Formerly known as the ABP Foundation Award in English for Business

Overview

The Intermediate Award in English for Business is awarded by ABP and endorsed by ABE. This qualification is not regulated by Ofqual. Centres wishing to run this programme should complete the Application form for more information.

ABP offer two English for Business qualifications aligned to the Common European Framework of Reference for Languages at levels B1 and B2.

ABP Intermediate Awards are designed to provide focused and specialist work-related qualifications in a range of sectors. The qualifications can provide a specialist emphasis for learners following a general vocational programme of study.

ABP Intermediate Awards offer focused qualifications for learners, who wish to follow a short programme of study directly related to their work experience or to an aspect of employment that they wish to move into. On successful completion of these qualifications, learners may progress into or within employment and/or continue their study in the vocational area.

Next Steps

For non-accredited ABP centres: If you wish to get further information on how to offer these ABP qualifications please submit the Accreditation Application Form.

For current ABP centres: If you already run ABP courses and wish to also provide additional qualifications please complete the ABP Additional Qualification Form.

For Students: To find a centre which offers this course please use the search facility in the right hand column

Benefits

ABP Intermediate Awards are designed to meet a range of different needs. ABP Intermediate Awards at Levels 1-3 offer:

• maximum flexibility in the design of programmes
• the opportunity to use a range of delivery methods
• the opportunity to certificate smaller blocks of learning which are designed to motivate learners and encourage widening participation in education and training
• preparation for specific jobs
• opportunities for learners to develop skills that support career and professional development
• programmes that can enable progression either to higher levels of study or to other courses at the same level of study

ABP Intermediate Awards are designed to relate to the National Occupational Standards in the relevant sector. The qualifications can provide areas of underpinning knowledge for the National Occupational Standards, as well as developing practical skills in preparation for work.

National Occupational Standards
This qualification is linked with the UK Qualifications and Curriculum Authority's National Standards for Literacy, Level 2.

International Standards
This qualification is also aligned with the Common European Framework of Reference for Languages — an internationally recognised framework which uses six levels to describe language ability, from A1 to C2. The qualification comprises skills associated with an independent user at B1+.

Structure

Mandatory units

• Understanding the main points
• Understanding the detail
• The sequence of information, ideas and arguments
• Use of vocabulary and grammar
• Repair and reconstruction of a text

The ABP Intermediate Award in English for Business comprises five mandatory tasks in the examination. To achieve the qualification, a candidate must successfully obtain a minimum of 70% in an externally set and marked, largely multi-choice test (90 minutes duration), which covers all the learning outcomes as specified in the syllabus.

Support Materials for Trainining Providers

ABP approved centres will receive additional support materials free of charge including;

• Detailed content of each unit
• Reading Lists
• Tutor support materials including sample assignment briefs complete with guidance for model answers (In development).

The colleges are NOT bound to following these materials and are able to either develop or purchase further resources from independent suppliers

Assessment

• Assessment method: written examination
• Length of examination: one hour
• Candidates should complete five tasks

Entry Requirement

ABP does not specify the entry requirements of our qualifications but has confidence in centres to recruit students that have the potential to achieve the standards required of the qualification. We expect all centres to recruit with integrity and consistency to ensure fairness of access & ability to all students.

Centres should take appropriate steps to assess each applicant’s potential and make a professional judgement about their ability to successfully complete the programme of study and achieve the qualification. This assessment will need to take account of the support available to the learner within the centre during their programme of study.

Students do not need to progress sequentially through the levels. Therefore a candidate who has achieved a level 5 qualification may be able to achieve the academic rigour and complexity, required of ABP PG Dips.

ABP does not specify that candidates must have an English Language qualification equivalent to IELTS 6.0-6.5. However many UK universities will require applications for their Masters and MBAs to have achieved an English language qualification at this level prior to commencing the Masters/MBA. Therefore, we would encourage all candidates wishing to progress to a UK university to be working towards an English language qualification equivalent to IELTS 6.0-6.5.

Next Steps

For non-accredited ABP centres: If you wish to get further information on how to offer these ABP qualifications please submit the Accreditation Application Form.

For current ABP centres: If you already run ABP courses and wish to also provide additional qualifications please complete the ABP Additional Qualification Form.

For Students: To find a centre which offers this course please use the search facility in the right hand column

Qualification resources

• Guidance
• Sample Tasks
• Syllabus B1 (to follow)
• Syllabus B2 (to follow)