level of Business Result to use How to use the Speaking test with your student(s). Note that Begin by asking the student questions at elementary level. If the student answers confidently, this test only indicates the move onto the questions or the role-play task at pre-intermediate level (you will need to level of speaking and should participate in the role-play tasks). Continue in this way until the student noticeably finds the be administered in conjunction questions or the role-play difficult – whichever level this is indicates which book the student with the written placement should be using, based on their spoken English. test available on the teacher’s Level What a student can do at this level Questions / role-play tasks for this level website. Elementary A student at this level can • What’s your name? • answer questions about personal • Which country / Where are you and work-related information from? (name, company, nationality, job- • What’s your job? title, department, products, services) • What does your company produce / • meet and greet a visitor provide? • talk about basic topics (work, free- • What time do you start work? Tell time activities) me about your typical day. • talk about events in the past and • When did you join the company? future such as basic career history • What project are you working on at and plans for future the moment? • deal with and share details related • When is your next holiday? Where to information on schedules, are you going to go? projects, timetables, and correspondence. • What do you do in your free time? Tell me about your family / home / interests. Pre- A student at this level can • What’s your job title? What are your intermediate • ask and answer questions about responsibilities? personal and work-related • Tell me about your products / information services (price, quality). Who buys • talk about a range of topics them? Who are your competitors? including customers, products, • How big is your company? Tell me services, and competition about the company’s history and • present key information about his / future plans. her company or area of business Role-play task • ask a visitor information and make I’m a visitor at your company. general conversation Introduce yourself to me and ask me • deal with basic telephone calls, three questions. especially when initiating the call. Intermediate A student at this level can • Give a short presentation about • explain and ask about recent events your company. For example, its and changes history, products, locations, etc. • talk about a range of topics • What have been some of the big including technology, processes, and changes at your company recently? performance What have been the results? What’s your opinion on the changes? • participate in meetings and give reasons, opinions, and plans • How has technology changed your life in recent years (at work and at • make quite formal as well as home)? Do you think it’s a good informal presentations and deal thing? with straight-forward questions • deal with a variety of situations on Role-play task the telephone, including answering I’m a customer and I telephone you to questions or dealing with problems. complain about a late delivery. I want you to deal with my complaint.
Business Result | Speaking test Level What a student can do at this level Questions / role-play tasks for this level Upper- A student at this level can • How important are teams where intermediate • interact quite fluently and you work? What are some ways to spontaneously on a variety of motivate a team? topics, e.g. ethics in business, • How much do you deal with motivation, outsourcing, etc. people from other countries (give • participate in meetings and examples)? Do different cultures do discussions where he / she will business in different ways? give views, is able to state both • Think of a problem you had to deal advantages and disadvantages, and with recently. What happened? make recommendations How did you solve it? Do you • present complex information and think you could have approached it handle difficult questions differently? • summarize key points based on Role-play task texts or documentation. Imagine I’m a new customer. Convince me to use your products or services instead of your main competitor’s. Advanced A student at this level can Note to examiner: • easily interact with both native and If a student has successfully answered non-native speakers on all topics the questions and completed the tasks of conversation including quite at all previous levels with no difficulty, abstract topics then they can be placed at this level • initiate repair strategies where for speaking. misunderstanding occurs • express him / herself fluently without much searching for expressions • formally negotiate aspects of business, such as contracts • implement managerial initiatives and leadership in English through presentations or in meetings.