As written in the school’s 2021 blog article “Say Goodbye to BEC Exams”, the Cambridge English exams known as BEC (Business English Certificates) are being phased out and online exam dates will no longer be offered by the end of 2023. Swiss do have the advantage, however, since the final paper test will be offered in Switzerland in June 2024.
Are BEC exam coursebooks of any value?
Although the reading and listening texts may be dated with the PASS Cambridge series or Success with BEC, the active speaking and writing skill examples for emails and presentations remain relevant. Therefore, for those who wish to learn and practice useful business writing phrases and work on improving on-the-spot speaking skills, these coursebooks, in my opinion, still hold value. They present clear examples and assists students in improving their ability to communicate logical reasoning explanations for decision-making situations and impromptu presentations or Q&A sessions.
Additional up-to-date reading and listening materials can easily be found online whilst following the clear structure of topics outlined in these coursebooks.
Where can I purchase these BEC exam coursebooks?
The Boston School is currently clearing out its coursebook library and has listed several business English books on Amazon that can be delivered to the UK, France, Germany, Italy and Spain.
Here are just a few examples of nearly 100 used coursebooks on sale. All materials in good to like new condition:
PASS BEC Preliminary: Teacher, Student, Workbook and CD’s (British English language: B1)
PASS BEC Vantage: Teacher, Student, Workbook and CD’s (British English language B2)
PASS BEC Higher: Teacher, Student, Workbook and CD’s (British English language C1)
For those located in Switzerland who can not purchase from Amazon, arrangements can be made on request by sending an email with the book title, ISBN number to: rose@thebostonschool.com