How to register

To register for the exam, you need to contact a Cambridge ESOL exam centre, authorised to run BEC, at least ten weeks before the exam - entries cannot be made directly to Cambridge. The centre will give you full information about the fees for taking BEC, the dates of the tests and other arrangements.

Many candidates take a preparation course before entering for BEC. If you are studying English at the moment, speak to your teacher about preparing for BEC. If you are not studying at the moment, your nearest Cambridge ESOL exam centre will be able to advise you. Find a centre.

If you have a disability or a specific learning difficulty (such as dyslexia) it may be possible to ask for Special Arrangements to be made when taking the exam.

Results

A single, overall grade is awarded, based on the aggregate of marks gained in the four components indicated above. There are no pass/fail marks for individual papers, so you do not need to reach a particular level in any component in order to achieve a pass in the examination.

There are two pass grades - Pass with Merit and Pass. There are two fail grades - Narrow Fail and Fail.

You will also receive a statement of results which shows your performance in each paper. These are shown against the scale Exceptional - Good - Borderline - Weak and indicate your relative performance in each paper. If you pass, you will be awarded a certificate from University of Cambridge ESOL Examinations.

Once awarded Cambridge ESOL BEC certificates are valid for life.

Revised BEC

In line with Cambridge ESOL's policy of reviewing its tests at regular intervals, a review of BEC was begun in 1999. The result of this review and the subsequent exam revision is Revised BEC, introduced in March 2002.

Before March 2002, the BEC examinations were known as BEC 1, BEC 2 and BEC 3.

If you have a BEC 1, BEC 2 or BEC 3 certificate, you may find it useful to download a statement giving advice to users (for example employers and universities) on recognition of pre-2002 results.