1.2 Global English

Determining the Final Score

Whether a candidate receives a telc English B2 Business Certificate or a telc English B1 Business Certificate, depends on the partial results achieved in the subtests Listening, Reading, Language Elements, Writing and Speaking. One of the minimum requirements for a certificate is that a B1 or a B2 level must be obtained in the Speaking subtest. Candidates assessed as having skills below level B1 do not receive a certificate.

B1 Certificate Candidates who are assessed at B1 level or above in the Speaking subtest and in one of the subtests for Listening/Reading/Language Elements or Writing are awarded a telc English B1 Business Certificate.

B2 Certificate Candidates who are assessed at B2 level in the Speaking subtest and in one of the subtests for Listening, Reading, Language Elements or Writing are awarded a telc English B2 Business Certificate.

1.2 Global English

telc English B1·B2 Business tests English in an authentic way. What does that mean in terms of varieties of English, when most of our learners and test takers do not live in a country where English is the official language? Focussing on just one kind of language use, such as British English, seems to be a rather narrow approach in today’s globalised world. Therefore, telc English A1·B2 Business offers English in the most common varieties, including: • British English • American English • Australian English • Indian English

Thus not only the spoken accent varies, but also communicative situations from different countries have to be dealt with. Taking the test takers’ level of language competence into account, these linguistic and cultural differences are, of course, very subtle. Whatever the accent heard in the recordings and whatever the specific cultural setting of any of the tasks, they will always be understandable for a learner at levels B1 and B2. However, dealing with regional varieties becomes increasingly important at level B2 and upwards, and even on the lower competence levels a basic understanding of the fact that language is never uniform should exist.

This international perspective reflects the experience which today’s learners will face when communicating in English. Whether they go on a trip to London, for example, and are immediately confronted with a large number of speakers for whom English is not their native language, or whether they meet various speakers in a non-English environment, learners always have to adjust to different varieties of the language. telc English B1·B2 Business not only wants to reflect this reality of language use, but also to encourage teachers to accustom their learners to a range of authentic varieties of English, even at an early stage.