EFB

Egzamin English For Business (EFB)

'English for Business' (EFB) is an examination designed to test communication in business with tasks based on real business activities. The exam is offered at 5 levels; Preliminary Level, First Level, Second Level, Third Level and Fourth Level. At Second, Third and Fourth Levels there is also an optional Oral Test which tests a candidate's speaking and listening skills in discussing a business-related topic.

Preliminary level

The Preliminary Level written examination takes 90 minutes and consists of 3 sections:

• Section A will contain a picture of an office or other workplace setting and candidates will be given fifteen 1-mark "tick box" type questions and ten 2-mark short answer questions on what is happening in the picture to demonstrate use of key structures and concepts.
• Section B will contain a 2 person dialogue of about 10 exchanges to provide a reading comprehension exercise. Candidates will be given eleven 1-mark questions with true or false answers and eight 2-mark questions requiring longer answers.
• Section C will use the dialogue in Section B as a basis for a piece of productive writing. This will be the completion of a document provided (eg a telephone message or memo pad) which candidates will use to present selected information to a third party mentioned in the dialogue. Candidates will also be provided with some additional numerical data which they will be expected to consult in order to complete the exercise (eg a price list or timetable).

First level

The First Level written examination takes 120 minutes and consists of 4 sections:

• Question 1 involves the composition of a letter or memo, based on given information. The content of which should be between 150 and 200 words. The stimulus will be rubric information giving data on which to base a reply. The content of the letter or memo will be simple business style communication dealing with, for example, retail orders, customer enquiries, requests for information, replies to complaints, reminders about tasks in hand, or communications between work colleagues.
• Question 2 involves understanding and responding to a short passage of business-related prose of about 300 words. The stimulus for the exercise will be: a passage on a business-related topic in language appropriate to the level and a series of statements about the content and information in the passage.
• Question 3 involves a 'read and think' comprehension test, based on some graphic or numerical display, requiring very short answers. The stimulus for the question will be data in the form of a table or a chart relating to, for example: company car fleet hire charges, office accommodation agencies, conference facilities at an hotel, or company branches and staffing details.
• Question 4 involves a 'read and write' reformulation task using data to complete a form or diagram. The stimulus for the question will be selected from: data or information in written notes, a conversation about a business related situation, or a record of a telephone message or fax.

Second level

The Second Level written examination takes 150 minutes and consists of 3 sections:

• Question 1 involves an extended writing task requiring candidates to produce: a memorandum, an article, a report, etc, on a choice of role-related topics drawn from business and economic life. Candidates have to answer 1 question from a choice of 3.
• Question 2 involves a letter writing task, where the stimulus and information needed to reply to it will be provided in the form of an in-coming business letter.
• Question 3 is a reformulation task requiring candidates to expand, reduce or selectively rewrite a passage of English for some defined purpose within a given role. Candidates will be offered tasks that will draw on their ability to make notes, or reassemble elements of a text for a specific purpose, which will be stated.

Third level

The Third Level written examination takes 180 minutes and consists of 4 sections:

• Question 1 involves the composition of a letter, the stimulus for which will be an incoming letter, or the employer's instructions, or both. The rubric will include data on which a reply might be based and an indication of the tone required.
• Question 2 involves the drafting of an internal report based on raw data given in the form of graphs, notes, press cuttings, charts, tables, etc. Candidates will have to understand, select, collate and, if necessary, supplement this data in order to write the report in the light of the instructions given.
• Question 3 involves a comprehension task in which candidates will be asked to show an understanding of information given for a defined purpose. This might be a press article, an extract from a business journal, a company report, a circular letter, a tender, or some other form of business reading matter, with which candidates should be familiar at this stage.
• Question 3 is a conversion task involving the reformulation of a message for some defined purpose. Thus candidates may be required to produce a memo from a fax, letter or computer printout; or an abstract from an article; or a summary of a phone call for discussion; or a fax from a company notice, employer's instructions, etc.

Fourth level

The Fourth Level written examination lasts 180 minutes and consists of 4 tasks:

• Question 1 is in 2 parts. the first part requires candidates to understand and respond to a lengthy and complex authentic business text. Comprehension will be demonstrated through a variety of question types. The second part of the question requires candidates to produce a written text related to the article, within a given scenario. Candidates must produce a text which is accurate linguistically and stylistically using an appropriate format with relevant content. (Part A, 15 marks, Part B: 10 marks)
• Question 2 requires candidates to produce business texts in an appropriate tone and style. The question will be either a single case-study / scenario generating 2 pieces of business writing in contrasting styles or a formal report generated from a series of pieces of information written in an informal style. The text(s) must be accurate linguistically and appropriate stylistically, and successfully acheive the task set by selecting and using relevant information within an appropriate format. (25 marks)
• Question 3 is in 2 parts. The first part requires candidates to refomulate information by way of a summary of a longer text, within a given scenario (eg to write an abstract of an article to put in an information bulletin). The second part requires candidates to reformulate digital / graphical / numerical information into a written form (eg a management comment on the performance of a subsidiary company). In both parts candidates must successfully acheive the task by selecting and using relevant information, using an appropriate layout and textual structure and choosing appropriate and accurate language. (Part A: 12.5 marks, Part B: 12.5 marks)
• Question 3 requires candidates to produce fluent and accurate written texts in a range of styles and genres. Candidates are required to continue and complete 2 different texts from information given (eg a formal notice, an invitation to a company open recruitment meeting etc). The continuation and completion of each text must successfully acheive the task set by the appropriate selection of information, written in a style which is both accurate linguistically and stylistically.

Oral tests

There is an optional oral test for English for Business Second, Third and Fourth Level. Candidates whose mother tongue is not English are recommended to take the oral test in order to secure higher education recognition of their award.

At Second Level candidates are given 5 minutes private preparation time using a topic sheet provided by the examiner. This is followed by 2 minutes general conversation and 6 minutes conversation based on the topic.

At Third Level candidates are given 5 minutes private preparation time using a topic sheet provided by the examiner. This is followed by 2 minutes general conversation and 8 minutes conversation based on the topic.

At Fourth Level candidates are given 5 minutes private preparation time using a topic sheet provided by the examiner. This is followed by 2 minutes general conversation and 10 minutes conversation based on the topic.