Materials for preparation for bec. Business English
In countries where English is not the official language, approximately two-thirds of employers require applicants to have at least an intermediate level of English. To prove your knowledge and get a good job, you need to pass an exam and get a certificate. But which one to choose? BEC: Business English Certificate can be a universal solution for you.
You can choose an industry exam based on your narrow specialization or the most general one - BEC. A certificate of successful completion of this exam will confirm that you have mastered business communication skills in English, as the exam tasks are based on relevant and modern vocabulary that is used every day in the business environment.
General information about the international BEC exam
Why do you need a certificate?: in most cases - when hiring for international companies in Russia and abroad. On the official website of the Cambridge exams for each country there is a list of companies that accept the BEC certificate. You can select a country and see.
BEC comes in three types:
- BEC Preliminary is equivalent to ;
- BEC Vantage - ;
- BEC Higher - .
The exam levels show specific language competencies in the area of business tasks.
Certificate BEC Preliminary means that you:
- understand English by ear and can highlight the main points from what you hear;
- know how to fill out forms and memos;
- can read and understand texts on business topics;
- understand tables and graphs;
- are able to express their thoughts in writing;
- keep business conversation at a basic level.
At the level BEC Vantage you must be able to:
- understand what is being discussed in a presentation or discussion;
- understand business letters and articles;
- write letters and simple reports;
- maintain a conversation, express your opinion;
BEC Higher confirms that you can:
- speak at conferences;
- prepare reports and other business documents;
- understand most correspondence, articles and reports;
- carry on a conversation freely;
- conduct business negotiations with partners.
Exam formats: written and computer.
If you choose the written format, all assignments will need to be completed on paper with a pen. At the end of the exam, you will need to spend a couple of minutes to transfer your answers to a special form.
If you choose the computer format, written assignments are completed on the computer; you do not need to enter answers on forms.
Certificate validity period: unlimited.
Deadline for receiving results: 4 to 6 weeks for written format, 2 to 3 weeks for computer format.
BEC Scoring:
| Point | Grade | What will they give you? |
|---|---|---|
| 160-170 | Pass with Distinction | certificate confirming |
| 153-159 | Pass with Merit | |
| 140-152 | Pass | certificate confirming level B1 |
| 120-139 | - | certificate confirming level A2 |
| Point | Grade | What will they give you? |
|---|---|---|
| 180–190 | A | |
| 173–179 | B | |
| 160–172 | WITH | certificate confirming level B2 |
| 140–159 | - | certificate confirming level B1 |
| Point | Grade | What will they give you? |
|---|---|---|
| 200-210 | A | certificate confirming level C2 |
| 193–199 | B | certificate confirming level C1 |
| 180–192 | WITH | certificate confirming level C1 |
| 160–179 | - | certificate confirming level B2 |
The exam tasks are based on relevant and modern vocabulary that is used every day in the business environment.
How to Take Each Part of the BEC Preliminary Exam
BEC Preliminary exam structure in 2018:
| Part of the exam | Duration | Number of parts | Number of tasks | Points |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Reading and Writing | 1 hour 30 minutes | Reading - 7 parts Writing - 2 parts | Reading - 45 tasks Writing - 2 tasks | 50% of the total exam grade |
| Listening | 40 minutes | 4 parts | 30 tasks | 25% of the total exam grade |
| Speaking | 12 minutes for two examinees | 3 parts | 3 tasks | 25% of the total exam grade |
Reading and Writing
Reading consists of 7 parts:
1.Multiple choice: 5 tasks for 1 point.
It is necessary to analyze short notes and answer questions by choosing one of the three proposed answer options.
Example assignment:
*This and all subsequent sample tasks are taken from the official Cambridge exams website.
2. Matching: 5 tasks for 1 point.
You need to match certain concepts (A-H) with situations (1-5) below. The example suggests matching the services of a consulting agency with clients for whom these services are suitable. You are required to have a detailed understanding of the factual material and the ability to highlight the main points from what you read.
Example assignment:
3. Matching. Interpreting visual information: 5 tasks for 1 point.
The graph shows data that needs to be correlated with 5 descriptions.
Example assignment:
4. Right / Wrong / Doesn’t say: 7 tasks for 1 point.
Example assignment:
5.Multiple-choice: 6 tasks for 1 point.
You are offered a text (for example, a review of a business book) and 6 tasks for it, in which you need to indicate the correct answer options.
Example assignment:
6.Multiple-choice cloze: 12 tasks for 1 point
You need to fill in the gaps in the text by choosing one of the suggested words. A total of 12 words are missing. You are required to understand the structure of the text and follow the grammar.
Example assignment:
7.Note completion: 5 tasks for 1 point
Here are two short texts (in the example, an advertisement and a memo). Based on the information specified in them, you need to fill in the gaps in another text (here - an application for an insured event). You are required to demonstrate the ability to transform information.
Example assignment:
The Reading portion of BEC Preliminary tests your ability to analyze both textual and visual information. There are 45 questions in total, the text volume is from 600 to 900 words. The vocabulary for the tasks is taken from modern business documentation: letters, schedules, tables, brochures, memos, reports, etc.
The Writing part consists of 2 tasks:
1. Internal communication. Internal corporate communication, 30-40 words.
You need to write a business letter or memo based on the information provided in the assignment (for example, information about the recipient is provided).
Example assignment:
2.Business correspondence. Business correspondence, 60-80 words.
The text is provided on the basis of which you need to write a letter or fax to a client, supplier or other person. Typically the task is to respond to a complaint or provide the customer with information about a product.
Example assignment:
The Writing section tests your ability to write business letters while maintaining a formal communication style. In doing so, you must rely on the data provided.
Listening
Consists of four parts:
1. 3-Option multiple choice: 8 tasks for 1 point.
You will listen to 8 short monologues or dialogues lasting from 15 to 30 seconds each. Next, you will need to answer questions for them: choose the correct answer from the three proposed. This tests your ability to find the information you need in an audio fragment.
Example assignment:
2.Note completion: 7 tasks for 1 point.
You need to listen to the recording of the telephone conversation and fill in the blanks in the task. You are required to capture certain information, such as street names and house numbers, names or email addresses.
Example assignment:
3.Note completion: 7 tasks for 1 point.
Based on the monologue you listened to, you need to fill in 7 blanks in the task.
Example assignment:
4. 3-Option multiple choice: 8 tasks for 1 point.
You will listen to a recording: an interview or discussion between two speakers. In the task you need to choose the correct answer from three options.
Example assignment:
You will listen to all Listening tasks twice. The tasks for this part of the exam include examples from lectures, interviews and business negotiations. Your ability to listen to the speech of different people in English is tested.
Speaking
Consists of the following parts:
1.Interview: approximately 2 minutes.
The examiner will take turns asking you and the second candidate questions about you, your work or your studies. It is important to give concise and informative answers.
2. Mini-presentation: 5 minutes in total.
You and your interlocutor are each given one card with questions on business topics. In a minute you need to prepare a mini-presentation on one of the proposed topics. You must explain your point of view in detail.
Example assignment:
3.Collaborative task: 5 minutes in total.
This task is performed in pairs with a second examinee. The task will provide an example of a situation (in this case, the preparation of corporate souvenirs), as well as additional information in the form of pictures or text. You and your partner need to conduct a dialogue for 5 minutes.
Example assignment:
Speaking tests your ability to clearly express thoughts in English, conduct business negotiations and discussions, convey received information, express your opinion and give reasons for it, observing the rules of business communication.
download the BEC Preliminary archive - click on the sections Reading and Writing sample test and Listening sample test. Exactly the same amount of time is allotted to complete the tasks as it will be on the real exam.
How to Pass Each Part of the BEC Vantage Exam
BEC Vantage exam structure in 2018:
| Part of the exam | Duration | Number of parts | Number of tasks | Points |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Reading | 1 hour | 5 parts | 45 tasks | 25% of the total exam grade |
| Writing | 45 minutes | 2 parts | 2 tasks | 25% of the total exam grade |
| Listening | 40 minutes | 3 parts | 30 tasks | 25% of the total exam grade |
| Speaking | 14 minutes for two examinees | 3 parts | 3 tasks | 25% of the total exam grade |
Reading
Consists of 5 parts:
1. Matching: 7 tasks for 1 point.
Example assignment:
2. Matching: 5 tasks for 1 point.
Example assignment:
3.Multiple-choice: 6 tasks for 1 point.
Example assignment:
4.Multiple-choice cloze: 15 tasks for 1 point
You need to fill in 15 blanks in the text (for example, about presentation tips) by choosing one of the suggested words. Here your vocabulary and ability to build logical chains are tested.
Example assignment:
5.Proofreading: 12 tasks for 1 point.
In this task you need to read a text whose lines contain one incorrectly used word. A word may be completely unnecessary in a sentence or may be misspelled. Please note that not all lines have errors.
Example assignment:
The Reading portion of BEC Vantage tests your ability to analyze textual and visual information. The vocabulary for the tasks is taken from modern business documentation: reports, statements, letters, graphs, tables, diagrams, etc.
Writing
Consists of 2 parts:
1. Internal communication. Internal corporate communication, 40-50 words.
You are required to write a business letter or memo based on information from the assignment. This is information about the recipient or important features that you should not forget about.
Example assignment:
2.Business correspondence. Business correspondence, 120-140 words.
You need to demonstrate written communication skills with external parties. Typically you will be required to review handwritten notes and respond to complaints or provide details about a product to customers or suppliers.
Example assignment:
In the Writing portion, you must demonstrate your written business communication skills.
Listening
Contains 3 parts:
1.Note completion: 12 tasks for 1 point.
You will need to listen to three recordings of telephone conversations, and then fill in the blanks in the task. You are required to capture and record specific information.
Example assignment:
2. Matching: 10 tasks for 1 point.
The task contains two parts with five monologues in each. You need to match the monologues with the characteristics that suit them. To complete this assignment, you need to be able to identify the topic, context, and other features of statements.
Example assignment:
3. 3-Option multiple choice: 8 tasks for 1 point.
You are required to listen to a three-minute recording - an interview or discussion between two speakers. In this example, this is an interview with the director of a pizzeria chain. In the task you need to choose one correct answer out of three.
Example assignment:
You will listen to all tasks in the Listening part twice. As assignments you will find examples from interviews, lectures and business negotiations.
Speaking
1.Interview: approximately 3 minutes.
The examiner will take turns asking you and the second candidate questions about life experience, plans for the future, and he may also ask you to express your opinion on any issue. It is important to give concise and information-rich answers.
2. Mini-presentation: 6 minutes in total.
You and your interlocutor are each given one card with questions on business topics. In a minute you need to prepare a mini-presentation on one of the proposed topics.
Example assignment:
3.Collaborative task: 5 minutes in total.
This task is performed jointly with a second examinee. You will be given an example of the situation, as well as additional information in the form of pictures or text. You and your interlocutor need to conduct a dialogue for 5 minutes based on all the information provided.
Example assignment:
In the Speaking part, you must demonstrate skills in conducting business negotiations and discussions, the ability to quickly and clearly express thoughts in English, explain your point of view and argue for it.
On the official BEC exam page you can download an archive with all the tasks, correct answers and examples of written work. In the Firefox browser, you can also take a free online trial of BEC Vantage - click on the Reading sample test, Listening sample test and Writing sample test sections. Exactly the same amount of time is allotted to complete the tasks as it will be on the real exam.
How to pass each part of the BEC Higher exam
BEC Higher exam structure 2018:
| Part of the exam | Duration | Number of parts | Number of tasks | Points |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Reading | 1 hour | 6 parts | 52 tasks | 25% of the total exam grade |
| Writing | 1 hour 10 minutes | 2 parts | 2 tasks | 25% of the total exam grade |
| Listening | 40 minutes | 3 parts | 30 tasks | 25% of the total exam grade |
| Speaking | 16 minutes for two examinees | 3 parts | 3 tasks | 25% of the total exam grade |
The BEC exam is taken by students who enroll in foreign universities in the faculties of economics, finance and business. BEC is an English exam for ambitious people who want to build a career.
Foreign companies and serious organizations sometimes require employees to take the BEC. The certificate confirms the ability to correspond, negotiate, and understand terminology.
BEC testing
There are 3 test options:
- BEC Preliminary is the simplest, designed for those who speak business vocabulary at level B1.
- BEC Vantage is a medium-difficult exam that reflects knowledge at level B2.
- BEC Higher is the most difficult test, corresponding to English proficiency at level C1.
Exam structure
The test is divided into 4 parts: reading, writing, listening and speaking. The tasks, time to complete and structure of the exam vary depending on the type of test.
BEC Preliminary
The first part of the exam involves writing and reading. It lasts 1 hour 30 minutes. The reading consists of 7 sections, with a total of 45 questions. Writing involves writing two texts. The first is a note to a work colleague regarding work issues (30-40 words). The second is a letter to a person not from the team, but on work issues (60-80 words).
40 minutes are allocated to complete the audition. During this time you need to answer 4 sections of questions. Total – 30. Speaking consists of 3 tasks. Execution time – 12 minutes. It is taken in pairs and the exam is taken by two examiners.
BEC Vantage
The first part is reading. You are given 40 minutes to complete it. During this time, they solve 5 blocks of tasks, 45 questions in total. The letter consists of two tasks. You need to write a note or message and a short report using certain information. The examinee has 45 minutes to do this.
Listening lasts 40 minutes and consists of 3 blocks of questions, 30 in total. Speaking involves 3 tasks to assess speaking skills. The delivery scheme is the same as in BEC Preliminary.
BEC Higher
Reading consists of 6 blocks of tasks, which in total give 52 questions. Time to complete is an hour. The letter requires the writing of two structured, correctly formatted and meaningful texts.
The listening test lasts 40 minutes, during which time they answer 3 blocks of questions, for a total of 30. The speaking time is 16 minutes. It consists of the traditional three tasks. The examinee is expected to be able to clearly express thoughts and conduct a conversation on any topic.
Taking the BEC: exam centers, cost and preparation
Registration for the test takes place on the website of one of the exam centers. The most popular centers for preparing and passing the test are VKS-International House and Language Link. The cost of taking BEC Preliminary is 6,450 rubles, BEC Vantage is 10,050 rubles, BEC Higher is 11,650 rubles.
BEC Features
- The BEC, unlike many other exams, does not need to be retaken. The certificate is unlimited.
- The test is focused on business vocabulary, but does not require knowledge of specific terminology.
BEC is an acronym that stands for Business English Certificates. This test certificate confirms your level of business English proficiency. The English exam involves testing the candidate’s skills not only to communicate with colleagues in English, to be an active participant in business communications, to conduct personal and business correspondence, negotiations, presentations, etc., but also the skill of preparing business documentation and using business terminology in the process of live communication .
There are three types of this test that correspond to different levels of English proficiency:
- BEC Preliminary
- BEC Vantage
- BEC Higher
Studying English in order to pass these exams should come down not only to training speaking skills, but also to honing the skill of business correspondence. Passing the tests is not that difficult, but preparation is important, even if it is online preparation, which will help systematize your learning and deepen your knowledge of grammar. Courses in Moscow will provide you with the opportunity to prepare.
Benefits of the test
The BEC Preliminary test confirms level B1 on the Council of Europe level scale, BEC Vantage – B2, and BEC Higher – C2. In order to get the coveted certificate into your hands after successfully passing the test, preparation for the BEC exam is necessary and cannot be ignored. The certificate of this test, like other Cambridge tests, does not expire, which only increases its popularity in the world. Moscow is also happy for candidates who have successfully passed the BEC.
In order to successfully pass at least the simplest test (BEC Preliminary) or all exams, you need to speak English at the Intermediate level, in addition, have the necessary business vocabulary. This is why studying for the BEC exam is likely inevitable. You can prepare on your own, but in this case, it is better to look for quality resources and preparation materials. If you decide to choose courses or a teacher, we advise you to contact, first of all, certified centers for taking Cambridge exams. If you are going to take a test, you need to know English at a high level.
Features of preparing for the test
Expanding the vocabulary of business terminology will be considered a prerequisite for quality training. When examining speaking or writing, reading or listening, BEC admissions specialists pay attention to how you use terms and business vocabulary, whether you can find a synonym, and how well you speak this terminology.
B.E.C.(Business English Certificate)– Cambridge University exams designed to certify business English skills.
BEC Exam Features:
- The exam tests a candidate's ability to communicate effectively in a business environment, but does not require any specialized knowledge.
- The BEC is designed for students who need specific knowledge of English to pursue a business career internationally.
- The exam tests four aspects of language skills: listening, reading, speaking and writing.
- This test uses exercises based on everyday business life to test the candidate's ability to use various linguistic functions and structures in a business context.
There are 3 options for the BEC exam:
- (designed for candidates who speak business English at the Intermediate level);
- (designed for students who know business English at the Upper-Intermediate level);
- C1 Business Higher (BEC Higher)(designed for candidates who have completed an Advanced level Business English course).
BEC Exam Contents
BEC Preliminary
Reading + writing(1 hour 30 minutes)
The reading component contains 7 types of tasks: multiple choice questions, matching with possible options, word-level fill-in-the-blank, sentence-level fill-in-the-blank, multiple-choice fill-in-the-blank, and identifying errors. The “writing” component contains 2 tasks. In the first part, the candidate must provide a sample of internal corporate correspondence (30-40 words).
The second part contains a sample of business correspondence (60-80 words). Completion of the component is worth 25% of the overall grade.
Listening(≈40 minutes)
· The “listening” component contains 4 types of tasks: filling in the blanks or completing fragments of text, matching with possible options and questions with answer options. Monologues and dialogues are used as texts, including interviews, conversations, telephone conversations and speeches. Completion of the component is worth 25% of the overall grade.
Colloquial speech(12 minutes)
BEC Vantage
Reading(1 hour)
· The reading component contains 5 types of tasks: multiple choice questions, matching with possible options, sentence-level fill-in-the-blank, multiple-choice fill-in-the-blank, and identifying errors. Completion of the component is worth 25% of the overall grade.
Letter(45 minutes)
· The “writing” component contains 2 mandatory tasks. Applicants must submit a sample of internal corporate correspondence (40-50 words) and a short report, proposal or sample of business correspondence 120-140 (based on materials in the reading component). Completion of the component is worth 25% of the overall grade.
Listening(≈40 minutes)
· The “listening” component contains 3 types of tasks: filling in the blanks or completing fragments of text, matching with possible options and questions with answer options. Monologues and dialogues are used as texts, including interviews, conversations, telephone conversations and speeches.
Completion of the component is worth 25% of the overall grade.
Colloquial speech(14 minutes)
· Testing is carried out by two independent examiners, candidates take the exam in pairs. If the number of candidates is odd, the last candidate joins the last pair.
· Over the course of three tasks, each candidate answers three questions, gives a “mini-presentation” lasting approximately one minute, and collaborates with another candidate. Completion of the assignment is worth 25% of the overall grade.
BEC Higher
Reading(1 hour)
· The reading component contains 6 types of tasks: multiple choice questions, matching with possible options, word-level fill-in-the-blank, sentence-level fill-in-the-blank, multiple-choice fill-in-the-blank, and identifying errors. Completion of the component is worth 25% of the overall grade.
Letter(1 hour 10 minutes)
· The “writing” component contains 2 tasks. In the first part, candidates write a short report (based on graphic information, 120-140 words). In the second part, candidates are given the opportunity to choose a task from the options: report, proposal or sample business correspondence (200-250 words). Completion of the component is worth 25% of the overall grade.
Listening(≈40 minutes)
· The “listening” component contains 3 types of tasks: filling in the blanks or completing fragments of text, matching with possible options and questions with answer options. Monologues and dialogues are used as texts, including interviews, conversations, telephone conversations and speeches.
Completion of the component is worth 25% of the overall grade.
Colloquial speech(16 minutes)
· Testing is carried out by two independent examiners, candidates take the exam in pairs. If the number of candidates is odd, the last candidate joins the last pair.
· Over the course of three tasks, each candidate answers three questions, gives a “mini-presentation” lasting approximately one minute, and collaborates with another candidate. Completion of the assignment is worth 25% of the overall grade.
results
B1 Business Preliminary (BEC Preliminary)
Upon successful completion of the exam, three levels of certificates are issued: Pass, Pass with Merit and Pass with Distinction, depending on the overall test score. All candidates also receive a report on their exam results
B2 Business Vantage (BEC Vantage)
Upon successful completion of the exam, certificates of three levels are issued: A, B and C - depending on the overall assessment of the test results. Candidates who score from 140 to 159 points are issued a B1 level certificate. All candidates receive an examination report, which includes the Cambridge Framework score for each part of the examination, the overall Cambridge Framework score, the overall score for the entire examination and the Council of Europe Scale score.
Whose rich experience in the field of conversational and business English, fluent speech and excellent teaching skills have helped dozens of students learn English. Elena will talk about how to successfully pass the BEC (Business English Certificate) Higher.
The international BEC Higher exam corresponds to level C1 of the Common European Framework of Reference for Languages (Common European Framework) and the level of the Cambridge CAE exam. Let me remind you that there are 3 stages of the Business English Certificate: Preliminary (beginner), Vantage (free) and Higher (advanced). For information on how to prepare and pass BEC Vantage, read the article. I would like to draw your attention to the fact that all practical tips and recommendations for passing BEC Vantage and Higher apply to all international exams, including IELTS.
— Lena, why did you decide to take BEC Higher?
— I have been working in teaching for 10 years and most of my practice is related to teaching business English. Therefore, having such an international certificate is simply necessary for me. In addition, I had a kind of sporting interest - I wanted to find out whether my level of English was really as high as I imagined, I wanted to know my own assessment from the point of view of international standards - are you really Advanced level and what - A, B or C, or are you not passing at all? Preparing for BEC Higher helped me improve my level of business English.
— How long before taking the BEC Higher exam did you start preparing?
— I started preparing approximately 4 months before the exam, since I assessed my level of language proficiency as Upper-Intermediate (author’s note: Upper-Intermediate is the recommended level when preparing for BEC Higher). But I started making 100% preparation efforts approximately 1.5 - 2 months before the test.
— What difficulties did you encounter while preparing for the BEC?
“I was quite optimistic, but when I started studying in the exam format, I was very upset with my first results. After all, I already had a solid knowledge of Business English and vocabulary. But I didn’t understand one simple truth: international exams such as BEC, IELTS, CPE and others are not aimed at testing your knowledge, but your ability to pass the exam. Therefore, only in the process of preparation, when I got my hands on doing the BEC Higher tasks themselves, when I began to be interested in HOW it is recommended to take the BEC Higher and take into account all the wishes and recommendations of experienced examinees and examiners, my results noticeably improved.
— How did you prepare psychologically for taking the BEC Higher? Was this your first international exam?
— Previously, I had no experience of passing any international exam. And I was very worried, because I understood the entire level of responsibility. This is not the level of our school or university exams - there, what you came with is what you came with. There was no question of any concessions or cheating during the BEC Higher exam. With 100% monitoring - it’s out of the question. On the day of the exam, I was so worried that I was even late for the exam by a few minutes! They could simply refuse me change! In general, being late for an exam is unacceptable according to the norms.
— Lena, how did you get ready, how did you get ready? After all, you got a “B” in the BEC Higher exam! This is a great result!
— I can worry before the exam, but during the exam I concentrate as much as possible - I see the goal and go towards it. Due to doubts about my own preparation, it was a pleasant surprise for me to receive category “B”. I thought that I would pass the maximum with a “C”. Or, at least, she expected to make this submission her trial attempt.
— What materials do you suggest using to prepare for BEC?
- Cambridge Business English Benchmarks Advanced, which comes with Practice Files, Audio Files, etc. But I do not recommend preparing for the international exam using a textbook - you need to immediately complete the tasks in the format of the exam itself. An excellent solution would be the BEC Higher Test Book - a test book that contains the tasks of the exam itself - the so-called Past Papers BEC Higher. I recommend reading this book from beginning to end. You can also complete some tasks from Market Leader Advanced. It does not fully prepare for BEC Higher, but contains similar tasks in Listening, Reading, necessary .
— Does the Past Papers material differ significantly in difficulty from the actual exam material?
— The level of difficulty, types of tasks (matching, multiple choice, grammar part) are the same in all parts, completely identical. You don't have to worry about this.
— As you know, one of the difficult parts of BEC Higher is Speaking. Elena, how did you prepare this part?
— Speaking was one of the difficult moments for me. When I read the requirements for this part of the exam, I understood that what was required of me was only theoretical. I wanted to understand in practice how this happens, so when preparing for Speaking, I watched various useful videos, for example:
As you can see, such a video displays everything very realistically, it helps to replay everything in your head, play it, and experience it to some extent Speaking. And this is psychologically very important! In my Business English classes, I prepare people on various topics, talk through the same expressions and tasks with them many times, play out simulated situations - and all so that in real life, in real situations, they are as prepared as possible for the most unexpected questions .
For me one of difficult moments in Speaking It turned out to be the ability to correctly structure your answer. It would seem nothing complicated, but you need to offer at least 2-3 sensible ideas. That’s why I had dialogues with myself, practiced, sorted out each topic proposed for BEC Higher Speaking, described it step by step, looked for interesting ideas, links to various topics on the Internet, analyzed the speech of other students and then regularly re-read these notes, thought, complemented.
1. Identify your weak points in the language. No matter how strong you feel in English, one of the skills - Speaking, Listening, Reading or Writing - may be weaker than others. This weakness needs to be worked on. For example, my weakness was Writing, especially the part where it is proposed to describe a graph, diagram, table. There you need to strictly follow the instructions - what information to include, what phrases are required to be used and what structure to follow. It is advisable to be able to think analytically, compare concepts (for example, population size), compare, be able to quickly assess the difference (for example, sales of different periods), and make a general and detailed analysis.
2. Be sure to check your written assignments (Writing) with keys, in order to raise your level of description of the graph, for example, to the level of the key.
3. Try to memorize the original expressions as it is of great importance in assessing BEC Higher Writing is given to the introductory phrases you use, namely, however, in comparison with, in accordance with, on the other hand etc. I repeat - examiners pay attention to this huge meaning, which means that students need to especially carefully select and use such linking words.
4. If you feel that you may have problems passing the BEC Higher Listening, then try to practice this particular skill. Preferably in an exam format, because the time to complete the tasks is limited and, moreover, you need to practice in advance the ability to fill out sentences with 2-3 words, as required by Listening BEC Higher. After all, you need to be able to understand the text that you listen to 2 times and do the tasks with a paraphrased version of it. But, of course, it won’t hurt to listen to the recording without a copy with the task, for example, on the way to the store - use these 10-15 minutes to your advantage.
5. Define your task type in advance in the section Writing in order not to waste time on unnecessary thoughts while taking the BEC Higher exam. What is easier for you to write - proposal, report, or letter? Decide for yourself and hone your skills in writing this type.
6. Making grammatical mistakes during an exam is unforgivable. Go through all the grammar, paying particular attention to English as well as general grammar.
How to pass BEC Higher. Tips for teachers preparing students for BEC Higher.
1. First of all, the teacher must have experience in preparing students who have successfully passed BEC Higher. At the same time, I think it is mandatory to have a BEC Higher certificate yourself. After all, only those who have walked this path themselves, overcome difficulties in preparation, can teach another to do it with the highest possible result. I know teachers who prepare for TOEFL and IELTS, but have never taken them themselves. Moreover, English. However, how can you teach something that you haven’t been through?
2. Pay special attention to Writing and Speaking, because it is the teacher who can prepare students for these parts of the exam. It is quite difficult for the student to prepare these two parts, because Speaking in the exam takes place in pairs - the interviewer sits opposite you and your opponent, and behind him there are 2 more teachers, evaluating your dialogue according to different criteria. The Interviewer asks you and your opponent questions and maintains a conversation with you. Therefore, when you are working in a group, it is easy for the teacher to create an exam-like situation.
3. Teachers need to be aware of the difficulties that a student may face in the exam. And paying maximum attention to practice and overcoming these weak points is mandatory in the exam format.
Elena, thank you very much for the interview. I am sure that your practical recommendations and advice will help many students pass BEC Higher with the best results. And not only BEC, but also other international exams. After all, it’s not about the name of the exam, but, as we see, about the approach, organization and strong motivation. I wish that your personal active position in life and dedication to your work will inspire students to new heights of Business English for many, many years to come. And for you, as a teacher, to feel professional pride in your students.