BULATS is an online test, and you can see your results as soon as you finish the test. Test results show your ability to understand English in a professional situation, for example participating in meetings, attending presentations, answering the phone, reading emails and reports. 

The London School of English has stopped offering BULATS. Instead you can take the Cambridge Linguaskill online exam. Please contact us for more details or to book.

Continue reading for information about the BULATS exam.

What is BULATS? 

BULATS is an online test for Business and Professional English. It’s a Cambridge exam which is recognised and trusted worldwide.   

BULATS is useful for people who need to use English at work or who want to accurately measure their level of Business English. You don’t need any business experience to take the test. 

Many international companies use BULATS scores during recruitment to help them select the most suitable applicants. 

The test is suitable for people with any level of English. There’s no pass or fail; results are a score from 0 – 100, and your results certificate will also tell you your level on the Common European Framework for languages (CEFR) level.

The BULATS test format 

The test is divided into three parts to test different language skills. You can do each part separately, depending on what you need. At The London School of English, we offer the listening and reading section. There are two other parts available: writing and speaking which we don't offer.

BULATS is an online tool, so you don’t need to go to a special test centre and take the test with many other candidates. You just need a computer with a good internet connection. You may prefer to use headphones to hear more clearly. 

Some centres also offer the BULATS speaking test. If you do this part of the test, you also need a microphone.

Reading and Listening 

This section takes approximately 75 minutes. There are different questions types. In some questions, you will need to listen to someone talking, then select or type in the correct answer. Some of the questions use graphics (e.g. listen to someone talk about company performance, then choose the graph that shows this information). There are also some longer listening and reading sections. You can listen to each dialogue twice. 

This test is adaptive, which means that after you answer each question, the software selects either an easier or more difficult question depending on whether you chose the correct or incorrect answer. 

Speaking  

In this section you will need to use a microphone. Your answers are recorded and sent to be assessed. There are five tasks that cover common business topics. They may include topics such as human resources, buying and selling, business travel and training. You will need to answer some questions and give short presentations. Most of the tasks allow you a short time (up to a minute) to prepare your answer. 

Writing  

You will need to type your answers on a computer. This section takes 45 minutes and there are two tasks. The first task is to write a short email. The second task is to write a longer letter or report. 

BULATS results 

After you take the test, you will receive your reading and listening score immediately. We are authorised to print official results certificates, so you can have your certificate on the same day that you take your test. 

If you take a BULATS speaking or writing module, your answers are sent off to be assessed. You will usually get your results a few days later. 

Your results are presented on a Test Report Form (a certificate of results). As well as your score and CEFR level, your Test Report Form will also have a list of “can do” statements. The “can do” statements tell your employers what kind of tasks you can do, according to your English level. 

The results are valid for two years. If your results are over two years old, they won’t expire, but many companies will ask you to take the test again to get an accurate understanding of your current level.

*The London School of English level and class levels.

BULATS at The London School of English

You can take the BULATS reading and listening test here at the London School of English. You can add it on to any course for £60.  

You can take the BULATS with any course. BULATS is most popular among participants on the following courses: Business and Professional English, Legal English, English for Human Resource professionals, or Intensive General English courses, or with Individual Training. 

We don’t provide BULATS preparation courses. However, our Business and Professional English courses will help you learn relevant vocabulary and language skills. 

BULATS FAQ

About BULATS 

What does BULATS stand for? 

Business Language Testing Service 

Which companies use BULATS? 

According to the official Cambridge website, BULATS is used by: 

Abu Dhabi National Oil Company (ADNOC), Adidas, BP, Cadbury, Citibank, Colgate-Palmolive, Compaq, Deloitte & Touche, DHL, Disney, Dow AgroSciences, EADS/Airbus, Emirates Group, Ernst & Young, Esso, General Electric, General Motors, GlaxoSmithKline, Guinness, Heinz, HSBC, Italia Lavoro, Johnson & Johnson, KPMG, L’Oréal, Lloyds Bank, Merck, Motorola, Nestlé, Nokia, Pfizer, Philips, PricewaterhouseCoopers, Procter & Gamble, RASCO Ras Lanuf Oil and Gas, Renault, Reuters, Roche, Sberbank, Shanghai Professional Testing Authority, Shell, Vodafone, Volvo, Wrigley, Wyeth. 

Should I take BULATS, BEC Vantage, TOEIC, or IELTS? 

All these exams are widely-accepted and considered to be good quality exams.  

Are you looking for a test of English for the workplace or Academic English? BULATS, BEC Vantage and TOEIC are tests of Business English, IELTS is an academic test. 

Do you want to go to an exam centre? BULATS is the most flexible test – you can take it on any date, on any authorised computer. The other exams have specific test dates and you need to take the exams at an authorised location, usually with many other candidates. 

Where are you planning to work? BULATS, BEC Vantage and IELTS are UK tests, TOEIC is run by a US company. You may find that UK employers prefer the UK tests. 

Do you want to know your level, or aim for a level? BEC vantage is specifically a B2 level exam (Upper Intermediate). Many people choose BEC Vantage to prove their English is B2 or above. The other exams can give you a score on a scale, so you cannot “fail” them. 

Do you want an adaptive test? Only BULATS is adaptive, this means that the computer will show you questions depending on your answers to previous questions. The other exams contain a fixed set of questions. An adaptive test will challenge you at their own level, you will not see many questions that are much too difficult or much too easy for you. 

Do you need to test all four skills? If you need to give proof of your understanding of English (how well you can understand spoken and written English), BULATS and TOEIC allow you to take a test that only includes listening and reading. BEC Vantage and IELTS test all four skills (reading, listening, writing and speaking). 

We offer exam preparation courses at the London School of English, including IELTS and BEC Vantage.

Taking BULATS 

Can I see some sample questions? 

Yes, there is a short demonstration test here on the official Cambridge website.

Can I take a mock exam? 

No, there isn’t an official mock exam available, but you can try some sample questions here on the Cambridge website.

How can I apply for BULATS? 

BULATS is run by agents who work for Cambridge English Language Assessment. 

If you take a course at The London School of English, you can add BULATS for £60 and we will organise your test for you. You can take the test at one of our centres and we will give you your test results certificate.

How can I prepare for BULATS? 

Our Business and Professional Courses will help you develop the skills and vocabulary needed for BULATS.  

You can also find tips and practice questions here on the official Cambridge website.

Is there a vocabulary list for BULATS? 

No, there is not a specific list of vocabulary.

Please contact us for more details or to book online testing. We offer Cambridge Linguaskill and bespoke corporate testing solutions. If you want a to know your English level, take our free online test.