B2 (ALTE Level Three)
Level Three may be referred to as an intermediate stage of proficiency.
Users at this level are expected to be able to handle the main
structures of the language with some confidence, demonstrate knowledge
of a wide range of vocabulary and use appropriate communicative
strategies in a variety of social situations. Their understanding
of spoken language and written texts should go beyond being able
to pick out items of factual information, and they should be able
to distinguish between main and subsidiary points and between
the general topic of a text and specific detail. They should be
able to produce written texts of various types, showing the ability
to develop an argument as well as describe or recount events.
This level of ability allows the user a certain degree of independence
when called upon to use the language in a variety of contexts.
At this level the user has developed a greater flexibility and
an ability to deal with the unexpected and to rely less on fixed
patterns of language and short utterances. There is also a developing
awareness of register and the conventions of politeness and degrees
of formality as they are expressed through language.
Examinations at Level B2 are frequently used as proof that the
learner can do office work or take a non-academic course of study
in the language being learned, e.g. in the country where the language
is spoken. Learners at this level can be assumed to have sufficient
expertise in the language for it to be of use in clerical, secretarial
and managerial posts, and in some industries, in particular tourism.
Productive Skills
Speaking
In social and travel contexts, users at this level can deal with
most situations that may arise in shops, restaurants, and hotels;
for example, they can ask for a refund or for faulty goods to
be replaced, and express pleasure or displeasure at the service
given. Similarly, routine situations at the doctors, in a bank
or post office or at an airport or station can all be handled.
In social conversation they can talk about a range of topics and
express opinions to a limited extent. As tourists they can ask
for further explanations about information given on a guided tour.
They themselves can show visitors around, describe a place and
answer questions about it.
In the workplace, users at this level can give detailed information
and state detailed requirements within a familiar topic area,
and can take some limited part in a meeting. They can take and
pass on messages, although there may be difficulties if these
are complex, and can carry out simple negotiations, for example
on prices and conditions of delivery.
If studying, users at this level can ask questions during a lecture
or presentation on a familiar or predictable topic, although this
may be done with some difficulty. They can also give a short,
simple presentation on a familiar topic. They can take part in
a seminar or tutorial, again with some difficulty.
Writing
In social and travel contexts, users at this level can write most
kinds of letters connected with accommodation, and can also write
personal letters on a limited range of predictable topics.
In the workplace, users can produce a range of written documents
but may need to have these checked by a native speaker if accuracy
and register are important. They can produce texts which describe
and give detailed information, e.g. about a productor service,
as long as it is within a familiar area of work and they can write
requests, also within a predictable range. They can take and pass
on messages, but may have difficulty if these are lengthy or complex.
They can take dictation if the pace is fairly slow, and there
are opportunities for checking.
If studying, users at this level can make notes in lectures and
seminars which are of some limited use for revision purposes,
but may find this difficult unless extra time is given. They can
also make notes from written sources, although key points may
be missed, and they may not be sufficiently selective. They can
write an essay which shows some ability to communicate, or an
account of an experiment which demonstrates basic understanding
of the work done.
Receptive Skills
Reading
In social and travel contexts, users at this level can read texts
which are longer than the very brief signs, notices, etc. which
are characteristic of what can be handled at the two lower levels.
They can go beyond routine letters and the most basic newspaper
and magazine articles, and have developed reading skills related
to factual topics in which they have a special interest or to
their own tastes in fiction. In everyday, practical situations,
such as eating out, shopping and using services such as banks,
they can read competently enough to deal with anything which does
not involve some kind of specialised language (such as legal terms
in a tenancy agreement).
In the workplace, they can deal with routine letters and understand
the general meaning of a fair range of non-routine correspondence,
although complex situations and the use of non-standard language
would cause problems. They can handle short reports or articles
on predictable topics, and grasp the general meaning of a report
or article on a less familiar topic, but misunderstanding is likely
where information is not clearly expressed. Instructions and product
descriptions within the learners own area of work can be understood,
but only the general meaning of more theoretical material (e.g.
technical reports) can be understood without access to support
such as dictionaries,even when it is within the learners area
of expertise.
At this level, users are likely to have enough language ability
to cope with some non-academic training courses which are conducted
in the language being learnt. Users at this level can follow a
lecture, presentation or demonstration on a familiar topic or
where the context is well known, but are likely to have difficulty
in following abstract argumentation. They can read simple textbooks
and articles, but cannot read quickly enough to cope with an academic
course.
Listening
In social and travel contexts, users at this level can cope with
casual conversation on a fairly wide range of familiar, predictable
topics, such as personal experiences, work and current events.
They can understand routine medical advice. They can understand
most of a TV programme because of the visual support provided,
and grasp the main points of a radio programme. On a guided tour
they have the understanding required in order to ask and answer
questions.
In the workplace, they can follow presentations or demonstrations
of a factual nature if they relate to a visible, physical object
such as a product.
If studying, they can understand the general meaning of a lecture,
as long as the topic is predictable.
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