Spoken English Test for Business

Spoken English Test for Business

When they are in meetings, talking to clients on the phone or working within a multinational team, many professionals would like to feel more confident in their spoken English.

This award helps learners to improve their speaking skills and is also a useful tool for employers wishing to assess the language proficiency of existing or potential employees.

The four parts of the test:

Part 1: Giving personal, business-related information
The aim of this part of the test is to put candidates at ease as they answer questions about themselves and their business interests and experience. The Interlocutor begins by asking the candidate for personal contact details (name, phone number or email address).

Part 2: Communicating in everyday, business-related situations
The aim of this part of the SET for Business is to test the candidate's use of functional language in a range of real-life situations in the context of the world of business. The settings, topics and language functions which may characterise these situations are listed in the syllabi on pages 10-13.

Most situations will involve face-to-face interaction, but one situation in any test may require the candidate and Interlocutor to simulate a telephone conversation. In the preparation time allowed, the candidate is presented with descriptions of three situations, all of which will be played out in the test.

Part 3: Exchanging information to perform a task
The aim of this part of the SET for Business is to test the candidate's use of language to give and elicit information in order to perform a specified, business related task in collaboration with the Interlocutor. In the preparation time, the candidate is given a set of information which differs from that given to the Interlocutor. The precise nature of the information exchange varies according to the level of assessment.

Part 4: Prepared presentation
The aim of this part of the SET for Business is to test the candidate's ability to order and maintain connected discourse to make a presentation of a chosen business-related topic.

The candidate is encouraged to choose his/her own topic, which they may prepare in advance. This enables them to demonstrate their competence in relation to their particular area of business experience or expertise. The topic could be the findings of research that they have undertaken in the course of their business studies, or it could be related to their professional life, but there must be some obvious relation to the world of business.

Available Levels:

Spoken English Test for Business is available at three levels called Stages:

Stage 1: covers A1 and A2 levels in the Common European Framework

Stage 2: covers B1 and B2 levels in the Common European Framework

Stage 3: covers C1 and C2 levels in the Common European Framework

Assessment:

Testing is by one to one structured interview with a teacher of a City & Guilds centre. This person - the Interlocutor - doesn't rate the candidate's performance, they just manage the interview and act as a conversation partner. The test is recorded on audio cassette and sent to City & Guilds where it is marked by trained examiners.