B1-B2 Certificate of English for ESO and High School

It is a multilevel exam that will enable you to certify a B1 or B2 level of English in accordance with the Common European Framework of Reference for Languages (CEFR).

Students who pass the exam will receive an official certificate from UIC Barcelona, which will be recognised by all Catalan universities and all Official Schools of Languages in Catalonia.

This exam was specially designed for students who use the following Richmond Publishing English-learning materials:

• High Achievers Series
• Fast Track Series
• Now You Series

It is an exam created specifically for adolescents between the ages of 14 and 18.

At a B1 level, students can deal with situations that require them to understand and use practical English. This includes the ability to read basic texts and articles and write simple personal letters or articles, understand spoken English and participate and interact in conversation.

At a B2 level, students can understand the main idea of complex texts on both specific and abstract topics, including technical discussions in their field of specialisation. They can express themselves with a degree of fluency and spontaneity that makes regular interaction with native speakers possible without strain for either party. They can produce clear, detailed text on a wide range of subjects and explain a viewpoint on a topical issue giving the advantages and disadvantages of various options.

The Common European Framework of Reference for Languages (CEFR) was published in 2001 and establishes common criteria for describing the linguistic competences of learners of foreign languages across Europe.

The CEFR divides the levels as follows: 

Source: Council of Europe (2001), Common European Framework of Reference for Languages, p. 43 

es titulacions universitàries són reconegudes per tot el sector educatiu i professional.

University qualifications are recognised across the educational and professional sector.

The Catalan universities are authorised to certify language skills in the form of certificates issued by the Universities' language schools, which are awarded to students who pass exams that test all four language skills (listening, speaking, reading and writing).

The B1 certificates awarded by the Catalan universities are equivalent to the Cambridge PET exam, an intermediate certificate from the Official School of Languages (EOI) and a score of 42 to 71 on the TOEFL iBT (Test of English as a Foreign Language - Internet Based Test).

The B2 certificates, on the other hand, are equivalent to the Cambridge FCE exam (First Certificate of English), an advanced certificate from the Official School of Languages (EOI) and a score of 72 to 94 on the TOEFL iBT (Test of English as a Foreign Language - Internet Based Test).

For further information on correspondence between language certificates, please see the following equivalence table:

• Equivalences

The exam has a one-off cost of €70. The price includes exam administration fees and the cost of issuing a B1 or B2 certificate.

The written test will be on Friday, May 10, 2024 at the UIC Barcelona facilities.

Oral tests will be held from May 6 to 24 May, 2024. 

The schedule for the written part of the exam, which will be held on-site at UIC Barcelona, in order to give you a first look at what university life is like, will be as follows:

The Universitat Internacional de Catalunya and Richmond Publishing have created the Sponsored Classroom for Innovation in English Language Teaching, a meeting point for universities and the publishing industry that seeks to promote the creation of academic, scientific and cultural activities that foster multilingualism in our society through educational innovation.

These activities include the provision of language support through the introduction of English into teaching materials for compulsory secondary education in Catalonia, Valencia and the Balearic Islands, and the creation of a B1 and B2 English certification module.

Learning and certifying languages is essential for secondary and upper-secondary students. Educational institutions and, subsequently, the job market require ways for young people to certify their knowledge of foreign languages. As a result, at UIC Barcelona and Richmond Publishing, we have teamed up to create a specific certification exam for adolescents between the ages of 14 and 18.

The reading section will test your ability to read and understand five texts through exercises such as matching and fill in the blanks. You must be able to understand the text and have strategies for dealing with unknown words and structures.

The listening part will test your ability to understand recorded material, which will be reproduced twice.

This section includes a range of tasks aimed at demonstrating your mastery of structure, spelling and punctuation through writing. The first text must be between 120 and 150 words long, and the second between 180 and 220 words long.

The conversation test will assess your ability to interact in English in the course of a conversation. You must be able to speak about general topics. The conversation test will be done individually and last 10-15 minutes per examinee. Examinees must follow the examiners' instructions. The test will involve three tasks:

1. Interview.
2. Descriptive monologue about two photographs provided by the examiner.
3. Informal interaction with the examiner with visual support.

The written exams will be held on-site at UIC Barcelona and the oral exams at the schools or, in exceptional cases, at UIC Barcelona, in accordance with the needs and number of enrolled students.

The exam has 4 parts: Reading (75 min.), listening (45 min.), writing (70 min.) and spoken production and interaction (15 min.).

La prova oral es farà individualment i durarà 10-15 min per examinand.

The B1-B2 Certificate in English for Secondary and Upper Secondary School Students is a Catalan university-specific certificate and as such will be recognised throughout the Catalan education system.

It will enable you to certify a B1 or B2 level of English before starting university. As the Government of Catalonia requires a B2 level by graduation, with the B2 certificate, you will be able to certify the level of language proficiency required to finish your degree. The B1 certificate, on the other hand, will provide a starting point from which to build upon.

Under Resolution ENS/1477/2015, of 25 June, on the certification of foreign language competence within the Government of Catalonia's Department of Education, Catalan university-specific qualifications certify linguistic and communicative competence in foreign languages within the Department of Education. As the Official Schools of Languages are part of the Catalan education system, they are required to accept it.

Yes, there is only one annual call. The 2023-2024 academic year exam will take place on Friday, May 10, 2024.

If you are unable to attend for justified reasons (you must submit proof) we will defer your place until the following year, and you will be entitled to take part in the following sitting.

No, the B1-B2 Certificate in English for Secondary and Upper Secondary School Students only certifies a B1 or B2 level of English. If you do not pass the exam, no level certificate will be issued.

One week before the tests, on May 3, 2024, for the 2023-2024 sitting.

You will have to pay the registration fee at the most, one week before the tests at your center.

No limit (minimum or maximum) on the number of students per school has been established.

Sí, hem posat a disposició dels alumnes i dels centres, a la secció “Com es prepara l’examen”, exemples de les tasques de l’examen per poder practicar.

Yes, each school will be responsible for bringing the students the day of the exam. We recommend one teacher for every 20 students. However, the more teachers are the better.

Once the exam has been corrected, UIC Barcelona will notify the schools of the students’ results and, following the revision period, send the certificates to the schools by post. It will be up to the schools to inform the students of their results and give them their certificates.

Yes, UIC Barcelona will send the schools, in addition to the examinees’ certificates, a report summarising the school’s overall results.

No, the B1-B2 Certificate in English for Secondary and Upper Secondary School Students does not expire.

No, though the exam was designed for adolescents between the ages of 14 and 18, approximately (it is not intended for children or adults).

The written part will last three hours and ten minutes and the speaking part 15 minutes.

The exam tests all four language skills. The reading section will contain matching exercises. In the listening part you will need to fill in the blanks. In the writing section you will be required to write a text. In the spoken expression section, examinees must follow the instructions and speak individually. We have provided a series of practice tests under the heading “How do I prepare?”.

The B1-B2 Certificate for Secondary and Upper Secondary School Students comes with a university seal of quality and was developed by the Institute for Multilingualism at the Universitat Internacional de Catalunya. The Institute for Multilingualism plays a key role in expanding the University's international presence and works closely with the faculties to ensure and support quality teaching and learning through foreign languages.

The exam was created by a team of lecturers with experience in official certification exams and experts in the development of foreign language certifications.

As the exam will take place at UIC Barcelona, it will give students a first look at what university life is like. The price is lower than other official language certificates. And, lastly, these exams were specifically designed for adolescents between the ages of 14 and 18 who use Richmond Publishing.

No, this qualification certifies a B1 or B2 level of English and to enrol in an International Baccalaureate programme a C1 level of English is required.

Sí, un cop corregit l’examen, es comunicarà als alumnes la nota i també la data en la qual tindrà lloc la revisió. La revisió serà de franc.