Cambridge BEC Higher

Who's it for?

This course is aimed at hard working, motivated adults who would like to prepare thoroughly for Cambridge BEC Higher and maximise their chance of succeeding in the exam.

Course content

BEC Higher course materials relate directly to the key language skills and communication strategies which are tested in the exam.  These include:

• company structures, systems, processes – eg presenting and describing company structure and processes; understanding and explaining a company's production, ordering and delivery systems; understanding and describing processes in one's company such as selection, promotion etc.
• buying and selling – eg understanding prices and delivery dates; making and accepting offers; negotiating contracts
• products and services – eg describing and presenting products; making comparisons, expressing opinions, preferences etc.
• business issues – eg understanding and talking about general business topics such as management skills, promotional strategies, training courses, business services etc.
• results and achievements – eg describing and explaining company performance and results, trends, events and changes
• the office, general business environment and routine – eg arranging and rearranging appointments and meetings; planning future events and tasks; justifying decisions and past actions; understanding record of meetings
• entertainment of clients, free time, relationships with colleagues and clients – eg welcoming a foreign visitor; thanking and expressing appreciation
• using the telephone – eg giving and interpreting numerical data, common abbreviations and acronyms (as used in international business); taking messages; exchanging information
• health and safety – eg understanding health and safety rules in the workplace; producing notices and instructions

Benefits of doing this course

By the end of the course you will be able to approach the four different components of the Cambridge BEC Higher exam more confidently:

• the reading component - you will practise multiple choice comprehension questions covering key vocabulary, gap-filling tasks to test understanding of text structure, grammatical accuracy and range of vocabulary. There are also proof reading tasks which test sentence structure and error identification.
• the writing component – you will practise writing short messages, letters, emails, reports and proposals.
• the listening component – you will practise completing messages/forms using information heard; matching short extracts with descriptions of their general gist or topic; multiple choice questions about conversations, interviews or presentations
• the speaking component – you will practise engaging in a conversation with the examiner about your work and interests; preparing and giving a brief presentation on a business related topic; exchanging information with another candidate on work-related topics; discussing general work-related topics.

2013 Dates & Fees

Course dates

29th April - 24th May 2013 (exam on 25th May)
21st October - 15th November 2013 (exam on 16th November)

Course fee and exam fee

Course fees do not include the examination fee. Students will only be registered for the examination after payment of the appropriate fees.

• £1800 (4 week course, 24 hours per week)
• Exam fee £130 

If you would like us to book an exam place for you, please tell us when you book your course.

A late fee may be payable for exam bookings received less than 3 weeks before the start date of the course.