Integrated Professional English

20UC1101

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BUSINESS ENGLISH CERTIFICATE
Preliminary
Vantage
Higher

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Who conducts the exam?

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What level are you preparing for?

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What are the skills that are tested in the BEC?

•Reading
•Writing
•Listening
•Speaking
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How many parts are there in each section?
•Reading : 7 Parts
• Writing : 2 Parts
• Listening : 4 Parts
• Speaking : 3 Parts
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Where can I get the details of BEC
Preliminary?
https://www.cambridgeenglish.org/

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 Duration of each section
✓Reading and Writing: 1 hour 30 minutes (50%)
✓Listening: about 40 minutes, including transfer time(25%)

✓Speaking: 12 minutes per pair of candidates (25%)

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 How can I prepare for the test?
https://www.cambridgeenglish.org/exams-and-
tests/business-preliminary/preparation/

Free: Paper-based sample tests

Free: Computer-based sample tests

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 Question Types
Listening Section
Part 1 Consists of
• Eight short conversations or monologues of
approximately 15–30 seconds each, not linked
thematically. Each extract is heard twice
•Three choice questions for each text. You
must choose the correct answer A, B or C. 10
 Part 1 of the exam tests:
Your focus is on listening for specific
information.

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 Details of questions
candidates are being tested on their understanding of
spoken English used in a range of situations and on their
ability to extract factual information. Alternatively, they
may have to identify a trend in a graph, establish the
speaker’s reason for phoning, or identify feelings and
opinions. In every case it will be necessary for
candidates to follow the conversation closely. 12
 Suggested exam techniques
1. You have to be able to follow and understand a range of spoken
materials including announcements and discussions about
everyday life.

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 Example question (Questions 1 – 8)

PART ONE
Questions 1 – 8

For questions 1 – 8, you will hear eight short recordings. For each question,
mark one letter (A, B or C) for the correct answer

1. Where is Mike going to take the visitors first?

Customer Relations Production Warehouse

A B C
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 Question Types
Listening Section
Part 2 Consists of
• This part consists of a short conversation, typically lasting around
a minute and a half, which contains factual information. On the
question paper there is a form, table, chart or set of notes with
seven gaps where information is missing. Candidates have to fill in
each of the gaps. The answers may include dates, prices,
percentages or figures. This part has a numerical focus and 15
 Part 2 of the exam tests:
• Note completion
• Listening for specific information
(numbers and letters).

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 Suggested exam techniques
1. A short telephonic conversation has to be heard twice.
2. Listen for the specific information
3. Focus on the numerical data

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 PART TWO
Questions 9 – 15

• Look at the notes below.

• Some information is missing.
• You will hear a manager telephoning Human Resources
about vacancies in his department.
• For each question 9 –15, fill in the missing information in
the numbered space using a word, numbers or letters.
• You will hear the conversation twice. 18
 Customer Services Vacancies

Number of vacancies: (9) ................... telephone operators

Salary: (10) Max. …..................................................... Total
holiday (per annum): (11) .............................................days Job
reference: (12) ................................................................ Job
start date: (13) ...................................................... 2002 Line
Manager: (14) Ms Sue.........................................
Tel number (for enquiries): (15)
….................................................................

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 Question Types
Listening Section
Part 3 Consists of
• 7 questions based on note completion for 7 marks.
•A monologue of approximately 2½ minutes, heard twice.

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 Part 3 of the exam tests:
Your focus is to listen for specific
information.

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 HOW TO DO
Candidates hear a monologue. On the question paper there is a
set of notes or a form with gaps. There are seven gaps to fill in
and the answers may be one or two words. On occasion, the key
to one of the gaps may be a date.

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 Suggested exam techniques
1. Listen to the conversation carefully and focus on the key words
2. Listen for specific information
3. The main focus should be on NOTE COMPLETION.

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PART THREE
Questions 16 – 22
• Look at the notes about a publisher’s plans for
promotion this autumn.
• Some information is missing.
• You will hear part of a talk by the company’s Marketing
Director.
• For each question 16 –22, fill in the missing information
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 Autumn promotion plans
Main titles: pocket dictionary and (16) ............................................
Advertising space booked in: (17) ............................................... magazine
New colour for display stands: (18) ................................................................
Free gifts include: (19) ......................................... and keyrings
Alison has made a deal with: (20) ....................................................
For mailing to booksellers in September: (21) ...................................
Venue for dictionary launch party: (22) ...........................................

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 Question Types
Listening Section
Part 4
• 8 MCQ’s for 8 marks.
• Conversation/interview/discussion between two or more
interacting speakers of approximately 3 minutes, heard twice.

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 Part 4 of the exam tests:
Focus area is Listening for gist and specific
information

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 WHAT TO DO
This part, which lasts about 3 minutes, contains a longer listening
text which generally takes the form of an interview, or a discussion
between two or possibly more speakers. There are eight 3-option
multiple-choice questions on the question paper and these are
always in a written format. In this part of the Listening component,
candidates are being tested on their ability to understand the gist of
a longer text and to extract detailed and specific information as
required by the questions. They may also be tested on the speakers’
opinions.

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 Suggested exam techniques
1. Listen to the text carefully
2. This part tests the candidates’ ability to listen for gist and for specific
information.
3. The task type is MCQ’s

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Part 4
Questions 23 - 30
• You will hear a conversation between a senior manager,
called Sue and her assistant, called David.
• For each question 23 – 30, mark one letter (A, B or C) for
the correct answer.
• You will hear the conversation twice
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23. Sue is particularly pleased about the
company
A receiving an award.
B increasing its share price.
C getting a new client.

24 What is the main cause of the company’s

rising costs?
A import taxes
B publicity
C premises ……

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For more Listening Part practice , visit:
Parts 1 and 2:
https://www.becexamguide.com/listening-parts-1-
2/preliminary
Parts 3 and 4:
https://www.becexamguide.com/listening-parts-3-
4/preliminary

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 End of
Listening Part
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Course Handout

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