UNIcert® III Business English
Students of the BA degree programs "Anglophone Studies" and "Intercultural Communication and Business" have the option to take the UNIcert® III exam "Business English" starting in summer 2023. This exam is designed to assess and certify language skills at level C1 CEFR.
Language certificates are often beneficial when applying for internships, studying abroad, or pursuing a career, as many organizations and companies require specific language certifications. Moreover, most academic institutions in Germany require a language certificate as proof of language competence for admission to master's degree programs.
Prerequisites:
Successful completion of the following practical language courses:
- Reading and Writing for Academic Purposes I
- Business English I: Business Communication
- Business English II: Business Foundations
Successful participation in the following practical language course, in which the reading and writing language skills for the certificate will be assessed in the final exam:
- Business English III: Business in a Globalized World
Exam Structure:
The UNIcert® III exam "Business English" is competence-oriented, emphasizing the ability to effectively use language in context. It includes tasks that simulate typical communicative situations in business settings.
Students are evaluated in four language skill areas: reading (60 minutes), writing (90 minutes), listening (45 minutes), and speaking (up to 30 minutes).
The exam is cumulative, with the reading and writing language skills assessed in the final exam of the practical language course "Business English III: Business in a Globalized World." The speaking and listening skills are evaluated in an additional assessment outside of the language courses.
Grading:
Each of the four sections is marked out of 15 and accounts for 25% of the total grade. To pass the examination, a minimum of 5 points must be scored, and no section should have a score below 5 points. If the examination or parts of it are failed, they can be retaken within one year from the result announcement. When retaking the exam, credits will be given for the passed sections. It's important to note that the exam is offered only once per academic year, so retaking a failed exam is only possible one year later.
Certificate:
Upon successful completion of the exam, a bilingual (English/German) certificate will be issued. The certificate includes the candidate's personal details, information about the chosen foreign language (English), the chosen specialization (“Business English"), the achieved UNIcert® level (III), and the grades for each section of the examination, as well as an overall grade represented by a number and a paraphrase. It also provides general information in German and English regarding the exam format, interpretation of performance levels, and specifies the level of the Common European Framework of Reference for Languages upon which the awarded certificate is based.
Date 2024:
Friday, 19 April 2024
Registration:
To register for the oral examination, please email Julia Degenhardt enclosing a FlexNow transcript showing that you have successfully completed Reading & Writing I, Business English I, Business English II and Business English III.
Further information:
Available from Julia Degenhardt.