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BEC Vantage Speaking Test

BEC Exam

Tips for the BEC Vantage speaking test

Here are some tips to improve your score in the BEC Vantage speaking test.

The BEC speaking test last for approximately 16 minutes. BEC speaking test candidates are interviewed with a partner and two examiners are involved in the process: one examiner who asks all the questions and the other who evaluates the speaking ability of each candidate.

The BEC speaking test has 3 parts.

BEC Speaking Test Part 1

The examiner will ask you some simple introductory questions, and then a couple of questions related to your work: one of the work related questions will be more personal and the other more general.

Examples questions BEC speaking test Part 1

  • Where are you from?
  • Why are you doing the BEC exam?
  • Do you have a job at present?
  • Is it difficult for graduates to find employment in your country?

Tips

  • Your answers should always be relevant.
  • Try not to give answers that are very short.
  • Avoid answering simply ‘yes’ or ‘no to the questions, try to expand your answers a little more.
  • Try to use examples to help support what you say in your answer.




Tips for for the BEC Vantage Speaking Test Part 2

BEC Speaking Test Part 2

This part of the BEC speaking test takes approximately six minutes to complete. The examiner will give you a card with three different business related topics on it. You will have to choose one topic to talk about for approximately one minute. The examiner will give you time (1 min) to prepare and plan your talk.

You will be asked to give your talk and then the other speaking candidate will ask you a follow up question. You will also be able to ask the other speaking candidate a question when they have finished their talk.

Example Topic Card BEC Speaking Test Part 2

Topic A - Customer relations
Why it is important to be polite when dealing with customers.

Topic B - Training
How to make sure that available training opportunities are taken advantage of by the maximum number of staff.

Topic C - Advertising
The factors that need to be considered in an advertising budget for a new product.



Tips
  • Make sure you take advantage of the one minute preparation time to plan what you want to say. You can make notes about what to include in your talk.
  • Divide your talk into three parts: the beginning, the middle and the ending. You can use ‘signposting’ language such as: “Firstly I’d like to explain that …., and now the most important factor/thing/issue …, and finally ….”
  • Use examples during your talk, when you can, to make it easier for the examiner and other speaking candidate who are listening, to understand.
  • Begin your talk with a bold statement: it is better to say something like, “Poor customer relations can lose clients and business revenue …” rather than saying, “It is important to deal with customers in a good way because …”
  • Practice talking about different business related topics for one minute. Record yourself and time yourself. Listen to the recording of yourself and analyze your presentation. What can you improve? What more can you say? What special vocabulary should you learn?
  • Listen carefully to your speaking partner’s talk because you will be expected to ask a relevant follow up question at the end.




Tips for the BEC Vantage Speaking Test Part 3

BEC Speaking Test Part 3 Collaborative Task & Follow-Up Questions

This part of the BEC Speaking test takes about seven minutes to complete. The examiner will present you with details of a business related situation which includes two discussion points.

You will be allowed 30 seconds to read the details on the card. The examiner will ask follow up questions related to the business situation to each candidate at the end of the discussion.

Example task BEC speaking test Part 3

Staff Training
In order to show its commitment to the environment and sustainability your company has decided to dedicate a training day to the importance of responsible environmental actions the company and staff can take. You have been asked to come up with some general ideas to promote on the training day.

Discuss and decide together:
  • what kinds of actions the staff and company could take to be more environmentally friendly.
  • how you would promote the training event to encourage staff to approach the event with a positive frame of mind.

The task is designed as a role play or simulation. You should therefore approach it in a similar way to a real-life task. You will need to work with your speaking partner, sharing your opinions and trying to reach a decision together.

Tips

  • It will help both yourself and your partner if you work together collaboratively on this task.
  • Be prepared to ask your partner for his or her opinion rather than simply stating your own.
  • Listen 'actively' to what your partner says, responding to comments he or she makes.




What is BEC Vantage? / Cambridge B2 BEC Business Vantage Exam?

The Cambridge B2 Business Vantage Exam is designed as an qualification for students looking to demonstrate their Business English language proficiency in order to work and live abroad.

Format of B2 BEC Business Vantage Exam

Cambridge B2 Business BEC Vantage Reading Writing Listening Speaking
Time 60 mins 45 mins 40 mins 14 mins
Score 25% 25% 25% 25%
How Many Parts? 5 2 3 3
Objective Demonstrate you can effectivley deal with various business texts (business reports, emails, correspondence). Demonstrate you can write effective business proposals, reports, emails and letters. Demonstrate you can understand various business scenarios (presentations, interviews, discussions). Demonstrate you can speak effectively on various business topics.

There are currently three levels for the exam: Introductory, Intermediate, and Advanced. This can be started at any desired level depending on what skill set you want to gain certification in.

The requirements for the Introductory level are that written communication skills should be equivalent to CEFR Level A1 or A2 standards. For Intermediate and Advanced levels, they should be equivalent to CEFR Level B1, B2 or C1 standards.

FAQ

These frequently asked questions (and answers) will help you pass the BEC Vantage speaking test with a strong score. They include all the important information you need to know, what to expect on test day, and how best to prepare for it.

What is BEC Vantage?

B2 Business Vantage is a Business English Certificate from Cambridge English. It tests your ability to use English in a business context.

The Vantage level for business professionals who have an intermediate level of English.

What is the format of the speaking test?

The BEC Vantage speaking test is a part of the exam, and it has three parts.

First, you answer some simple questions based on your personal information and work. In BEC Vantage Speaking Part 2, you will have a one-minute mini-presentation on a business topic.

There are three topics or three choices, and the examiner will expect you to talk for about one minute. In the following parts, you will be asked six questions.

How can I prepare for the BEC speaking test?

Here are a few tips from experts on how to prepare for the BEC speaking test:

  • Familiarize yourself with the test format and practice as many questions as possible.
  • Speak with a native English speaker to improve your fluency and confidence.
  • Prepare a short presentation on three different topics.
  • Practice speaking in various situations, including in business meetings and presentations.



  • BEC Vantage is a challenging but achievable exam that can help boost your professional career. Here are more tips to help you work successfully towards the BEC Vantage speaking test:

  • Familiarize yourself with the test format and practice as many questions as possible. Use as many practice tests as you can with a speaking partner.
  • Read up on international business, every common business topic such as marketing, export/import, staff and any other general business theme.
  • Strengthen your fluency and confidence by speaking regularly in English. Join an English-speaking group, take a course or practice with a friend or colleague. A high score in business English depends on fluency and confidence, among other factors.
  • In B2 Business Vantage speaking, you need to be good at justifying opinions. If your personal experience does not include a particular business scenario, invent one or talk about the experience of a colleague or coworker.
  • Be aware of the time limit! Do not be distracted by thinking about your next answer when you are in the middle of answering a question. Three minutes might not sound very long, but it goes much faster than you think.
  • Practice language for justifying opinions, as this is where you are most likely to feel challenged.
  • You do not need any specialist business knowledge for this test. However, it does help if you keep up-to-date with what is happening in the news and business world (either through reading newspapers or online). This will give you some genuine talking points and make your opinions sound convincing.

    Use your personal experience to back up your opinions. For example, when talking about the economy, you could say something like: I think the current recession will start to improve in the next year or so.

    The most important thing is to stay calm. The examiner is not looking for a perfect answer - they just want to evaluate your English communication skills in a business context.

    What do I need to bring to the test?

    Bring your passport or ID and your confirmation letter. You will need to present these at the test centre to confirm your personal information. You will also need a pen, pencil, eraser and any other items permitted. You can check beforehand with the test centre about what things they allow you to bring into the test room.




    What happens on the day of the test?

    At the beginning of the test session, you must hand over any electronic devices, mobile phones, tablets or laptops. These will be collected by the test centre staff and returned to you at the end of the session.

    When I take the test, what kind of questions should I expect?

    You can expect both independent and dependent tasks in this section of your BEC Vantage test.

    What if I don’t understand a question?

    You can ask the interlocutor to repeat the question or ask for clarification.

    Can I use notes during the test?

    When you do the mini-presentation, you are allowed to make notes.

    Getting a high score in B2 Cambridge Business English shows that you can work successfully in a new job where everyone speaks English. The important thing is to prepare well - confidence can make a big difference to your speaking performance in the test!


    How is BEC Speaking Graded?