Euroexam General English and Business English Level C1
Suitable for those at an advanced level who want to use English at university or in a professional setting. Success in the exam shows that the learner can communicate and understand complex messages and can interact comfortably in the target language.
Euroexam Level C1 tests measure a candidate's ability to:
- understand a wide range of demanding texts, topics and recognise implicit meaning;
- express themselves fluently and spontaneously without much obvious searching for expressions;
- use language flexibly and effectively for social, academic and professional purposes;
- produce clear, well-structured, detailed texts on complex subjects in writing and speaking;
- show controlled use of organisational patterns, connectors and cohesive devices.
All Euroexams consist of four tests focused on one of the main language skills. First, check the Overview of Tasks, Time Limits and Marks section, then read more about each task in each paper in the 4 tabs below.
- The tasks are virtually identical in the General English and Business English exams, while in each task of the latter, everything is based on business and professional contexts. The minor task differences are clearly highlighted in the description of the individual tasks below.
- If you wish to learn more about Euroexam Academic C1, click here for the detailed description of that exam.
Click here for Euroexam's Level C1 Marking Criteria for the Writing and Speaking tests.
The Reading test consists of 3 tasks and takes a total of 60 minutes.
Task 1 – Who is writing?
This task tests the ability to understand and identify attitude, mood and intentions.
There is a problem, and six written reactions to it. The reactions come from people with different attitudes, such as “a supportive teacher”, or “a cynical politician”. The task is to match the reactions with the writers. Two reactions will not be needed.
Task 2 – How things work
This task tests the ability to understand instructions in detail.
There is a long and complex set of instructions on how to use an imaginary machine. The text has seven gaps, where information has been removed. The information is given as a separate list of items. Each option can only fit one blank. The task is to replace the option to complete the text. The task focuses on understanding instructions in detail.
Task 3 – Media article
This task tests detailed comprehension, scanning, inference, judging the writer’s attitude.
This task uses two texts connected to the same theme (e.g. the environment, transport, technology etc.). The candidate answers three multiple-choice comprehension questions for each text (with A-D answer options). Five questions focus on specific details, while the final question relates to some aspect of the second text as a whole.
The Writing test consists of 2 tasks, and takes a total of 70 minutes.
Task 1 – Email
The task tests writing abilities in the genre of a purposeful, formal email.
Candidates receive some background information about a situation which requires them to write a formal email in order to achieve a specific purpose: to complain, enquire or apply. The key information is provided in bullet points in the notes. Candidates are asked to focus on these points when writing their response in a formal email of approximately 200 words.
EuroPro C1:
Candidates will write an email in a professional or business context and are required to manifest their awareness of the specific setting and a knowledge of general Business English lexis.
Task 2 – Opinions
The task tests the candidate's ability to present in writing a number of logically connected arguments, opinions in the style appropriate to the chosen genre.
Candidates are given a choice of three topics and write approximately 200 words within the genre given for each topic. The text type could be an essay, a review or an online comment.
EuroPro C1:
At the business and professional exam, the genre report appears as one of the 4 options (instead of the review).
The Listening test consists of 3 tasks, and takes approximately 40 minutes, depending on the length of the recordings.
Task 1 – Facts and feelings
The task tests the ability to identify overall message implied in a short dialogue, as well as hidden, less explicit, inferred intentions, motivations.
There are six conversations and a list of eight descriptions. Six of the descriptions summarise the conversations in turn and contain an adjective that describes one of the speakers’ feelings or attitude to the topic, for example, “Tom is sarcastic about the concept of sustainability”. Two extra descriptions are not needed. The candidate’s task is to select the correct description for each conversation. The full set of 6 conversations is played twice.
Task 2 – A debate
The task tests the abilities of listening for and selecting specific pieces of information.
This task is a panel discussion, where three panellists discuss a topic following each other from slightly different angles. However, there are a number of overlaps: situation, location, topic, opinions, etc. In practice, the first panellist delivers his speech, then the second, and finally the last one. In each contribution, there is reference to agreement and disagreement, challenges, etc. The candidate is to choose which statement goes with which person. The whole discussion is played twice.
Task 3 – Radio programme
This task tests inferring information, understanding the main points, listening selectively, understanding and utilising features of redundancy, understanding detail, following discourse.
The candidate listens twice to an excerpt from a radio programme. The candidate answers eight multiple-choice questions (with A-C options) while listening. The programme will typically be a talk show or a formal discussion.
EuroPro C1: Meeting
The context is an extract from a business or professional meeting of about 3 minutes in length with 2 or 3 participants. The candidate answers eight multiple-choice questions (with A-C options) while listening to the recording twice.
You can choose a partner to take the speaking exam with, but if you don’t have one, there’s no need to worry—an individual speaking exam is also available. (Individual speaking exams are only offered for traditional, paper-based exams.)
Paired Speaking Exam
In a paired speaking exam, the Speaking component consists of four tasks. In the first three tasks, you will have separate conversations with the examiner. While your partner is being questioned, you can take a moment to relax and mentally prepare for your next task. In the final, fourth task, you and your partner will briefly discuss a picture or topic together, making the exam as natural and interactive as possible. Before entering the exam room, you will have 10 minutes to prepare and optionally draft an outline for the second task, the Presentation.
Individual Speaking Exam
In the individual speaking exam, the Speaking component consists of three tasks, all involving a direct conversation with the examiner. You will respond to their questions, and only your performance will be evaluated.
In the third and final task, you will receive a question card and briefly express your opinion on the given topic. Before entering the exam room, you will have 10 minutes to prepare and, if needed, draft an outline for the Presentation task.
Tasks and Expected Skills
1. Warm-up
(Individual and Paired)
Individual Exam: In the first part of the individual speaking exam, the examiner will ask two simple, personal experience-related questions about language learning. This one-minute conversation serves as a "low-stakes" warm-up.
Paired Exam: In the paired exam, candidates begin with a warm-up conversation. If they do not know each other, they ask personal questions to get acquainted. If they are already familiar with one another, they discuss their similarities and differences. The purpose of this activity is to help candidates ease into speaking the foreign language naturally. This part of the exam is not assessed in either format.
Individual Exam
2. Presentation
In the second part of the speaking exam, you will choose between two well-known topics and give a two-minute presentation. You will have 10 minutes of preparation time before the exam begins, during which you can take notes that you may use during your presentation. No specialized background knowledge is required, and your opinion will not be assessed—only your language production is evaluated.
3. Perspectives
In this task, you will receive three quotes from well-known figures, all related to the same topic. You will have one minute to read and reflect on them before selecting one with which you agree. You will then have at least two minutes to express your opinion (if you continue speaking beyond this, even better). The examiner will stop you after three minutes if necessary.
Paired Exam
2. Presentation and Discussion
Similar to the individual exam, each candidate gives a two-minute presentation using their notes. However, after each presentation, the other candidate then initiates a two-minute discussion based on the presentation. Afterward, the roles are then reversed.
3. Discussion
You will receive a task sheet with four images and must discuss which one best fits a given purpose (e.g., selecting the most approrpiate image for a book cover). This task requires reasoned argumentation and active discussion, with both candidates responding to each other’s ideas.
- Can understand extended speech even when it is not clearly structured and when relationships are only implied and not signaled explicitly.
- Can understand television programmes and films without too much effort.
- Can understand long and complex factual and literary texts, appreciating distinctions of style.
- Can understand specialised articles and longer technical instructions, even when they do not relate to my field.
- Can express fluently and spontaneously without much obvious searching for expressions.
- Can use language flexibly and effectively for social and professional purposes.
- Can formulate ideas and opinions with precision and relate my contribution skilfully to those of other speakers.
- Can present clear, detailed descriptions of complex subjects integrating sub-themes, developing particular points and rounding off with an appropriate conclusion.
- Can express in clear, well-structured text, expressing points of view at some length.
- Can write about complex subjects in a letter, an essay or a report, underlining what I consider to be the salient issues.
- Can select a style appropriate to the reader in mind.