Cambridge English Qualifications and IELTS as a replacement for the retired Business (BEC)

We only recommend exams and tests that have been awarded the prestigious ALTE Q-Mark.

Cambridge English Qualifications – owned by Cambridge Assessment English

  • B1 Preliminary
  • B2 First and B2 First for schools
  • C1 Advanced

IELTS (International English Language Testing System) – co-owned by Cambridge Assessment English

  • IELTS General Training for work and business
  • IELTS Academic for work and business

Teacher training

  • CEL with Cambridge University Press and Assessment and IDP IELTS can offer a complete package of free and paid materials, webinars etc.

Official Cambridge English preparation materials suitable for one year course

Cambridge Qualifications

IELTS

Test Dates, Locations, Fees, Booking and Results

Cambridge Qualifications

  • Fee: computer based / paper based B1 Preliminary – CHF260.00
  • Fee: computer based / paper based B2 First – CHF395.00
  • Fee: computer based / paper based C1 Advanced – CHF405.00
  • Statement of Result: CB – 2-3 weeks PB – 6 weeks. Certificate: CB – approximately 6 weeks. PB – 10 weeks.
  • Testing location: all cities and schools recognised as a partner venue in Switzerland or Liechtenstein.

Bookings: www.cambridgetesting.ch

Last Dates

  • B1 Business Preliminary (BEC P) Saturday, 1 June 2024
  • B2 Business Vantage (BEC V) Thursday, 6 June 2024
  • C1 Business Higher (BEC H) Saturday, 15 June 2024

IELTS

  • Fee: computer delivered IELTS (on demand so a date can be chosen for a group of students) CHF388.00 per person. Results: 2-5 days after the test date
  • Fee: paper based IELTS CHF369.00 per person. Results: 13 days after the test date
  • Test Report Form: despatched from St. Gallen, Switzerland immediately on release of the results.
  • Testing location: all cities and schools recognised as a partner venue in Switzerland or Liechtenstein.
  • Bookings: www.IELTS.ch

More information and CEFR scale comparison here.

Cambridge English Qualifications are designed so that each exam builds on the communication skills learned at the previous level. B1 Preliminary, B2 First and C1 Advanced are an excellent way to prepare students for many of the tasks they will face at university. They also ensure that successful candidates have work-ready language skills that will help them in the transition from education to work and professional development.

IELTS

The BEC exams were designed to teach individuals practical language skills for use in business environments and in the workplace. However, IELTS Academic and General Training present advantages. They are structured in such a way that it incorporates teaching the skills needed in the business environment, and at the same time it teaches skills needed academically that are accepted worldwide by more than 11,000 business and educational organisations.

Speaking skill – students learn to speak about familiar topics such as family and hobbies, as well as how to make a presentation.

Listening skill – the skill focuses on teaching students’ different ways of listening that can be used in any situation in life.

Reading skill Academic – students learn to read texts that are both descriptive and factual, as well as those that are found in the workplace. The texts are taken from academic and professional books, journals, magazines and newspapers.

Reading skill General Training – The test consists of three sections and 40 questions. It focuses on situations you might face in everyday life, work-related issues such as applying for a job, and topics of general interest. The extracts in each section are taken from books, magazines, newspapers, notices, advertisements, company handbooks and guidelines.

Writing skill Academic – although topics included in this part of the exam are considered to be of general interest, students learn skills necessary in the workplace, such as interpreting graphs in extensive details and writing formal essays.

Writing skill General Training – the test includes two tasks that are based on topics of general interest. A letter requesting information or explaining a situational. An essay in response to a point of view, argument or problem.

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