Study for BEC business english certificate exam (preliminary/vantage/higher)

	Study, work or travel in the UK. British culture and life.
Homepage	Search	A-Z index	Message Board	Contact us
Britain	Course	Life	Work	Links
English	Prepare	Personal	Travel	Ideas




< Up	English / Exams / BEC
BEC (Business English Certificate) tests


Sections:	Introduction
	BEC Preliminary
	BEC Vantage
	BEC Higher
	Further information
	Links

Related pages:	Guide (information about all of the English language tests)
	LCCI
	Pitman
	TOEIC

INTRODUCTION

BEC (Business English Certificate) exams are designed for students who want to use English for international business.
The exams are managed by Cambridge ESOL (formerly known as UCLES: the University of Cambridge Local Examinations Syndicate).
There are three levels: BEC Preliminary (formerly BEC1), BEC Vantage (formerly BEC2) and BEC Higher (formerly BEC3).

Back to top

BEC PRELIMINARY

The BEC Preliminary exam is for lower intermediate students. Recommended books:

Textbook		Practice Tests
	Business Benchmark Pre-Intermediate to Intermediate Student's Book (book) Authors: Norman Whitby Publisher: Cambridge University Press Date: April 2006 CD		Cambridge BEC Preliminary (book) Publisher: Cambridge University Press Date: February 2002
	Success with BEC Preliminary (book) Authors: Rolf Cook, Mara Pedretti, Helen Stephenson Publisher: Summertown Publishing Date: January 2008 CD		Cambridge BEC Preliminary 2 (book and CDs) Publisher: Cambridge University Press Date: July 2004 Book only
	Pass Cambridge BEC Preliminary Authors: Anne Williams, Ian Wood Publisher: Summertown Publishing Date: 2002		Cambridge BEC Preliminary 3 (book and CDs) Publisher: Cambridge University Press Date: April 2006 Book only
	Progress to Vantage Author: Louise Pile Publisher: Summertown Publishing Date: April 2002		Cambridge BEC Preliminary 4 (book) Publisher: Cambridge University Press Date: March 2009 CD

BEC VANTAGE

The BEC Vantage exam is for intermediate students. Recommended books:

Textbook		Practice Tests
	Business Benchmark Upper-Intermediate Student's Book (book) Authors: Guy Brook-Hart Publisher: Cambridge University Press Date: April 2006 CD		Cambridge BEC Vantage (book) Publisher: Cambridge University Press Date: February 2002
	Success with BEC Vantage (book) Author: John Hughes Publisher: Summertown Publishing Date: January 2008 CD		Cambridge BEC Vantage 2 (book and CDs) Publisher: Cambridge University Press Date: July 2004 Book only
	Pass Cambridge BEC Vantage Authors: Ian Wood, Paul Sanderson, Anne Williams Publisher: Summertown Publishing Date: 2002		Cambridge BEC Vantage 3 (book and CDs) Publisher: Cambridge University Press Date: April 2006 Book only

BEC HIGHER

The BEC Higher exam is for upper intermediate students. Recommended books:

Textbook		Practice Tests
	Business Benchmark Advanced Student's Book (book) Authors: Guy Brook-Hart Publisher: Cambridge University Press Date: March 2007 CD		Cambridge BEC Higher (book) Publisher: Cambridge University Press Date: February 2002
	Success with BEC Higher (book) Author: Paul Dummett Publisher: Summertown Publishing Date: January 2008 CD		Cambridge BEC Higher 2 (book and CDs) Publisher: Cambridge University Press Date: July 2004 Book only
	Pass Cambridge BEC Higher Authors: Ian Wood, Louise Pile, Anne Williams Publisher: Summertown Publishing Date: 2002		Cambridge BEC Higher 3 (book and CDs) Publisher: Cambridge University Press Date: April 2006 Book only

FURTHER INFORMATION

To download the BEC handbook and sample papers, find the test centres, exam dates and register for the tests, see:
http://www.cambridgeesol.org/exams/bec.htm
http://www.cambridgeesol.org/support/handbooks.htm

The books recommended below are described in more detail in the websites of the publishers:
Cambridge University Press: http://www.cambridge.org/elt/catalogue/exams
Summertown Publishing: http://www.summertown.co.uk

BULATS (Business Language Testing Service) provide a computer-based test of business language ability in a standard format for English, French, German and Spanish. See:
http://www.bulats.org

Back to top

LINKS

Studying English: English/Study
Find an English language school: Course/Language

Home page: Home

Back to top

© UK Student Life 2002-2009

* Search this website (www.ukstudentlife.com) or the web: