BULATS Core PB 3160a | 1

What is BULATS?Participant’s BookletEMC/3160a/5Y09

2 | BULATS Core PB 3160a

Contents

What is BULATS? .................................................................................................... 3

Aims ......................................................................................................................... 3

BULATS ................................................................................................................... 3

Levels ...................................................................................................................... 5

Appendices:

Appendix 1. Key to activities ..................................................................................... 8

Appendix 2. Slides .................................................................................................... 9

BULATS Core PB 3160a | 3

What is BULATS?

Aims

• to introduce BULATS exam of English

• to present its key features, benefits and uses

• to explain the levels of BULATS

• to highlight quality assurance procedures and recognition

• to explain Computer Adaptive testing.

BULATS

The Business Language Testing Service (BULATS) is a multilingual tool for

companies and organisations that need a rapid, reliable and cost-effective way of

assessing the language skills of employees, trainees and job applicants.

For a demo sample test go to:

www.bulats.org/about/demo.html

There are also sample papers available to download at:

www.bulats.org/candidates/sample.html

4 | BULATS Core PB 3160a

All Parts are in the Standard test. Parts that are asterisked (*) appear in both the

Standard and Computer tests.

Partor

SectionTask type Testing focus

Numberof

questions

Listening

1* Short conversations or monologues withmultiple-choice questions

Listening for gist,factual information orinference

10

2 Taking down phone messages, orders, notesetc. Note-taking

Listening for detail 12

3 Short monologues/dialogues with multiple-matching tasks

Listening for gist:identifying topic,context or function

10

4* Extended monologue/dialogue with multiple-choice questions

Listening for detailand inference

18

Reading and Language Knowledge

1.1* Short texts or diagrams with multiple-choicequestions. Notices, messages, timetables,adverts, leaflets, graphs etc.

Reading for gist andspecific information

7

1.2* Gapped sentences with multiple-choice task Grammar andvocabulary

6

1.3* Long text with multiple-choice task.Newspaper or magazine article, advert, leafletetc.

Reading for gist orspecific information

6

1.4* Medium-length text open cloze Grammar 5

2.1 Four short texts with matching tasks Reading for specificinformation

7

2.2* Medium-length text with multiple-choice cloze Grammar andvocabulary

5

2.3* Medium-length text open cloze Grammar 5

2.4* Gapped sentences with multiple-choice task Grammar andvocabulary

6

2.5* Newspaper or magazine article, report etc.Long text with multiple-choice questions

Reading for gist andspecific information

6

2.6 Error correction task. Medium-length text Grammar 7

BULATS Core PB 3160a | 5

Levels

CEF/ALTE level BULATS score Description Cambridge ESOL exams

C2/Level 5

(Mastery)90–100 Upper Advanced

CPE

IELTS 7.5+

C1/Level 4

(Effective Operational

Proficiency)

75–89 AdvancedCAE, BEC Higher

IELTS 6.5/7.0

B2/Level 3

(Vantage)60–74 Upper Intermediate

FCE, BEC Vantage

IELTS 5.0/5.5/6.0

B1/Level 2

(Threshold)40–59 Intermediate

PET, BEC Preliminary

IELTS 3.5/4.0/4.5

A2/Level 1

(Waystage)20–39 Elementary

KET

IELTS 3.0

A1

(Breakthrough)0–19 Beginner –

For further information on ALTE, visit:

www.alte.org

For further information on the Common European Framework of Reference (CEF),

visit:

www.coe.int

6 | BULATS Core PB 3160a

Activity 1

ALTE has developed a series of ‘Can-do’ statements that describe what language

users can typically do at different language levels. There are ‘Can-do’ statements for

a variety of contexts including work, study, and social and tourist.

1. Listening/Speaking

Level Listening/Speaking

C2/Level 5 CAN advise on/handle complex delicate or contentious issues, such

as legal or financial matters, to the extent that he/she has the

necessary specialist knowledge

C1/Level 4

B2/Level 3

B1/Level 2

A2/Level 1

A1/ALTE

Breakthrough Level

CAN take and pass on simple messages of a routine kind, such as,

‘Friday meeting 10 a.m.’

Match the descriptors A–D with the right level.

A CAN offer advice to clients within own job area on simple matters

BCAN contribute effectively to meetings and seminars within own area

of work and argue for or against a case

CCAN state simple requirements within own job area, such as, ‘I want to

order 25 of ...’

DCAN take and pass on most messages that are likely to require

attention during a normal working day

BULATS Core PB 3160a | 7

2. Reading

Level Reading

C2/Level 5

C1/Level 4CAN understand correspondence expressed in non-standard language

B2/Level 3

B1/Level 2 CAN understand the general meaning of non-routine letters and

theoretical articles within own work area

A2/Level 1

A1/ALTE

Breakthrough Level

Match the descriptors A–D with the right level.

ACAN understand reports and articles likely to be encountered during

his/her work, including complex ideas expressed in complex language

BCAN understand most correspondence, reports and factual product

literature he/she is likely to come across

C

CAN understand short reports or product descriptions on familiar

matters, if these are expressed in simple language and the contents

are predictable

D

CAN understand most short reports or manuals of a predictable

nature within his/her own area of expertise, provided enough time is

given

8 | BULATS Core PB 3160a

Appendices

Appendix 1. Key to activities

Activity 1

1. Listening/Speaking

A = B1/Level 2

Although offering advice can potentially be a complex skill, the

implication here is that it can be done in a simple way, e.g. ‘If I were

you …’, ‘You should …’. Compare C2/Level 5

B = C1/Level 4

The productive skill of contributing to meetings can be very significant

due to the impact of what is said in a business context. Some range is

required to argue for or against a case

C = A2/Level 1 The language and the context are both very limited

D = B2/Level 3

Taking and giving messages requires both comprehension and

production in unpredictable contexts, as well as interaction with

different parties

2. Reading

A = C2/Level 5Implies longer texts from a range of sources where the language is

non-standard and unpredictable

B = B2/Level 3There is a greater degree of predictability in both the text type and the

content/topic matter

D = A2/Level 1The emphasis is on a limited range of text type, length and topic

matter, and on the amount of time required to process these texts

C = A1/ALTE

Breakthrough Level

Text type and topic matter is very limited and the range of language

used confined

BULATS Core PB 3160a | 9

Appendix 2. Slides

10 | BULATS Core PB 3160a

BULATS Core PB 3160a | 11

12 | BULATS Core PB 3160a

BULATS Core PB 3160a | 13