B1 Business Preliminary

The B1 Business Preliminary (BEC P) helps you to get the practical language skills you need to start doing business in English. With this qualification, you show employers that you have a good knowledge of English for practical, everyday use in business.

The content is based on everyday work and business tasks and is designed to develop your business English skills.

A B1 Business Preliminary (BEC P) certificate shows that you can:

talk about business subjects
understand charts and graphs
write a short business email
follow short telephone conversations.

Exam Format

B1 Business Preliminary is made up of three papers developed to test your English skills. The formats below are the same for both the paper-based and computer-based exams.

READING AND WRITING

LISTENING

SPEAKING

The B1 Business Preliminary Reading and Writing paper has seven parts for Reading and two parts for Writing. This exam shows that you can read and understand the main points from graphs or charts, messages and emails, and can use vocabulary and structure correctly. You are also required to be able to produce two short pieces of writing: an internal communication, such as a note or a message, and some business correspondence, such as an email or a letter.

1 hour 30 minutes

Reading: 45 questions

Writing: 2 tasks

Check your answers (see PDF) as you do the test. Once the test has finished you will not be able to check them anymore!

Sample Test (Firefox required) Reading Answer Key Business Handbook

There is no answer key for the Writing paper, but there are sample answers and examiner comments in the relevant pages of the Handbook

The B1 Business Preliminary Listening paper has four 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 requires you to be able to follow and understand a range of spoken materials including interviews and discussions about everyday life.

about 40 minutes, including transfer time

30 questions

Note completion and multiple choice.

Check your answers (see PDF) as you do the test. Once the test has finished you will not be able to check them anymore!

Sample Test Answer Key

The B1 Business Preliminary Speaking test has three parts and you take it together with another candidate. There are two examiners. One of the examiners talks to you and the other examiner listens and takes notes.

12 minutes per pair of candidates

One of the examiners talks to you and the other examiner listens

Two or three candidates, two examiners

Check out this example video to see what happens during a B1 Business Preliminary Speaking test.

Preparation needed?

Are you interested in a proper preparation for the exam? Simply give us a call or fill out the contact form to make a free appointment for a detailed consultation. You can do a full course to increase your language level or just a few hours to prepare for the exam. Together we will find out your right level and can start planning your course immediately!

Dates and Fees

Unfortunately, there are no exam dates planned at this time.

Click to expand and see all exam dates as well as the registration deadlines and prices. Please note that real-time availability will only be checked once you clicked on the button “Registration”.

Registration

Here you can book your Cambridge English exam in Vienna. Please note that you will need a valid ID document to complete your booking. You will get all payment details to pay the exam fee (via bank transfer) at the end of this booking process.

B1 Business Preliminary Scores

You will receive a separate score for each of the four skills (reading, writing, listening and speaking) and use of English, giving you a clear understanding of your performance.

The weighting of all four skills and use of English is the same (20%). These five scores are averaged to give you an overall result for the exam.

Depending on which university, college or organisation you are applying to, you may be asked to achieve a specific score or grade, either overall or for a particular skill. For B1 Business Preliminary, the following scores will be used to report results:

Cambridge English Scale Score	Grade	CEFR level
160–170	Grade A	B2
153–159	Grade B	B1
140–152	Grade C	B1
120–139	Level A2	A2

The exam is targeted at Level B1 of the CEFR. The examination also provides reliable assessment at the level above B1 (Level B2) and the level below (Level A2).

Scores between 120 and 139 are also reported on your Statement of Results, but you will not receive the Business English Certificate Preliminary.

Results and Certificate

Your results will be available online approximately 2-3 weeks after computer-based exams and approximately 4-6 weeks after paper-based exams. About 2-3 weeks later, your certificate will be sent from Cambridge/UK to Vienna – you will be automatically informed once your certificate has arrived and is ready to be picked up at the Institute.

To access your results, you have to register using the ID Number and Secret Number provided on your Confirmation of Entry. After that you can login and check as well as share your results. Online Results Service for Candidates

Standardised Exams

Cambridge exams are designed to ensure standardised test conditions for people of all linguistic backgrounds and nationalities and are supported by a dedicated global research programme.

The exam covers all four language skills (Reading, Writing, Listening and Speaking) and knowledge of grammar and vocabulary.

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Worldwide Recognition

Cambridge English certificates are recognised by Universities and leading employers globally. For example: Deloitte. Ernst and Young, Marks and Spencers, HSBC, Juilliard and Freie Universität Berlin.

The B1 Business Preliminary certificate will also help you succeed in business-related studies and improve your career opportunities.