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BEC & BULATS

Learn about the British Council, Cambridge ESOL exams (BEC) and Business Language Testing Service (BULATS). Discover the levels, papers, grades, and results of these exams. Find out why taking these exams can benefit your career and study opportunities.

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BEC & BULATS

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  1. BEC & BULATS by Angel Phu & Zita Yip Examinations Services Officer

  2. Outline of the seminar • About British Council • Introduction to Cambridge ESOL and Business English Certificate BEC • Why take BEC exams? • Levels and papers • Grades and Results

  3. Outline of the seminar • Introduction to BUsiness LAnguage Testing Service BULATS • Why take BULATS? • Contents of BULATS • Levels, grades and papers • Support materials/questions and answers

  4. About British Council • Founded in 1934 • United Kingdom’s international cultural relations organisation • Around 7,500 people in 109 countries • Hong Kong office started in 1948

  5. Work of British Council • Teaching English • Providing the latest information about the United Kingdom • Promoting British education and training

  6. Work of British Council • Working closely with governments on reform and good governance • Demonstrating the innovation, creativity and excellence of British science, arts, literature and design

  7. About Examinations Services • Running examinations since 1989 • Covering academic, entrance, vocational and professional subjects • Offers English language examinations from Cambridge ESOL for children through to adults

  8. Introduction to Cambridge ESOL • largest testing agency for British English • full range of examinations taken worldwide • recognition of Cambridge ESOL certificates • department of the university • exams for learners of English since 1913

  9. Business English Certificate - BEC • internationally recognised, certificated exams • three levels • tests English language in four skills • no specialist business knowledge

  10. Business English Certificate - BEC • set in context of international business • working/preparing to work in international business • ability to communicate for essential business needs

  11. Why take BEC exams? • international recognition for work and study • certificated exams • wide business context • value for study and business career

  12. Why take BEC exams? • Used by hundreds of employers - as staff development programme - as a qualification when recruiting staff • Used by many universities - as a entry requirement to business- related courses in English

  13. Levels Cambridge ESOL Levels Council of Europe Levels CPE C2 Mastery BEC Higher CAE C1 Effective Proficiency BEC Vantage FCE B2 Vantage BEC Preliminary PET B1 Threshold KET A2 Waystage

  14. Papers Preliminary Vantage Higher Reading 1 hr 30 mins* 1 hr 1 hr Writing 45 mins 1 hr 10 mins Listening 40 mins 40 mins 40 mins Speaking 12 mins** 14 mins** 16 mins** * combined Reading and Writing Test ** (2 candidates)

  15. Reading • variety of ‘input’ and ‘output’ • tests different types of reading

  16. Writing Part 1 • Internal company communication Part 2 • Piece of business correspondence (Preliminary) • Piece of business correspondence, report or proposal (Vantage) • Report or proposal or correspondence (Higher)

  17. Listening • all texts heard twice • 30 minutes listening

  18. Speaking • Part 1 Conversation with interlocutor • Part 2 Mini-presentation • Part 3 i) Two-way conversation ii) Further prompting from interlocutor

  19. Grades & Results • BEC Preliminary • Passing Grades • Pass with Merit  80% and above • Pass                 65% to 79% • Failing Grades • Narrow Fail        60% to 64% • Fail                59% and below

  20. Grades & Results • BEC Vantage & Higher • Passing Grades Grade A           80% and above • Grade B           75% to 79% • Grade C           60% to 74% • Failing Grades   Grade D           55% to 59% • Grade E           54% and below • Passing candidates will receive a certificate approximately 3 months after the exam

  21. Statement of Results Downloadable from our website approx 6 weeks after the exam Business English Certificates ENGLISH AS A FOREIGN LANGUAGE Statement of results Session March 2002 Candidate Name Reference No To be quoted on all correspondence Place of entry Qualification Business English Certificate - Vantage PAPER PROFILE Result B Pass Listening Exceptional Reading Speaking Good Writing Borderline Weak

  22. Grade Statistics (International)

  23. Grade Statistics (International)

  24. Grade Statistics (International)

  25. Exam Dates & Fees • 2 times a year • in May & November • Registration • in March & September • BEC Preliminary HK$850 • BEC Vantage HK$1,300 • BEC Higher HK$1,350

  26. BUsiness LAnguage Testing Service

  27. Why take BULATS? • a multilingual assessment tool for companies and organisations • rapid, reliable and cost effective • assesses language skills of employees, trainees and job applicants

  28. BULATS provides… • information about language ability of staff or job applicants • on-demand and flexible tests • quick results • available in 7 working days after the test • instant result for the computer test

  29. A tool for … • assessing job applicants • reporting staff language skills against international benchmarks • placing learners on suitable language courses • evaluating language training

  30. The four BULATS tests and test fees • Standard test: HK$385 • Computer test: HK$365 • Writing test: HK$385 • Speaking test: HK$495

  31. The Standard test • Two parts (110 minutes) • 1) Listening • 2) Reading & Language knowledge • Test format: Multiple choice & Gap-fill

  32. The Computer test • Two parts (75 minutes) • 1) Listening • 2) Reading & Language knowledge • Test format: Multiple choice & Gap-fill • Adaptive test • Installed at your premises

  33. Computer Adaptive Testing ? Yes Yes Yes No No Yes . . Candidate’s level 30 40 50 60 70 80

  34. The Writing test • Two parts (45 minutes) • - short message / letter (50-60 words) • - report / letter (180-200 words) • Two examiners mark separately

  35. The Speaking test • Three parts (12-15 minutes) • - Interview • - Presentation • - Information exchange • Record interview • Two examiners mark separately

  36. Test sessions at British Council • Open sessions at British Council • - applications open for the public • - once a month • Closed sessions for • companies or language schools - in house - on demand

  37. BULATS levels • ALTE level system of 0 – 5 with finer distinctions of +, - and = • Score 0-100 is only available in standard test and computer test * ALTE – Association of Language Testers in Europe ** CEF – Common European Framework

  38. Any practice materials? FREE Sample papers available on British Council website: www.britishcouncil.org.hk www.bulats.org www.CambridgeESOL.org/BEC

  39. Specified examination – BULATS & BEC • Funding Scheme for • Workplace English Training • Continuing Education Fund

  40. Further Information • British Council • Examinations Services • Tel: 2913 5170 • Fax: 2913 5172 • E-mail: examinations@britishcouncil.org.hk • Address: 3 Supreme Court Road, Admiralty, Hong Kong • Cambridge ESOL • BEC: www.CambridgeESOL.org/BEC • BULATS: www.bulats.org • Keep up to date with what's new via the British Council website • www.britishcouncil.org.hk

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