Level B

Listening Comprehension

The duration of listening comprehension in level B is 25 minutes. The examination consists of two parts. The means used to examine listening comprehension is a tape or CD where the texts, stories or dialogues as well as the instructions on the conduct of the examination are recorded. Proportional to the duration of the test is the total number of words of the two texts that candidates are required to understand. Thus, in listening comprehension the total number of words is 600. The candidate must be able to understand the overall meaning but also some essential details of a text or a conversation between two native speakers on a variety of topics, messages, news reports and commentaries. The candidate is required to link pictures or other visual aids to the text he listens to, to put the pictures of a story in the correct sequence, to fill in tables and charts in the way indicated, to select the only correct choice out of four options provided, etc.

Reading Comprehension

The duration of reading comprehension in level B is 30 minutes. The examination consists of two parts. The candidate must be able to understand the overall meaning of a variety of topics and essential details of simple elements of familiar topics, such as job advertisements, manuals, personal letters, various accounts, etc. Proportional to the duration of the examination is the total number of words of the two texts that candidates are required to comprehend. Thus, in reading comprehension the total number of words is 600. The candidate is required to link pictures or other visual aids to the text he reads, to put the pictures of a story in the correct sequence, to fill in tables and charts in the way indicated or to select the only correct answer out of four options, etc.

Writing

The duration of the writing examination in level B is 50 minutes. The examination consists of two parts. The total number of words that candidates are requested to write is proportional to the duration of the test. Thus, candidates are required to write two texts of 240-260 words in total.
The candidate must have the ability to compose simple short texts and to give information and personal views on a variety of topics. He is required to fill in applications, to describe persons, events or places, to write informal or formal letters, etc.

Speaking

During the speaking examination candidates are examined in pairs. The duration of the examination in level B is 12 minutes. Candidates must have the ability to communicate in a variety of situations / circumstances and to express personal opinions on familiar topics. They are expected to provide various information about themselves and their family situation, about various simple personal experiences and talk with the fellow candidate about simple everyday topics and experiences. The speaking examination is recorded. It is stressed that no preparation time is given to candidates.