Examination Courses at BBSI

International qualifications are a requirement for any student who wishes to enter a British university or find work in an English-speaking working environment.  BBSI encourages students to take as many examinations as possible during their time with us, and to acquire as many academic and professional qualifications as possible.

The majority of BBSI courses include the option to study for a variety of examinations as an integral part of our training programmes.  The key to success in examinations is thorough preparation, coupled with adequate practice and effective examination technique.  BBSI specialist tutors assist all prospective candidates to prepare comprehensively for examinations, monitor their progress and provide adequate examination practice and guidance. The following examinations are available at BBSI:
        
        
 University of Cambridge ESOL Examinations. Cambridge ESOL provides the World´s leading range of certificates for learners of English.  Cambridge ESOL certificates are recognised at some level in most non-English-speaking countries in the world for both employment and study purposes.

 First Certificate in English. The First Certificate in English (FCE) is an Upper-Intermediate level examination that indicates sufficient proficiency in English to be of practical use in clerical, secretarial and managerial jobs for example, or in the tourist industry, where contact with English speakers is required. FCE is also useful preparation for students working towards higher-level examinations, such as the CAE, ICFE or ILEC.  The FCE examination can be taken 6 times per year in Bournemouth. Examination dates in 2011/12 are as follows:

FCE (Reading, Writing & Use of English)		Closing Date
Tuesday 6 December 2011		7 October 2011
Saturday 10 December 2011		7 October 2011
Saturday 10 March 2012		13 January 2012*
Tuesday 12 June 2012		30 March 2012*
Thursday 23 August 2012		21 July 2012*
Tuesday 4 December 2012		20 October 2012*

FCE (Speaking & Listening)

18 November - 11 December 2011

24 February - 10 March 2012 25 May - 15 June 2012 18 - 24 August 2012

16 November - 7 December 2012

*  subject to confirmation, possible changes and a minimum number of candidates

CAE (Reading, Writing & Use of English)		Closing Date
Wednesday 7 December 2011		7 October 2011
Saturday 17 March 2012		13 January 2012*
Wednesday 13 June 2012		30 March 2012*
Friday 24 August 2012 Wednesday 5 December 2012		21 July 2012* 20 October 2012*

CAE (Speaking & Listening)

18 November - 11 December 2011

24 February - 10 March 2012 25 May - 15 June 2012 18 - 24 August 2012

16 November - 7 December 2012

*  subject to confirmation, possible changes and a minimum number of candidates

 Business English Certificate. There are 3 levels of Business English Certificate (BEC) examination: the BEC Preliminary, BEC Vantage and BEC Higher. The BEC exams are linked to the Council of Europe´s Common European Framework of Reference for Languages, and to the UK Qualifications and Curriculum Authority´s National Standards for Literacy, within the National Qualifications Framework (NQF).  BBSI is an accredited BEC Examination Centre. All 3 examinations are ideal for students preparing for careers in the fields of international business and commerce, where a good knowledge of English is required to function effectively. BEC certificates are internationally recognised and demonstrate that the holder has acquired an appropriate standard in English in a professional context. The BEC examination can be sat 3 times and the examination dates in 2011/12 are as follows:

BEC Preliminary (Reading, Writing & Listening)		Closing Date
Saturday 26 November 2011		3 October 2011
Thursday 15 March 2012		27 January 2012*
Wednesday 6 June 2012 Saturday 24 November 2012		20 April 2012* 21 September 2012*

BEC Preliminary (Speaking)

2-16 March 2012

25 May - 15 June 2012

2 November - 24 December 2012

BEC Vantage (Reading, Writing & Listening)		Closing Date
Friday 16 March 2012		27 January 2012*
Thursday 7 June 2012		20 April 2012*
Saturday 1 December 2012		21 September 2012*

BEC Vantage (Speaking)

2-16 March 2012

25 May - 15 June 2012

2 November - 24 December 2012

BEC Higher (Reading, Writing & Listening)		Closing Date
Saturday 19 November 2011		3 October 2011
Wednesday 14 March 2012		27 January 2012*
Tuesday 5 June 2012     Saturday 17 November 2012		20 April 2012* 21 September 2012*

BEC Higher (Speaking)

2 - 16 March 2012

25 May - 15 June 2012

2 November - 24 December 2012

*  subject to confirmation, possible changes and a minimum number of candidates

 Cambridge ESOL International Certificate in Financial English.  BBSI is an  Examination Centre for the Cambridge ESOL International Certificate in Financial English (ICFE).  The ICFE examination is prepared by Cambridge ESOL in conjunction with the Association of Chartered Certified Accountants (ACCA) to meet the demand in helping students of finance and finance professionals to demonstrate that they have the financial English skills needed to communicate and converse with other accounting and finance professionals within the international business community.  With the development of globally-recognised International Accounting Standards (IAS) and greater globalisation within the world of finance, successful candidates will have the opportunity to prove their linguistic ability, and to pursue international career opportunities. The ICFE examination can be sat twice per year at BBSI. Examination dates in 2011/12 are as follows:

ICFE (Reading, Writing & Listening)		Closing Date
Saturday 19 November 2011		3 October 2011
Saturday 12 May 2012 Saturday 27 November 2012		10 March 2012* 14 September 2012*

ICFE (Speaking)

11 - 21 November 2011

4-12 May 2012 2-17 November 2012

*  subject to confirmation, possible changes and a minimum number of candidates

 University of Cambridge ESOL International Legal English Certificate. The International Legal English Certificate (ILEC) is a University of Cambridge ESOL examination produced and assessed by Cambridge ESOL Examinations in collaboration with TransLegal, Europe´s leading firm of lawyer-linguists.  BBSI is an accredited ILEC Examination Centre. English is an essential tool for any lawyer working with international matters, and employers need to know that the legal staff they appoint have a sufficient level of English to be able to communicate with clients and professionals in other countries. At the same time, law students and newly-qualified lawyers need to be able to show employers that they have the required language skills. The ILEC examination allows candidates to demonstrate their skills, and therefore to increase their employability. It is based on realistic texts, tasks and topics of the kind legal practitioners might meet in their daily working lives.  ILEC can be sat twice per year at BBSI. Examination dates in 2011/12 are as follows:

ILEC (Reading, Writing & Listening)		Closing Date
Saturday 12 May 2012		10 March 2012*
Saturday 17 November 2012		14 September 2012*

ILEC (Speaking)

11 - 21 November 2011

4-12 May 2012 2-17 November 2012

*  subject to confirmation, possible changes and a minimum number of candidates

The International English Language Testing System (IELTS). is recognised as the language entry requirement by colleges and universities in most English-speaking countries worldwide. The test is jointly administered by UCLES, the British Council and IDP Education Australia.  IELTS (Academic) is also accepted by many professional organisations, including the UK General Medical Council, the UK Ministry of Defence, the New Zealand Immigration Service, the Australian Department of Immigration and Multicultural Affairs, and the Australian Medical Council.  IELTS tests the complete range of English-language skills and will be commonly encountered by students studying or training in the medium of English.  US academic institutions are increasingly accepting IELTS for admission purposes.  Examination sittings are monthly in Bournemouth.

IELTS EXAMINATION DATES FOR 2010/11
Exam		Test Date		Closing Date
Academic & General		15 Jan 11		07 Dec 10
Academic & General		12 Feb 11		04 Jan 11
Academic & General		19 Mar 11		08 Feb 11
Academic & General		16 Apr 11		08 Mar 11
Academic & General		07 May 11		29 Mar 11
Academic & General		11 Jun 11		03 May 11
Academic & General		09 Jul 11		31 May 11
Academic & General		13 Aug 11		05 Jul 11
Academic & General		03 Sep 11		26 Jul 11
Academic & General		08 Oct 11		30 Aug 11
Academic & General		05 Nov 11		27 Sep 11
Academic & General		03 Dec 11		25 Oct 11

Applications made after the closing dates must be taken by the student directly
to Richard Language College. 

The Chartered Management Institute (CMI) is the largest professional management institute in Europe.  BBSI is a CMI Approved Training Centre and offers 3 CMI qualifications in First-Line Management.  Depending on their selected BBSI study option, trainees can achieve either the CMI Certificate or the CMI Diploma, or where time is limited, they can achieve the CMI Award tfor those management modules successfully completed.  The CMI elements of our courses are externally accredited to the rigorous standards of the Chartered Institute and are assessed by means of course work standards, attendance and fortnightly assignments. The 8 CMI Management Modules required for the award of the CMI Certificate or the CMI Diploma are detailed on the Management & Business Administration section of the website http://www.bbsi.co.uk/courses/management_mba_pre-mba/diploma-course_english-language-college_study-english/.  All are incorporated within the BBSI Management course syllabus.  However, normally a minimum study period of 24 weeks is required to complete all 8 units.  CMI qualifications are widely accepted by employers internationally, and by major British universities.


 The International Computer Driving Licence® (ICDL) is an internationally-recognised qualification that verifies practical competence in computer skills in either a professional or personal capacity and is the fastest growing international IT user-qualification. It is designed specifically for those who wish to gain a benchmark qualification in computing to enable them to develop their IT skills and enhance their career prospects. No prior knowledge of IT or computer skills is needed. The ICDL raises an individual’s level of competency in IT & computing skills; and provides individual’s with an internationally-recognised qualification. Examinations can be arranged in Bournemouth by appointment.

ICAO Aviation English-Language Proficiency. Testing and certification to meet ICAO Aviation English-Language Proficiency requirements can be conducted only by external, independent and approved examiners. BBSI utilises JAA-approved language testers and the test is conducted in separate 45-minute oral sessions.

NATO STANAG Military English-Language Proficiency.
Military English assessment, grading and certification is conducted at BBSI by Ministry of Defence Language Examining Board (MODLEB) examiners, in association with the University of Westminster.  Certification is issued by MODLEB in accordance with the NATO STANAG 6001 Military Language Descriptors and is wholly acceptable as a formal measure of the operational and administrative Military English language skills level of the holder.  The test is conducted in 4 separate sessions to assess the 4 language skills: speaking, listening, reading and writing.  NATO STANAG testing is conducted on completion of each BBSI Military English course, or can be conducted separately by special arrangement.