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Business English Certificates (BEC) discontinued
Due to a review of the Cambridge English Qualifications portfolio, the Business English Certificates (BEC) will be discontinued at the end of 2023. We are preparing for this change and have already been in contact with many of you. The recommended replacements for BEC are: Linguaskill, B1 Preliminary, B2 First or C1 Advanced. These exams provide a more comprehensive and up-to-date assessment of English language proficiency, and they are more accessible and user-friendly than their predecessors. If you have any further questions about the BEC exams, please contact us. If you are a preparation centre, we will be happy to organise individual meetings where we can discuss which alternative would be the most suitable for your centre and students.
Exam preparation
B2 Business
Vantage
Information for candidates
A guide to the exam, with advice on preparing for the exam, tips for exam day and useful links.
B2 Business Vantage is made up of four papers developed to test your English skills:
1 hour
The B2 Business Vantage Reading paper has five parts. There are different types of texts and questions. This paper accounts for 25% of the total mark.
- Either four short texts on a related topic or one text divided into four sections and a series of statements. You have to match each statement to the text or section where you can find the information.
- 7 questions
- 1 mark for each correct answer
- A text with gaps and some sentences (A–G). Each gap represents a missing sentence. You have to read the text and the sentences and decide which sentence belongs in each gap.
- 5 questions
- 1 mark for each correct answer
- A single text with six comprehension questions. You have to read the text and choose the right answer for each question (A, B, C or D).
- 6 questions
- 1 mark for each correct answer
- A text with gaps. Each gap represents one word or phrase. You have to read the text and choose the right word or phrase to fill each gap from a choice of four (A, B, C or D).
- 15 questions
- 1 mark for each correct answer
- A text in which some lines are correct, and some lines have an extra, unnecessary word. If the line is correct, you write ‘CORRECT’ on your answer sheet. If the line is not correct, you have to write down the extra word.
- 12 questions
- 1 mark for each correct answer
45 minutes
The B2 Business Vantage Writing paper has two parts and requires the candidate to write two different pieces of business correspondence. This paper accounts for 25% of the total mark.
- A description of a business situation. You have to write an internal company communication using the information provided.
- 1 compulsory question
- 40-50 words
- This question has a total of 10 marks
- Some material (letter, fax, email, note, notice, advert, graph, chart) to read. You have to write a piece of business correspondence, a report or a proposal based on the information.
- 1 compulsory question
- 120-140 words
- This question has a total of 20 marks
About 40 minutes (including 10 minutes to transfer your answers onto the answer sheet)
The B2 Business Vantage Listening paper has three parts. For each part, you have to listen to a recorded text or texts on business-related topics and answer some questions. You hear each recording twice. This paper accounts for 25% of the total mark.
- Three monologues or dialogues. For each recording, you have to listen and fill in four gaps in a short text, such as a form.
- 12 questions
- 1 mark for each correct answer.
- Two sets of five short monologues (recordings of one person speaking). Each set is linked by a common theme and has a list of eight options (A–H). You have to match each speaker to one of the options.
- 10 questions
- 1 mark for each correct answer
- One longer conversation or monologue (interview, discussion, presentation, etc.) and some comprehension questions. You have to listen to the recording and choose the right answer (A, B or C) for each question.
- 8 questions
- 1 mark for each correct answer.
14 minutes per pair of candidates
The B2 Business Vantage Speaking test has three parts and is taken with another candidate. Exceptionally the test may be taken with 3 candidates. There are two examiners. One examiner talks to you and the other examiner listens. Both examiners give marks for your performance. This paper accounts for 25% of the total mark.
- A conversation with the examiner. The examiner first asks general and then more business-related questions. You will have to talk briefly about yourself, your home, interests, studies and job.
- About 3 minutes
- A ‘mini-presentation’ on a business theme. The examiner gives you a choice of three topics (A, B or C). You have 1 minute to prepare to give a speech lasting approximately 1 minute. Listen carefully when your partner speaks as you have to ask a question when they have finished.
- About 5 minutes, including a 1-minute ‘long turn’ for each candidate.
- A discussion with the other candidate on a business-related topic. The examiner gives you a topic to discuss and you have to talk to the other candidate about the situation and decide together what to do. The examiner will then ask you some questions about the topic you’ve been given.
- You have to speak with your partner for about 3 minutes, and with the examiner for a further minute.
Choosing your Speaking Test partner
If you would like to be paired together with a friend/classmate, you can request this when you register for the exam. Please note however that research has shown that there are both advantages and disadvantages in taking the test with someone you know and that in the end it doesn’t matter. What is important is that the test judges you on your own performance.
Information for candidates:
The Information for Candidates booklet is packed with study tips, exam advice and frequently asked questions. A great way to help your learners feel fully prepared for their exam.
Sample tests
You will need to use the Firefox browser to access these sample tests. You can download Firefox for free here.
Watch this tutorial before you start to help you understand what you need to do.
There is no answer key for the Writing paper, but there are sample answers and examiner comments in the relevant pages of the Business handbook.
To access vocabulary at B2 level that could be used in B2 Business Vantage, please refer to the English vocabulary profile
Download a sample Speaking test worksheet for students from the B2 Business Vantage Speaking test preparation pack.
You can also watch a 360⁰ of a full B2 Business Vantage speaking test.
Information for candidates
A guide to the exam, with advice on preparing for the exam, tips for exam day and useful links.
B2 Business Vantage is made up of four papers developed to test your English skills:
1 hour
The B2 Business Vantage Reading paper has five parts. There are different types of texts and questions. This paper accounts for 25% of the total mark.
- Either four short texts on a related topic or one text divided into four sections and a series of statements. You have to match each statement to the text or section where you can find the information.
- 7 questions
- 1 mark for each correct answer
- A text with gaps and some sentences (A–G). Each gap represents a missing sentence. You have to read the text and the sentences and decide which sentence belongs in each gap.
- 5 questions
- 1 mark for each correct answer
- A single text with six comprehension questions. You have to read the text and choose the right answer for each question (A, B, C or D).
- 6 questions
- 1 mark for each correct answer
- A text with gaps. Each gap represents one word or phrase. You have to read the text and choose the right word or phrase to fill each gap from a choice of four (A, B, C or D).
- 15 questions
- 1 mark for each correct answer
- A text in which some lines are correct, and some lines have an extra, unnecessary word. If the line is correct, you write ‘CORRECT’ on your answer sheet. If the line is not correct, you have to write down the extra word.
- 12 questions
- 1 mark for each correct answer
45 minutes
The B2 Business Vantage Writing paper has two parts and requires the candidate to write two different pieces of business correspondence. This paper accounts for 25% of the total mark.
- A description of a business situation. You have to write an internal company communication using the information provided.
- 1 compulsory question
- 40-50 words
- This question has a total of 10 marks
- Some material (letter, fax, email, note, notice, advert, graph, chart) to read. You have to write a piece of business correspondence, a report or a proposal based on the information.
- 1 compulsory question
- 120-140 words
- This question has a total of 20 marks
About 40 minutes (including 10 minutes to transfer your answers onto the answer sheet)
The B2 Business Vantage Listening paper has three parts. For each part, you have to listen to a recorded text or texts on business-related topics and answer some questions. You hear each recording twice. This paper accounts for 25% of the total mark.
- Three monologues or dialogues. For each recording, you have to listen and fill in four gaps in a short text, such as a form.
- 12 questions
- 1 mark for each correct answer.
- Two sets of five short monologues (recordings of one person speaking). Each set is linked by a common theme and has a list of eight options (A–H). You have to match each speaker to one of the options.
- 10 questions
- 1 mark for each correct answer
- One longer conversation or monologue (interview, discussion, presentation, etc.) and some comprehension questions. You have to listen to the recording and choose the right answer (A, B or C) for each question.
- 8 questions
- 1 mark for each correct answer.
14 minutes per pair of candidates
The B2 Business Vantage Speaking test has three parts and is taken with another candidate. Exceptionally the test may be taken with 3 candidates. There are two examiners. One examiner talks to you and the other examiner listens. Both examiners give marks for your performance. This paper accounts for 25% of the total mark.
- A conversation with the examiner. The examiner first asks general and then more business-related questions. You will have to talk briefly about yourself, your home, interests, studies and job.
- About 3 minutes
- A ‘mini-presentation’ on a business theme. The examiner gives you a choice of three topics (A, B or C). You have 1 minute to prepare to give a speech lasting approximately 1 minute. Listen carefully when your partner speaks as you have to ask a question when they have finished.
- About 5 minutes, including a 1-minute ‘long turn’ for each candidate.
- A discussion with the other candidate on a business-related topic. The examiner gives you a topic to discuss and you have to talk to the other candidate about the situation and decide together what to do. The examiner will then ask you some questions about the topic you’ve been given.
- You have to speak with your partner for about 3 minutes, and with the examiner for a further minute.
Choosing your Speaking Test partner
If you would like to be paired together with a friend/classmate, you can request this when you register for the exam. Please note however that research has shown that there are both advantages and disadvantages in taking the test with someone you know and that in the end it doesn’t matter. What is important is that the test judges you on your own performance.
Information for candidates:
The Information for Candidates booklet is packed with study tips, exam advice and frequently asked questions. A great way to help your learners feel fully prepared for their exam.
Sample tests
You will need to use the Firefox browser to access these sample tests. You can download Firefox for free here.
Watch this tutorial before you start to help you understand what you need to do.
There is no answer key for the Writing paper, but there are sample answers and examiner comments in the relevant pages of the Business handbook.
To access vocabulary at B2 level that could be used in B2 Business Vantage, please refer to the English vocabulary profile
Download a sample Speaking test worksheet for students from the B2 Business Vantage Speaking test preparation pack.
You can also watch a 360⁰ of a full B2 Business Vantage speaking test.