Issues in Testing Business English: The Revision of the Cambridge Business English Certificates

by Barry O'Sullivan

• ISBN13: 9780521013307
• ISBN10: 0521013305
• Edition: 1st
• Format: Paperback
• Copyright: 2006-03-06
• Publisher: Cambridge University Press

Summary

Demand is steadily growing for language tests with a specialized focus which will suit the needs of key professional domains as diverse as business, law, the airline industry, and teacher education. This book explores the testing of language for sepcific purposes (LSP) from a theoretical and a practical perspective, with a particular focus on the testing of English for business purposes. A range of tests - both past and present - is reviewed, and the development of business English testing at Cambridge ESOL is discussed. The description of the revision of the Business English Certificates (BEC) forms a major part of the book and offers a unique insight into an approach to large-scale ESP test development and revision.

Table of Contents

Acknowledgements	ix
Series Editors' note	x
Abbreviations	xii
Introduction to the testing of language for business purposes	1	(81)
The revision of BEC	82	(37)
Major changes to the suite	119	(11)
Changes in the BEC papers	130	(44)
Conclusions and the way forward	174	(204)
Appendices
Appendix 1.1: JOCT Evaluation Criteria	196	(1)
Appendix 1.2: CEFLS Pilot Test	197	(8)
Appendix 1.3: CEIBT - Test of Reading and Writing-June and November 1992	205	(20)
Appendix 1.4: Bulats - Standard Test English	225	(16)
Appendix 1.5: Bulats - Speaking Test	241	(3)
Appendix 1.6: Bulats - Standard Test German	244	(16)
Appendix 2.1: ALTE Work Typical Abilities	260	(1)
Appendix 3.1: BEC 1 Sample Paper	261	(16)
Appendix 3.2: BEC 2 Sample Paper	277	(14)
Appendix 3.3: BEC 3 Sample Paper	291	(11)
Appendix 4.1: BEC Preliminary Sample Paper	302	(26)
Appendix 4.2: BEC Vantage Sample Paper	328	(25)
Appendix 4.3: BEC Higher Sample Paper	353	(25)
Additional information on tests of language for business purposes	378	(3)
References	381	(12)
Index	393