8 | Progress test
Working with words
Complete these words with the missing letters.
1 You should take more r_ _ p_ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ y at
work – that way you might get promoted.
2 We’re too similar. We have the same strengths. Our
skills aren’t c_m_ _ _ _ _ _ t_ _ y.
3 Maybe we should join f_r_ _s and find a solution
together.
4 The two companies are hoping to form an
a_ l_ _ _ _e in order to survive this current
recession.
5 Nigel isn’t much of a team p_a_ _r, I’m afraid. He
prefers to work alone.
6 Let’s start by finding some common g_o_ _d,
rather than focusing on our disagreements.
7 I’d like you two to work more c_o_ _ _ y together
in the future.
8 It’s a joint v_n_ _ _e between a coffee company
and an electronics firm to produce vending
machines.
Business communication skills
Complete these sentences with phrases from the
list.
next step chances are well done going to
the deadline intend to I expect likely that
planned to timescale on
A So, what’s the 9__________?
B Well I 10__________ talk to the client and get
some feedback. It’s 11__________ they'll ask us to
speed the project up.
A Remind me. What’s the 12__________ this ?
B July 31st is 13__________ but they’d like July 1st.
A That’s rather optimistic.
B Well, I’m 14__________ need more people, but
I expect we’ll be OK. I’ve 15__________
employ more freelance staff anyway, so it won’t
affect my budget.
A 16__________ ! That’s a really good idea.
B And the 17__________we won’t be ready in time
anyway, so 18__________ the final date will still
be the 31st.
Business Result Intermediate Progress Test 8
Complete these sentences with the correct
prepositions.
19 __________ the long run it’s for the best.
20 Do you think you’ll be able to finish this
__________ the end of the month?
21 __________ the next few weeks I intend to talk
to all staff about this.
22 We’ll have finished __________ next Tuesday at
the latest.
23 There may be some complaints __________ the
short term.
24 We plan to be ready __________ schedule.
Language at work
Choose the correct answer from the words in italics.
25 You should / ’re going to come along if you have
time. The CEO will be there.
26 Profits will / might definitely fall a little next
quarter. Don’t worry. They always go back up
around Christmas.
27 Look at the awful findings on customer feedback.
They’re terrible. I think we should / ’re going to
lose some of our key clients based on this report.
28 I’m not 100% sure, but I think I might / will apply
for that job in the paper.
29 Let me check with the warehouse, and then I
promise that I ’ll / ’m going to call you straight
back.
30 There’s usually a shuttle bus that leaves the
conference centre at 3 p.m. If it’s running today
there is going to / should be one in about five
minutes.
Result __________ / 30 marks
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Speaking test
Role cards
Copy this page and cut out the role cards for the students. Students should do both role-plays. Then use the
Speaking test results forms to evaluate each student’s performance. You can then cut out the results and give
them to the students.

Student A Student B

1 You work in the human resources department of a
very large car factory. The production manager
needs fifteen new trainee employees in September.
It is the end of May.
Your production manager calls. Explain your plan
and timescale.
Plan: advertise at local technical colleges; hold
open days and visits for students; interview
students; get references from lecturers.
Hopes and expectations: recruit by end of July;
avoid expensive advertising.
2 You are the managing director of a medium-sized
firm.
Call the sales manager for an update on this year’s
brochure and price list. You want it ready for
October 1st and it is now September 2nd. Find out
from your sales manager the timescale for this.
1 You are the production manager at a very large car
and you need fifteen new trainee employees in
September. It is the end of May.
Call the head of human resources to find out his /
her plan and intentions for recruitment. Remember
to find out about the timescale for this.
2 You are the sales manager for a medium-sized firm.
Your managing director calls for an update on this
year’s brochure and price list. It is due for October
1st and it is now September 2nd. Explain your plan
and timescale.
Plan: contact the designers; contact the printers;
hold a meeting to discuss prices for the year.
Hopes and expectations: there will be a delay
because we need new photographs of products; it’s
going to be a few days late.

Speaking test results

Use these forms to evaluate the students.

Student A Student B

Can the student … Didn’t do this Yes, but with Yes, did this Can the student … Didn’t do this Yes, but with Yes, did this
(0 points) some mistakes very well (0 points) some mistakes very well
(1 point) (2 points) (1 point) (2 points)

answer the call? answer the call?

describe plans and describe plans and

intentions? intentions?

express hopes and express hopes and

expectations? expectations?

explain timescale? explain timescale?

end the call? end the call?

Result __________/ 10 marks Result __________/ 10 marks

Business Result Intermediate Progress Test 8 Photocopiable © Oxford University Press