English B1 to C1
This is a multi-level English exam aimed at members of the university community who, for academic or professional reasons, need a certificate showing they have attained level B1, B2 or C1 of the Common European Framework of Reference for Languages (CEFR).
All Language Service certificates are fully recognised at the UAB, in the Catalan and Spanish university system an at most European universities.
The B1-B2-C1 exam assesses competence in the four communication skills and it consists of the following tests:
1. Reading Comprehension and Language Use
2. Listening Comprehension
3. Writing
4. Speaking
The tasks are designed to test the different levels of language proficiency, so they should all be attempted.
The certificate for the multilevel English examination is recognized by the Spanish Association of Higher Education Language Centres (ACLES).
UAB Idiomes courses match the CEFR levels, but the exam assesses different levels of language proficiency, not the specific content of courses, nor any other particular areas that may have been covered.
- A test of oral interaction and production.
- The test is done individually.
- The test has three parts:
- personal-information questions (1-3 minutes);
- interaction on a general-interest topic (2-3 minutes);
- monologue on a general-interest topic (3-5 minutes).
Before the test, candidates have approximately 8 minutes to prepare the monologue for the third part, on the topic allocated to them.
This test lasts 7 to 11 minutes.
Examples of speaking tasks
Assessment criteria
The texts are assessed on the following criteria.
- Fluency, coherence and interaction.
- Lexical range and accuracy.
- Grammatical range and accuracy.
- Pronunciation and intonation.
Analytic criteria for speaking assessment
Holistic Criteria for speaking assessment
The CEFR describes the speaking competences as follows:
| CEFR | Descripció |
| B1 | I can produce simple connected text to describe experiences and events, and my dreams, hopes and ambitions. I can briefly give reasons and explanations for opinions and plans. I can narrate a story or relate the plot of a book or film and describe my reactions. |
| B2 | I can present clear, detailed descriptions on a wide range of subjects related to my field of interest. I can explain a viewpoint on a topical issue giving the advantages and disadvantages of various options. |
| C1 | I can present clear, detailed descriptions of complex subjects integrating sub-themes, developing particular points and rounding off with an appropriate conclusion. |
For more information, see Chapters 3, 4 and 5 of the CEFR.
This computer-based test consists of two tasks.
C-test
This is a test of reading comprehension, spelling, grammar and vocabulary, with a time limit of 20 minutes. It consists of four short texts, on different topics, which have some words that are incomplete. Each text has 25 incomplete words. Candidates complete these words, using the same number of letters (or the same number plus one) as each one already has.
Some examples of C-tests
Multiple-choice questions on language use
This is a computerised adaptive test of grammar, vocabulary and language use. It consists of a varying number of multiple-choice questions with three or four options. There are at least 9 questions and at most 30, with an average of 15 questions per candidate.
Examples of questions on language use
Each task is worth 50% of the total for the whole test, which lasts approximately 35 minutes.
Candidates write two texts of different types: a transactional text and one that is descriptive, narrative, discursive, or persuasive.
Task 1
- A test of written interaction.
- A test of common language functions in levels B1, B2 and C1:
- describing experiences, places, events, emotions, feelings;
- expressing opinions;
- exchanging information.
- Text types: email, letter, blog comment or message.
- The minimum length is 175 words.
Task 2
- A test of written production.
- Mainly tests the language functions most specific to levels B2 and C1:
- expressing opinions and arguments;
- evaluating, analysing and critiquing;
- speculating.
- Text types: essay, narrative, review, article, report or blog entry.
- The minimum length is 250 words.
This test lasts 90 minutes.
Examples of writing tasks
Assessment criteria
The texts are assessed on the following criteria.
- Appropriacy to the task.
- Cohesion, coherence and organisation.
- Lexical range and accuracy.
- Grammatical range and accuracy.
Assessment criteria for writing
The CEFR describes the writing competences as follows:
| CEFR | Description |
| B1 | I can write straightforward connected text on topics which are familiar, or of personal interest. I can write personal letters describing experiences and impressions. |
| B2 | I can write clear, detailed texts on a variety of subjects related to my field of interest. I can write an essay or report, passing on information or giving reasons in support of or against a particular point of view. I can write letters highlighting the personal significance of events and experiences. |
| C1 | I can express myself in clear, well-structured text, expressing points of view at some length. I can write detailed expositions of complex subjects in a letter, essay or report, underlining what I consider to be the salient issues. I can select a style appropriate to the reader in mind. |
For more information, see Chapters 3, 4 and 5 of the CEFR.
This is a computerised adaptive test of global listening comprehension, and the ability to understand native-speaker conversations, announcements and instructions, and recordings from the media, etc. It also assesses sociolinguistic appropriacy.
It consists of a varying number of multiple-choice questions with three or four options. There are at least 9 questions and at most 30, with an average of 18 questions per candidate. The audio tracks can be listened to twice.
This test lasts approximately 20 minutes.
Examples of listening comprehension questions
In the case of English, the Reading Comprehension and Language Use Test and the Listening Comprehension Test are computer adaptive tests (CAT), so scoring is automatic.
The writing tests are scored by two examiners, using the assessment criteria established. In case of disagreement between them, a third examiner scores the tasks.
The speaking test is scored by two examiners, using the assessment criteria established. The examiner acting as interlocutor uses holistic criteria and the examiner acting as observer uses analytic criteria.
Criteria for passing
The four parts of the exam have the same weight (25% each).
The following are the UAB Idiomes cut-off scores for each part of the exam and the exam as a whole, with their corresponding CEFR levels.
Therefore:
- the minimum global average score to obtain level B1 is 2.9;
- the minimum global average score to obtain level B2 is 4.6;
- the minimum global average score to obtain level C1 is 6.5.
