English for Business (EFB) - examinations consisting of practical, business-related tasks relevant to the workplace and aimed at candidates who, as part of their job, deal with English-speaking counterparts regularly in a functional capacity. This qualification is available at five levels, from preliminary ("survival" level) to level 4 (fluent in complex business contexts). Tests cover practical reading and writing skills with optional oral tests. The aims at each level are as follows:
Preliminary
- Identify basic data, facts and instructions
- Produce basic, formulaic text
- Listen and understand short, basic, business-related English conversations and announcements
- Understand basic, spoken and recorded business English
- Participate in short conversations in routine contexts
Level 1
- read and understand basic business-related English texts
- write basic English for simple, brief business communications
- understand simple, spoken and recorded business English
- participate in short conversations
Level 2
- Write apt and accurate English suited to the stated purpose
- Understand and write English using formats that are current and common in business communication
- Adopt the tone, form, layout, content and composition appropriate to the requirements of a given situation
- Understand spoken and recorded Business English at the defined level
- Participate in conversations
Level 3
- understand and write English used in a variety of ways within a range of business contexts
- employ appropriate business formats and styles to produce a range of business documents for different audiences and purposes
- understand spoken and recorded Business English at the defined level
- participate in conversations and discussions
- make an oral presentation on a business-related topic
Level 4
- understand authentic business texts
- write English in a wide variety of ways within an extensive range of business contexts.
- listen and understand business-related material such as conversations, announcements, short talks, and news bulletins
- give clear, detailed oral descriptions and presentations on complex subjects
- express themselves orally in a clear and appropriate style on business or professional matters.
For detailed information about English for Business and to download resources such as English for Business Specifications and English for Business Sample Papers, please use the Qualification Search.
English for Tourism (EFT) - assesses communication skills necessary for employment in the tourism industry. Tests are based on authentic tourism materials and cover reading, writing and speaking skills. Level 1 is aimed at customer-facing staff and level 2 is aimed at supervisors. English for Tourism comprises two components which can be taken in isolation or to complement each other: Written English for Tourism and Spoken English for Tourism.
Written English for Tourism level 1 is designed for desk and reception staff in travel agencies, airlines, hotels, tour operators and tourist information and reflects the materials most commonly used in the tourism industry such as booking forms, maps and timetables.
Syllabus topics for Written English for Tourism level 2 include business communication, promotional literature, reports, tour commentaries and itinerary planning.
The syllabuses for Spoken English for Tourism at levels 1 and 2 cover the following topics:
- General spoken communication within a tourism context
- Holiday and accommodation types
- Leisure and business travelers and tourists
- Methods of travel
- Job roles in the travel and tourism industries
- Understanding and processing tourism-related information
- Tourism-related tasks
- The specialist language of the tourism industry
Further Certificate for Teachers of Business English (FTBE) - continuing professional development for teachers of Business English.
This qualification is designed for qualified teachers of general English who wish to gain a supplementary specialist teaching qualification in English for business purposes. The content of the exam is designed to broaden teachers’ management skills as well as their understanding of business practice, processes and procedures. It provides teachers with the skills required to teach English to the growing number of candidates who aspire to use English in a professional, business context.
The aims of the qualification are to:
- Demonstrate an understanding of the professional skills required of the Business English teacher
- Identify the methodologies that are most effective in the Business English classroom
- Demonstrate an understanding of the basic business concepts and practices with which the Business English teacher is expected to be familiar.
The qualification is assessed through a written examination.
For detailed information about FTBE and to download resources such as a Syllabus and Sample Papers, please use the Qualification Search.
