Cambridge English for Work
Give yourself a strategic advantage by showing you have the language skills employers need in order to compete effectively in the global market place. Cambridge English for Work exams help you develop and improve your Business English, giving you confidence to use your language skills in the international world of business.
Developing English language skills for international business
In many areas of international commerce, English is used as the common language. If you can show you have an internationally recognised business qualification in English, you will have a greater advantage in the jobs market, and increased flexibility if you want to work abroad.
Clear, reliable evidence of your language ability
Employers value and rely on Cambridge English for Work exams because they thoroughly test all four language skills (reading, writing, speaking and listening) in a business context. There is a wide choice of certificates at different levels. Developed in consultation with industry experts, they give a comprehensive assessment of business language skills.
Common European Framework of Reference (CEFR) |
Proficient user |
C2 |
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Cambridge English: Proficiency (CPE)
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C1 |
Cambridge English: Business |
Cambridge English: Legal (ILEC) |
Cambridge English: Financial (ICFE) |
Cambridge English: Advanced (CAE)
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Independent user |
B2 |
Cambridge English: Business |
Cambridge English: Legal (ILEC) | Cambridge English: Financial (ICFE) | Cambridge English: First (FCE)
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B1 |
Cambridge English: Business |
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Basic user |
A2 |
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A1 |
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World-class recognition
Cambridge English for Work exams are recognised by employers, educational institutions, ministries, government bodies and professional organisations throughout the world. The exams are also accredited for immigration purposes in many countries worldwide.
To search the full list of organisations that accept Cambridge English for Work exams, click here.
A clear, reliable and user-friendly framework
All our exams are developed in accordance with the principles and approaches of the Common European Framework of Reference (CEFR), making it simple for you to see which level of language ability employers, universities and other organisations are looking for.
Find out more about the Common European Framework of Reference (CEFR)
Online Results Verification Service
Cambridge ESOL provides a free and secure Online Results Verification Service for employers and other people who rely on our exams. Exam results are uploaded to the Online Results Verification Service as soon as they are released. Candidates who want an employer to be able to view their results will provide them with unique access numbers. Recognising organisations can rely on the Online Results Verification Service as the authoritative source of information, since the site is securely encrypted and cannot be tampered with.
Register for our Online Results Verification Service now – it’s quick and free.
Exams for work
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Cambridge English: Business Certificates
Cambridge English: Business Certificates, also known as Business English Certificates (BEC), are recognised by employers, ministries, government bodies and professional organisations throughout the world. There are three certificates that provide a progressive way for you to develop and improve your business English ability, making it easy to prove to employers that you have the English skills to succeed in international business.
More about Cambridge English: Business Preliminary
More about Cambridge English: Business Vantage
More about Cambridge English: Business Higher -
Cambridge English: Financial
Cambridge English: Financial, also known as International Certificate in Financial English (ICFE), is a high-level qualification that will help you demonstrate you have the language skills for a successful career in international accountancy and finance.
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Cambridge English: Legal
Cambridge English: Legal, also known as International Legal English Certificate (ILEC), is a high-level qualification that will help you demonstrate you have the language skills for a successful career in international law.
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BULATS
BULATS (Business Language Testing Service) is designed to test the language of employees who need to use a foreign language at work (English, French, Spanish and German). It is also suitable for learners and employees on professional/business courses where foreign language ability is an important element of the course.
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Cambridge English: Proficiency
Cambridge English: Proficiency, also known as Certificate of Proficiency in English (CPE), is our most advanced exam, for learners who have achieved an extremely high level of skill in the English language and can function at the very highest levels of professional and academic life.
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Cambridge English: Advanced
Cambridge English: Advanced, also known as Certificate in Advanced English (CAE), is a high-level language qualification in English for demanding professional and academic situations.
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Cambridge English: First
Cambridge English: First, also known as First Certificate in English (FCE), is an exam for people who need to prove they can use everyday written and spoken English at an upper-intermediate level for work or study purposes.
Services
For employers, our range of Cambridge English for Work exams can be used as a valuable recruitment and development tool to help with selecting and training employees. They can also help develop globally consistent levels of English across multiple sites and can be incorporated into training programmes to encourage the development and maintenance of high levels of English language skills for employees.
Working with employers and tuition providers to develop effective language skills
Forward-thinking organisations recognise that their employees’ potential can be greatly enhanced by developing effective language skills and that this can have a positive effect on achieving the ambitions of the business.
By choosing Cambridge English for Work exams, organisations:
- enhance their reputation as a company which invests in their employees’ development
- gain exposure to millions of potential applicants and consumers
- enhance opportunities to attract the best candidates for jobs.
Benchmarking
Cambridge ESOL works with organisations to develop programmes of language assessment across departments, companies, organisations, regions or countries. This helps them gain more detailed information about the existing and required levels of language ability for specific job roles.
Establishing benchmarks has a number of key benefits for employers. These include:
- assisting in the recruitment process
- conducting language audits across departments, offices, regions or globally
- informing decisions on language training
- helping staff with their career development.
Typically the Benchmarking system would use Cambridge English for Work exams to assess language ability, and a set of questionnaires to establish the required level of language ability for particular jobs.
More about BULATS Benchmarking
Online courses
- Cambridge Financial English is a blended learning course that can help organisations develop the financial English language skills of their staff and prepare them for the Cambridge English: Financial exam. Find out more at: www.financialenglish.org
- BULATS Online Courses are a cost-effective way for employers to develop the English language skills of their staff. They give an easy, structured way to deliver and monitor professional development. Find out more at: www.bulats.org
Accept Cambridge English exams
Accepting Cambridge English exams raises the international profile of your organisation and helps the right kind of candidates to find you.
When your organisation officially accepts Cambridge English exams, not only will it make it easier for you to select candidates, but we will add you to the Cambridge English recognition database, which is accessible to the 4 million people who visit our website every year.
To see which other organisations recognise our exams, search the recognition database.
News and events
News
Video Story: Award-winning business English teacher from China visits Cambridge |
Cambridge ESOL visits business English conference in Croatia |
Cambridge English acceptance hits 12,000 |
Cambridge English qualifications meet new UK visa requirements |
International House World boost for BULATS |
Events
Upcoming events details to follow.
Testimonials
Employer testimonials
‘We use these [BEC] certificates as a reference to assess the level of English of our employees and the candidates who apply for a position in Canon. On the other hand, we recognise those candidates which hold a Cambridge ESOL certificate, and value it depending on the position they are applying for. Personally, I believe that obtaining a Cambridge ESOL certificate upgrades the curriculum vitae of our employees.’
César López Díaz
Canon, Spain
‘The reliability and accuracy of the assessment was also a deciding factor. We believe BULATS really reflects the English skills of our candidates.’
Phan Ngoc Bich, HR Manager
The Renaissance Riverside Hotel, Saigon
‘Cambridge ICFE provides an exciting new opportunity for professionals in accounting and finance to increase their competency in financial English, while at the same time enhancing their portfolio of professional, internationally recognised qualifications.’
Mr William Fung, Chief Financial Officer
ISS Facility Services Ltd
‘The international recognition that Cambridge ESOL has was the most important factor in choosing an assessment for the development programme. As well as being neutral and reliable, the certificates indicate real knowledge of the language.’
Bárbara Rosa Barros, Assessora
Banco do Brasil
‘BEC examinations have become an intrinsic part of assessing the language training that is given to all frontline employees who deal with customers and clients. This external certification helps in an objective evaluation of the language skills of the employees, thus adding to the company’s reputation.’
Uma Raman, DGM
HCL Technologies BPO Service Ltd
‘BULATS will help the Emirates Group to test initial language skills accurately and then track the development of our UAE national staff. BULATS is very easy to adopt and use, and is responsive and accurate – all of which convinced us to select the package.’
Fahad Al Hassawi
UAE National Recruitment and Development, Emirates Group
‘The UNDP have been using BULATS for nearly 10 years and have always been very impressed with its tests, both in terms of quality and the service given. We use BULATS as an official tool to test our staff’s English level because we know it is a global standard test delivered in a very helpful, friendly and swift manner.’
Neil Reece-Evans, Deputy Resident Representative (Operations)
United Nations Development Programme, Vietnam
‘There’s no doubt that higher standards of English are directly linked to the success of the organisation. Feedback from managers and supervisors has suggested that the English language programme and BEC have led to improved performance from staff.’
Keith Gardiner, Communications Systems Training Superintendent
Bahrain Petroleum (BAPCO)
‘BEC has helped develop cross-cultural communication skills and overall development of the students. It has had an impact on confidence levels through international certification.’
Laura Cirello, Head of Learning and Development
J.P. Morgan Treasury and Security Services
‘We have been waiting for this test. Specialised foreign language knowledge will become an ever more important qualification in this globalising labour market. With the increasing internationalisation of the law, employees with a secure command of the English legal language will have distinct competitive advantage. The ILEC provides a kind of standard or benchmark here. The link to a graduate school and the close contact with the legal profession is of particular importance. The contact with legal practitioners and students yields feedback, which will permanently help improve the quality and practical suitability of the ILEC.’
James Faulkner, M.A., LL.B. Foreign Language Communication Director
Bucerius Law School, Hamburg
‘... ILEC will help companies to be aware of candidates that are qualified to handle activities related to legal English or similar matters, for which the ILEC certificate should grant holders an advantage over other candidates.’
Juan Carlos Amaro Alvarado, PI Litigation Manager
Becerril, Coca & Becerril
Candidate testimonials
‘Working in a marketing department of a foreign company requires very good business communication skills in English, both in written and oral form. BEC has helped me to standardise my business English and reach an international business communication level.’
Phan Thu Ha
Cambridge English: Business Certificates candidate
‘I am working in an international environment which requires me to continuously improve my English. After the exam I got the motivation to study more English and then decided to enrol in an MBA conducted in English. The certificate helped me to complete my enrolment procedures as a proof of my English level.’
Phan Hoang Hoa
Cambridge English: First candidate
‘I chose Cambridge ICFE because I had difficulty with my ACCA studies and decided to improve my financial English skills in order to understand my ACCA textbooks. I got more than I expected because studying for Cambridge ICFE has boosted my confidence in the language too.’
Mokhira Mahmut Qizi, Uzbekistan
Cambridge English: Financial candidate
‘Many companies are currently requesting this certificate; it is not a compulsory requirement but it is highly valued.’
Covadonga Pérez, Law student, Universidad de Navarra
Cambridge English: Legal candidate
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Take an exam
Over 2,700 centres across 130 countries offer Cambridge English exams.
Contact your nearest centre to register for your exam.
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Who recognises Cambridge English
Search for over 12,000 education institutions, employers, government agencies and other organisations worldwide that will accept your Cambridge English certificate.
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Test your English
Not sure which Cambridge English exam is right for you?Test your English with our free test.
