% |
Purpose | Shows you can deal confidently with different types of text. | You need to be able to write a variety of different items such as memos, letters, emails, reports and proposals. | You need to be able to follow and understand a range of spoken materials, such as presentations, interviews and discussions. | Tests your ability to communicate effectively in face-to-face situations. Your Speaking test will be face-to-face with one or two other candidates. This makes your test more realistic and more reliable. |
