B1 Business (BEC) Preliminary

Section

Time

Description

# of items

Reading & Writing

1 hour 30 minutes

Part 1

Five very short texts (signs, messages, postcards, emails, labels, etc.) each followed by a 3-option multiple-choice question. Candidates have to read them and choose which of the three sentences (A, B or C) is correct.

Part 2

Five short descriptions, often of people’s requirements, and one text to read. Candidates have to match each person to part of the text.

Part 3

Eight graphs or charts (or one or more graphics with eight parts) and five questions. Candidates need to match each question to a graph or part of a graph.

5 questions

Part 4

A text and seven questions. For each question, candidates have to decide if a statement is A 'Right' or B 'Wrong', according to the text, or if the information is not given in the text, they should choose C 'Doesn't say'.

7 questions

Part 5

A text, often from a leaflet or from a newspaper or magazine article, with six multiple-choice questions. Each question has three options and candidates have to choose which of the three (A, B or C) is correct.

6 questions

Part 6

A text (newspaper or magazine article, advert, leaflet, etc.) with twelve numbered spaces. Each space represents a missing word and candidates have to choose the right answer (A, B, or C).

12 questions

Part 7

Two short texts (memos, emails, notices, adverts, etc.) and a form to complete. Candidates have to read the texts and fill in the correct information (a word, a number or a phrase) in the empty spaces on the form.

5 questions

Part 8

An internal company communication. The instructions tell candidates who to write to and what they should write (e.g. a note, a message, a memo or an email).

30-40 words

Part 9

A piece of business correspondence (letter or email) or a notice, an advert, etc., to read. The instructions tell candidates what to write and who to write to.

60-80 words

Listening

about 40 minutes

Part 1

Eight short conversations/monologues (one person speaking). For each recording, there is a multiple-choice question, which may be in the form of words or pictures. Candidates have to listen to the recordings and choose the right answer (A, B or C).

8 questions

Part 2

A short conversation or monologue which contains factual information and a form, table, chart or set of notes with gaps. Candidates have to listen to the recording and write the correct information (dates, prices, percentages, figures, etc.) in the gaps.

7 questions

Part 3

A longer monologue and a page of notes or a form with gaps. Candidates have to listen to the recording and fill in the missing information (one or two words) in the gaps.

7 questions

Part 4

A longer recording (about 3 minutes) which may be an interview or a discussion between two or more speakers on a business-related topic. Candidates have to listen to the recording and choose the right answer (A, B or C) for each of the eight multiple-choice questions.

8 questions

Speaking

12 minutes per pair of candidates

Part 1

Conversation between the examiner and each candidate. The examiner encourages the candidates to give information about themselves and to express personal opinions.

Part 2

A ‘mini-presentation’ by each candidate on a business theme. The candidates are given prompts which generate a short talk on a business-related topic.

Part 3

A collaborative task which candidates do together. The candidates are presented with a scenario supported by visual or written prompts which generate a discussion. The interlocutor extends the discussion with further spoken prompts.