Tests audioscripts

A: There’s another one in Germany later in the

BP_B2_Test_ 01_001.mp3 year. You could do it then.
B: Well, the thing is I really wanted to get Level
1 Can I suggest that we open this discussion with
2 done in October this year.
our staff?
A: Mmm, I see. I’ve got a solution that might
a I understand what you’re saying about staff.
work. There’s one way you could do the course.
b To be honest, I don’t think that would help.
There’s a Level 1 course in the London offices in
c I’m still very confident about this.
May. You could attend that if your boss agrees to
the extra costs, you know, travel to the UK, plus
2 Can I suggest that we launch the product before
accommodation and so on.
the conference?
B: That’d be great. I’ll speak to my boss
a That’s true.
immediately.
b I’m confident it’s good.
c That could work.
Listening 2
A: Jon Gant speaking.
3 How do you think we can increase staff B: Hi Jon. It’s Barney Day from Day Engineers
motivation? Limited. I’m calling about our meeting last week.
a One way to solve this is to offer incentives. A: You mean the one where we discussed the
b We both want to go forward with this increase. contract details.
c I understand what you’re saying about staff. B: That’s right.
A: How can I help you?
4 Would it be useful to ask IT how we can improve B: I’m sorry but we’re worried about quality
the system? control. It seems you’ve had some problems this
a I’m concerned the software needs improving. week.
b I can see you’re concerned about the software. A: I can you assure you our products meet all
c Let’s wait until we’ve tried the new software and international standards.
decide after that. B: I’m sure they do, but I’m still concerned about
it. I read online just yesterday that a company is
taking you to court for supplying faulty products.
5 Can I suggest we update each team member A: I can understand your concerns, but I can
separately? assure you, you’ve got nothing to worry about. One
a Exactly. I’m still very confident. of our customers had a problem last week, but we
b I like your suggestion. discovered that it wasn’t our components that were
c Look, we could update the project. at fault.
B: Oh, I see. I wonder why the article is there
if it’s not true.
BP_B2_Test_ 01_002.mp3 A: Apparently, it was written by one of the
Listening 1 customer’s employees who writes a blog, and he
A: Hello. Corporate Training division. wrote it before the situation had been assessed.
B: Hi there. This is Max Ludigen from the The employee has been asked to take it down and
German office. I’m calling about training courses. write an apology for the mistake. Would it help if we
I understand that all staff can now apply for two sent you a link to it so you can see for yourself?
courses a year. B: Yes, thank you. I think it would.
A: Mr Lud …?
B: L_U_D_I_G_E_N, Max, M_A_X.
A: Thanks. How can I help you? BP_B2_Test 02_001_mp3
B: Before I do my online application, I was 1 What’s the best way to handle this?
wondering if I could ask you a couple of questions. a One option is to be consultative.
A: Go ahead. b There are pros and cons.
B: Is it possible to apply for Leadership Level 2, c I don’t think it makes sense.
without doing Level 1?
A: It’s possible, but we prefer you to start with 2 Why don’t we offer more training?
the first level because it’s specially tailored to our a There are pros and cons of both ideas.
company needs. b I’m just picking up on the cost.
B: Oh right. It’s just that I won’t be able to make c That sounds like a good idea.
that one because I’m away on holiday at the time of
the Level 1 course.

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3 Do we all agree to increase salaries by 3 percent?
a If I can add to that, salaries could increase.
b If we do that, we could decrease costs.
c I think it makes sense to do that.
4 Any thoughts on how we can encourage staff
to stay?
a Just picking up on what David said, why don’t
we forget the bonus?
b I think the best option here is to offer a bonus.
c One option could be to forget the bonus.
5 What do you think we should do to increase
sales?
a One option could be to run a new ad campaign.
b I don’t think it makes sense for sales.
c I prefer to talk to suppliers.
BP_B2_Test_02_02
Listening 1
Hello. This is Stephanie Klas from OneKlas
Training. It’s about the quotation we’re preparing for
delivering your training programme for next year.
I’ve just read your email and there are a few things
I need to discuss with you before I can send you
detailed costings with discounts. First of all, your
email doesn’t mention any Time Management
courses, but I thought we’d agreed that you wanted
those. We’ve got three planned for you during the
year, in February, May and October. Please can
you confirm if you still want those. Secondly,
I notice that you’ve asked for four basic
management courses during the year. You only
asked for two when we met, so has this changed.
Personally, I think that you won’t need more than
three in the year.
Finally, the venue for the training isn’t clear.
I understood that you’d like to send staff to our
premises but the email seems to be indicating that
you’d like some of the courses to be in-house or
online. I think it would be a good idea if we could
Skype this week to clear up these issues.
Listening 2
A: Good morning, Southern Engineers
Recruitment. How can I help you?
B: Hello. I’ve been looking on your website for
jobs and I’m interested in one of the jobs at Balen
Engineering.
A: Bowen Engineering?
B: No. Balen. B–A–L–E–N. ‘N’ for November.
A: OK, thanks. Sorry, we’ve got Bowen
Engineering on our books, too. Right, Balen
Engineering. I’ve got it. Which job are you
interested in?
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B: The junior management position. But before
I apply, I’d like to know what their training
programme is like. The advert just says that on-the-
job training is provided.
A: Well, according to our information, they have
a really good system of training and mentoring.
We’ve sent a few people there who’ve received
management training and their feedback has
always been positive about training.
B: Really? That sounds good. I’m just out of
university and I haven’t had much practical
experience.
A: Oh, don’t worry about that. Balen is very
good at taking on graduates and training them
through the ranks.
B: That sounds good. I think I’ll apply then.
A: You need to do that before the 20th of May,
as they want to start interviewing by the 31st.
B: Oh, dear. I’ll be away then. I won’t be able
to go to an interview if I get asked.
A: Why don’t I call their HR manager and
explain your situation and see if it’s still worthwhile
applying? Can I take your details?
B: Thanks. It’s Maria Harper …
BP_B2_Test_ 02_003_mp3
A: Welcome back to Business Experts Today.
This evening I’m talking to David Nguyen, a training
expert who runs his own training consultancy firm,
which has been very successful here in the UK.
Hello, David, and thanks for joining us.
B: Thank you John. It’s good to be here.
A: Now, we hear a lot about company training
programmes, but why are some programmes
ineffective and an apparent waste of money?
B: Unfortunately, some do fail. That’s true. One
reason for that can be that a company doesn’t have
an experienced Training Manager. A training
manager’s job is to identify the employees’ training
and development needs and this requires
knowledge and experience. Another reason might
be that, even if a company has employed a Training
Manager, the people hiring for that post might not
have asked the right questions during the
recruitment process.
A: For example?
B: Well, companies should know how the
potential Training Manager keeps up with trends
in training, but more importantly, what they do to
improve their own skills. Then they need to ask
them to give an example of a successful training
programme they’ve implemented elsewhere.
Another question is how the manager would
reinforce the skills that staff have learned on
training courses. It’s no good if they attend
courses but don’t retain the knowledge and skills.
2

A: It sounds as if you need a very highly
qualified and experienced person. So how does the
Training Manager go about assessing the needs of
the staff?
B: A training needs analysis should identify
each employee’s current level of competence, skill
and knowledge. In simple terms, the first step would
be to ask everyone who does a similar job to write
down a list of their training needs. What they think
is important for them. These must be very specific
such as how to deal with uncooperative colleagues,
listening more effectively and actively and so on.
A: What happens next?
B: Well, the Training Manager puts all the needs
together and asks everyone to individually prioritise
the needs on the list. By doing that, the Training
Manager can see which ones are the most
important. Then the group of employees or –
in most cases – department colleagues, can
brainstorm what outcomes they would expect
from the top three needs. This helps the Training
Manager to clarify what kind of courses are
required.
A: So, it’s really very simple then?
B: Not really! In reality, the needs assessment
is often much more complicated. And, the needs
have to be regularly reassessed once the training
programme is up and running. The manager has to
get regular feedback from the employees and keep
an eye on each individual’s development. If the
training isn’t working for someone or they feel that
it’s a waste of time, that’s a fast track to
demotivation and low morale within the
organisation.
A: So, can you schedule in time for doing further
needs analyses?
B: It should really be an on-going process so
you need to be a bit flexible. But usually they’re
done after you’ve recruited someone, during
performance reviews or when someone’s
performance is failing and needs to be improved.
And it’s vital when an organisation makes changes
to employees’ jobs. Companies often change a job
description but fail to offer the required training so
that employees can effectively deal with new
responsibilities or skills.
A: Training isn’t cheap, is it? Some companies
may feel they can’t justify the money spent on it.
B: That’s true, it’s often one of the first budgets
to get cancelled as they think training is a waste of
resources when the financial situation isn’t strong.
However, it may not be the best thing to do, as
having well-trained staff can often be critical to your
long-term success. Companies shouldn’t forget that
employees are their biggest asset. Highly-trained
staff can enhance a company’s reputation and set
a business apart from its competitors.
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A: That’s an interesting point and one I’d like to
discuss with another expert…
BP_B2_Test 03_001_mp3
1 Can I talk you through the points I’m unsure of?
a I’d like to double-check something.
b Sure, what would you like to double-check?
c I’m having a little difficulty with some ideas.
2 lost you for a second. Could you repeat that,
please?
a Sure, no problem.
b I lost you for a second.
c Sorry you didn’t understand it.
3 Sorry, I don’t follow. What is EBIT?
a We often use the term EBIT.
b It stands for Earnings Before Interest and Tax.
c Would it help if I explain EBIT?
4 Tell me, what exactly do the figures in column B
refer to?
a The figures are there.
b The figures aren’t exact.
c They’re overseas sales.
5 Can you go over that again for me, please?
a The sound went for a moment.
b Right, I’ve got it open.
c I’ll try and explain it more clearly.
BP_B2_Test 03_002_mp3
Listening 1
A: Hi, Khalid. It’s Melia here. I just want to check
some figures with you. Is that okay?
B: Hi, Melia. No problem. Is it the overall sales
figures you want?
A: I’ll need some of them but first it’s the staff
numbers I need for North America and India. Have
you got the up-to-date numbers?
B: Let me check. Er, yes, right, here they are.
India is 2,165 and North America is 1,892.
A: Are you sure? I thought we had more staff in
North America.
B: Sorry, you’re right. I was looking at the
South America figures. It’s 2,256 for North America.
A: Could I also get the latest sales figures for
North and South America?
B: No problem. Here they are. They came in this
morning. It’s $80 million for North America and $45
million for South America.
A: Mmm, interesting. Not doing so well in South
America, are we?
B: Well, don’t forget that operating costs are
lower there, so overall the results are good. And
3
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we’ll be launching the new product line aimed at the
South American market. That should have a very
positive effect on next year’s figures. Things are
looking bright.
A: I’ll make a note of that, thanks. Bye for now.
Listening 2
A: Good morning. FDG Bank – commercial
mortgage division, Sandra Williams speaking. How
can I help you?
B: Good morning, I’d like to make an
appointment to discuss extending our commercial
mortgage to purchase additional office space.
A: Okay. Can I have your name and the name
of your business?
B: Yes, I’m Roger Fairclough and my business
is Fairclough and Andrews Trade Services.
A: Thanks… When would you like to schedule
the meeting?
B: Have you got any availability on Thursday the
17th?
A: I’ve got 9.30, with our advisor Laura
Clarebigh.
B: OK, that’s great. Um, sorry, how do you spell
‘Clarebigh’?
A: Of course. It’s C–L–A–R–E–B–I–G–H.
B: Thanks.
A: Now, we’ll need you to bring some
documents to the meeting.
B: Sure. What do you need?
A: Well we’ll need audited accounts for the last
two years. I assume you’ve got those?
B: Yes, no problem. What else?
A: You’ll need to bring a business plan showing
how buying the property will improve the cash flow
of the business and, of course, we’ll want to know
how you plan to repay the loan.
B: Okay. Anything else?
A: We’ll be asking you about the current
performance of your business and I’ll want details
of any other shareholders involved.
B: Oh, that’ll be my business partner. He’ll be
coming to the meeting too.
A: Good. We can discuss other points when
you’re here… Shall I confirm Thursday the 17th
at 9.30 then?
B: That would be great, thank you…
BP_B2_Test 04_001_mp3
1 Tell me about how this situation affects you.
a I’m not happy about this new policy.
b It means that I can’t work closely with the team.
c Maybe your suggestion would work.
2 Is there another way to approach the situation?
a I think the best way is to ask everyone.
b Yes, I can agree to that.
c Perhaps you could tell me about this approach.
3 How could you imagine this working?
a I think I can make that happen.
b I imagine we could do it.
c Everyone will have to contribute.
4 What are your priorities?
a Let me make sure I understand your priorities.
b Well, getting the right amount of resources would
help most.
c We need to discuss our priorities.
5 How about if we allow staff to work flexible hours?
a Let’s look at the facts.
b Yes, I suppose I can agree to that.
c Let me make sure I fully understand your
perspective.
BP_B2_Test 04_002_mp3
Listening 1
A: Julietta Lopez speaking.
B: Hello, Markus Lang here. I’m calling about
the new computer system we discussed last week.
A: Hi, Markus. How can I help you?
B: I wanted to check something about the
retained technical services contract you offer. Do
we really need this?
A: I think it’s a good idea. If you’ve got
reasonably skilled IT staff, they can deal with any
basic problems but when it gets more complicated,
we’re there to take over when specialised help is
needed.
B: Do you often have problems with your
system then?
A: Not at all, but it can happen. It’s usually
caused by operator error or, in the worse-case
scenario, a virus from outside and not our system.
B: Every business’s nightmare, I guess.
A: Exactly. How would you feel if your system
was down and you had no one to call on to help
you?
B: I see your point.
A: Also, don’t forget that your own IT staff need
holidays, so you don’t have to worry because we’re
here 24/7, 365 days of the year.
B: That’s worth considering. So the contract
cost covers us for what?
A: For a certain number of hours, depending on
which package you choose. But if you don’t need all
of those hours in the first year, we can carry them
over to the following year, so you won’t be paying
for something you don’t use.
B: OK, that’s good to know …

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Listening 2
Good morning! It’s Hiro Kazui here from the
Japanese office. I’m calling to let you know that my
plane’s been delayed and I won’t be arriving until
midday tomorrow, so I’m going to miss the supplier
meeting. Please can you pass this message on to
Mr Johns as I don’t seem to be able to contact him.
Also, tell him not to worry about sending someone
to meet me at the airport as planned. I’m going to
take a taxi and I’ll meet him for dinner at the Balford
Hotel as originally planned.
Oh, there’s another thing he needs to know. The
Sales Manager, Alex Babic, from Kaleech Supplies
is still going to attend tomorrow morning’s meeting
at 9 a.m. He is flying to Ecuador in the afternoon
and can’t wait for me to get in. I therefore need Mr
Johns to tell Mr Babic exactly which products he
needs and the quantities. Mr Babic can then work
out costs, discounts, and delivery details. Could Mr
Johns then email me the draft contract he agrees
with Mr Babic? Then we can go over it in the
evening.
BP_B2_Test 04_003_mp3
A: Good morning, everyone. Thanks for coming
to the meeting today. As you know, we need to look
at ways of improving efficiency within our
organisation. I’d like to stick to the agenda as we’ve
only got limited time today.
B: Jonathan, I think we need to talk about
staffing problems first.
A: That’s outside the scope of the meeting
today, Alejandra. We’ve got a meeting specifically
about that next week. Yes, Karim?
C: Actually, I agree with Alejandra. I think we
should look at staff first.
A: But that’s not the subject of today’s
meeting.
C: But many employees are unhappy and not
working productively. To improve efficiency, we
need to find out why.
B: I can tell you why. It’s because the ordering
and distribution systems keep breaking down. Staff
are frustrated because we haven’t invested in better
technology.
C: We can’t expect to compete in the market
without the best technology there is. Our
competitors have eaten into the market lead we
once had.
A: Can I stop you for a second, Karim? Are you
saying that the lack of efficiency is totally due to the
technology we use?
C: Mainly, yes.
B: Sorry, can I add something here? As
Production Manager, I can confirm that we’ve got
the most sophisticated machinery in our factory,
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producing cutting-edge products, but the rest of our
systems are outdated. Just look at the ordering and
distribution systems. They keep breaking down and
customers aren’t getting their orders on time or
they’re getting the wrong goods. Consequently,
they’re changing supplier.
A: So, it’s the ordering and distribution system
that needs dealing with, not the staff?
B: Partly. But we need to keep staff happy. So,
I think the best way to do that is to have a meeting
with everyone to see if they have any ideas and
then decide how to solve the issues with orders.
A: We don’t need to involve the staff in this.
Once we sort out the technology, everything should
be fine.
B: I don’t agree, Jonathan. Employees feel
much happier if they’re involved in big decisions.
A: I’ll consider it if you really feel it would help.
C: I think it would be a good start. Several
experienced staff are considering leaving. They
have mentioned these problems for months and
they feel nobody is listening to them.
A: OK, then. We’ll meet with staff as soon as
possible and meanwhile, we’ll investigate the
options for updating all our systems for order
processing and distribution. Now I’d like to see if
we can come up with any other ways to improve
efficiency.
C: I’d like to suggest that we look at the
workflow in our main offices. It seems to me that
we’re wasting an awful lot of time and energy doing
things twice.
A: How do you mean?
C: Well, for some reason each department
seems to print out and file hard copies of everything
in addition to creating shared electronic files. I don’t
know why this is.
B: I think you’ll find it’s because our computer
systems have broken down so many times that staff
feel it’s necessary to keep hard copies in case it
happens again. At least then they have a chance
of keeping things moving.
C: I can see Alejandra’s point and it all comes
back to the systems.
A: OK, well I think we’ve identified a key
problem. Thanks everyone. I’ll pass this information
on to Senior Management.
B: Sorry, Jonathan but I don’t think we’ve
finished. I’d like to talk about the security system.
Our bags are checked every time we enter the
building, even if we’ve only been out for a ten-
minute break. It wastes too much time.
A: You know we have to do that.
B: But every time we go outside for a bit of
fresh air?
A: Okay, I hear what you’re saying. We’ll
arrange another meeting to discuss that.
5

BP_B2_Test 05_001_mp3
1 I’d like to hear your comments on things that have
gone well.
a It’s important never to underestimate the need
for good communication.
b In terms of my own success, I managed to
complete the first two phases on time.
c If I’d planned more carefully, we wouldn’t have
gone over budget.
2 Which aspects of the project were the most
problematic?
a Well, speaking openly, there were some issues
with quality.
b On the whole, it turned out to be a success.
c Overall, it’s great that we have avoided these
problems.
3 So, how do we do things differently next time?
a On the whole, it turned out to be a great learning
process.
b If I plan more carefully, I can avoid the issues we
discussed.
c I had to be very careful with delegating tasks.
4 So what was the main reason for the failed
delivery?
a This mistake was due to a lack of planning.
b I managed to do this by planning thoroughly.
c Next time, we will insist on having more time to
plan.
5 So generally speaking, in what way did things go
well and what were the problems?
a My big challenge was planning the final phase.
b It’s important never to underestimate planning the
final phase.
c On the whole, the project was a success, but the
final phase could have been better planned.
BP_B2_Test 05_002_mp3
Listening 1
A: Hello, Geoff, it’s Lydia from HR.
B: Hi Lydia.
A: I’d like to chat to you about one of your team,
Joanna Zieliński.
B: Ah, yes. She’s a great member of the team.
A: I can see that from her appraisal, so I was
just wondering why you hadn’t recommended her
for promotion to supervisor. I think she’d be
a perfect fit for the vacancy you’ve got in your
department.
B: Well, I asked her what her goals were for
the coming year and she told me she was going to
leave.
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A: Really? Do you know why?
B: Because she hasn’t been promoted in two
years or had a pay rise. She said she wanted
a more challenging position with a better salary.
A: Why didn’t we pick up on this at the last
appraisal? She seemed happy last year.
B: I don’t know, but all the changes we’ve had
in the company this year have increased her
workload. If you remember, I predicted this might
happen.
A: Then why didn’t you tell her about the job?
B: I thought that it was a waste of time.
A: I’m not sure you’re seeing the bigger picture
here. We need to arrange a meeting with her
as soon as possible. She’s one of the most
experienced members of your team and achieves
all the goals she is set. I don’t want to lose her.
Listening 2
Thank you for attending this meeting today. We are
here to address any queries or worries you may
have about your new job descriptions and the
performance review. I hope to clarify things now,
but if you still have any questions about either of
these things, then Sharon French, the HR Manager,
is in the office from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Monday to
Thursday… OK, well, I’ll start with the appraisal
forms and some answers to the most common
queries you sent us. Firstly, what do we do with the
information you write? HR, together with your line
manager, use it as a basis for discussion during
your performance review. It’s important for us to
see how you feel about your job. Please be honest
when completing the form. And if you’ve made any
mistakes during the year, you should explain why
you think they happened. Everyone makes
mistakes. It’s an important part of the learning
process. We will not use any negative comments
you might make to stop you getting a promotion or
a pay rise. Open and clear communication is the
key to our success…
BP_B2_Test 06_001_mp3
1 Do you like my idea?
a To be honest, not really. I don’t think it’ll work.
b I’m afraid I might not be able to.
c I don’t want to worry you, but I feel I have to tell
you this.
2 Can we have the report on the sales figures?
a This information isn’t confirmed, but I think you
should know.
b No, I’m sorry. It’s not ready yet.
c I’m not entirely sure at this stage. I could be
wrong.
6

3 What do you think about this supplier?
a I’m concerned they won’t keep up with demand.
b There might be new issues that come to light.
c It’s just a thought. I could be wrong.
4 When will you have finished the latest figures for
me?
a There might be further difficulties.
b To be honest, not really. I don’t think they’ll be
finished.
c I can’t say for certain, but it’ll be soon.
5 Can you give me a straight answer?
a I’m playing devil’s advocate here, but I’m not sure
that is a good idea.
b I’m afraid I might not be able to. It’s complicated.
c Just thinking out loud here, but maybe we could
discuss it another time.
BP_B2_Test_ 06_002_mp3
A: Beauty Best Customer Service, how can
I help you?
B: Hi, I’m calling to complain about one of your
beauty products - the coconut face cream.
A: That’s our most popular product. What
seems to be the problem?
B: Well I woke up this morning and my face
has red marks all over it – I seem to have had an
allergic reaction to it.
A: Really? That shouldn’t happen. Perhaps you
have very sensitive skin.
B: No, I don’t. This is the first time I’ve used
your cream and I wanted to try it because all your
products are supposed to be totally organic and
ethically produced.
A: That’s true, yes.
B: In that case, why are some of the ingredients
listed on the jar not actually organic?
A: Well we do need to use a small amount of
some non-organic ingredients. It’s to avoid bacteria
getting into your cream, you see.
B: That’s interesting. I didn’t know that.
A: It means that the product lasts longer.
B: Even so, I don’t particularly want these red
rashes and it can’t be legal, can it? And you can’t
expect me to check all the ingredients when I’m in
the shop…
A: The amount we use is legally permitted, but
I understand your frustrations.
B: (frustrated) Mmm. Well, I’m disappointed,
especially when all the ingredients are supposed
to be organic.
A: OK, well we can offer you a full refund on this
occasion, but you should check our ingredients if
you purchase another product from our range. If
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I can take your card details, I should be able to
bring up your transaction and then transfer…
B: Before you do that, there was another reason
I was calling. I think that maybe you need to look at
the factory you use. I saw a TV documentary about
it last night.
A: Really, we haven’t heard anything about
a documentary being made.
B: It showed similar unbranded products being
made in the factory you use and very poor working
conditions.
A: I would be very surprised if that were true.
We have a reputation for ethically sourcing and
producing our products…
B: Well, I checked on your website where you
make your products and it’s definitely the same
factory.
A: If it IS the one we use, then obviously this is
serious, you’re right. I’ll get the Production Director
to investigate immediately. Thanks for informing us.
If you give me your contact details we’ll arrange…
BP_B2_Test_ 06_003_mp3
Speaker 1
Although we received bonuses last year, I don’t
think the company did that well. Personally, I think
it needs to make big changes if it’s going to be
competitive. It’d be better if we reduced the number
of product lines and concentrated on high-end
items. That’s where the profits are. I also think we
should try to use more ethical suppliers. Consumers
today want fair trade goods.
Speaker 2
Why didn’t I stay there? I’d been with that company
for ten years but their factory procedures could
have been more ethical. Their carbon footprint
was also ridiculous and they had no intention of
changing anything soon. Another reason was
that the new manager wasn’t very good at
communicating so staff morale was very low.
I can’t work for a company that doesn’t take care
of its most valuable assets.
Speaker 3
It’s a great company, but recently I’ve been worried
about the new process of choosing suppliers. The
system isn’t as good as before and I’ve just
discovered that one of our suppliers isn’t supplying
organic materials as specified. How many more of
the new suppliers are not as ethical as the company
thought? We’ve had a lot of bad publicity because
of it.
Speaker 4
I’m always encouraging my people to use their
initiative. I love having my own team and I think I’m
7

doing a good job. We’ve hit our targets every month
and are on track to exceed them this month. We
work together to achieve targets and my team know
they can come to me any time they have problems.
This is important, because ultimately, I’m the one
who’s responsible for them.
Speaker 5
At the interview, you said I’d have to develop my
skills, which I have, and last month I was really
happy to receive that extra amount in my salary.
That was great. It’s nice to be appreciated. My team
leader doesn’t always remember to tell us when
we’ve done well, so the monetary reward confirms
I’m doing okay, though I wish my boss would tell me
sometimes.
BP_B2_Test_ 06_004_mp3
Speaker 1
I know we’re thinking about changing our
manufacturing process but I think we may have
some problems if we do that. Firstly, it’s going to
be extremely expensive and we can’t guarantee
that it’ll significantly improve our products or sales.
I don’t want to worry you, but I’ve heard about other
companies which installed the new system and it
didn’t sound very reliable.
Speaker 2
Look, we’ve lost 10% of the market share. I’d like to
know why we’re so far behind the competition. Is it
because we’re not selling fair trade goods, or are
our products outdated? We’ve worked hard this
year and although sales are up we’re still losing our
market position. I’m hoping someone can come up
with the reasons because I just don’t understand it.
Speaker 3
You know that our software is aimed at small
businesses and we’ve got a very good track record.
We can certainly help your organisation be more
efficient. You would have much better
communication with your clients, which can only
be a good thing. Recent customers have told us
that their sales have increased by up to 15% in
just a few months. And our prices are lower than
our competitors.
Speaker 4
I think I need to improve my time management
skills. I always find it hard to meet deadlines. It’s
becoming quite a problem so I think I need to do
a course as soon as possible. Is there any chance
of doing one next month? We’ve got a big project
coming up and I don’t want to be late on that or I’ll
never get the promotion I want.
© Pearson Education 2018
Tests audioscripts
Speaker 5
The new system doesn’t do half the things we
hoped it would and it crashes regularly. I don’t know
why we didn’t do more research before we invested
in it. In fact, I doubt that anyone investigated it
properly to be honest. And we didn’t get any of the
training we were promised. Does that answer your
question?
BP_B2_Test_ 07_001_mp3
1 So, what you’re saying is you definitely can’t go
on this trip?
a Another issue is the cost of the trip.
b It’s important we consider the time frame.
c Correct. That won’t be possible I’m afraid.
2 How about if we postpone the meeting for
a few days?
a We’re going to have to go the extra mile.
b I think we can both agree to that.
c In your opinion, it should take around a week,
right?
3 In other words, you don’t want to go, but you’d
still like me to go?
a I don’t think it’ll work like that.
b It would be good for you to meet them.
c We have always had a good working relationship.
4 So, from your point of view, this phase should
take about a month?
a Yes, I should think so.
b Yes, I’m only willing to do it for a month.
c We can’t move on the delivery date.
5 How about if we postpone the start date?
a It might be possible to extend the start date.
b I understand your reservations.
c That sounds like the best option.
BP_B2_Test_ 07_002_mp3
Listening 1
A: Good morning. Ryan & Co Fastener
Supplies. How can I help you?
B: Hello, this is Dana Zeman from Oxleighton
Ltd.
A: Can you repeat that please?
B: Oxleighton: O–X–L–E–I–G–H–T–O–N. Your
company has been recommended to us for
providing an efficient and speedy service.
A: What is it you need?
B: Well, we were wondering if you had any HDG
bolts in stock. Our usual supplier has let us down
and we need them immediately.
A: Do you want the 5 mm or 10 mm ones?
8

B: Ten millimetre.
A: We’ve got some in stock. How many do you
need?
B: We’re looking at two and a half thousand.
A: We’ve only got two thousand in stock but we
could get the rest tomorrow. We could deliver the
two thousand by the end of today if we send them
by courier, although you’ll have to pay extra for this
service. And we could get the remaining five
hundred to you by tomorrow afternoon.
B: That’d be great. How much is the delivery?
A: Where are you based?
B: In Millington.
A: What’s the address?
B: It’s Unit 5… Exbury Industrial Park… MG24
3HJ.
A: MG24 3HJ… Hold on… That will cost £55
and of course we’d need payment up front as we
haven’t got a credit agreement with your company.
B: That’s fine. I’ll pay by credit card if that’s
okay.
A: No problem. That’ll be £250 plus £55 for
delivery. So, £305 in total.
Listening 2
Thank you for attending this conference call update
on Training and Development. It’s really just to let
you know what is available over the next few
weeks, so that you can add a personal
development goal to your upcoming performance
reviews. Next month, we’ll be offering three courses
for staff: Leadership skills, Time management and
Reducing stress. The Leadership course is open to
all supervisors and newly appointed team
managers and takes place in-house. It’ll last three
days, and starts on the 5th of October. There are
still three places available so let me know as soon
as possible if you’re interested. Our regular Time
management course is also filling up quickly this
month. It’s for any employee who wants to be better
at organising their time, prioritising tasks and setting
schedules. We run this course on the last Friday of
every month and it’s always popular, even if you are
already efficient.
The Reducing stress course takes place at the
Beacon Wellness Centre in town. It’s two days long
and teaches you how to relax and cope with stress.
It’s recommended that all staff in managerial
positions take the course to help keep your stress
levels to a minimum. To book, just send an email to
the HR department with the title of the course in the
subject field… Can I also remind everyone…
© Pearson Education 2018
Tests audioscripts
BP_B2_Test_ 08_001_mp3
1 How would you feel about the idea of a fresh
challenge?
a If I were you, I’d take this opportunity.
b I like the sound of that.
c I think it would be best for you to wait for a while.
2 Have you considered doing some more training?
a That could be a good idea, I think.
b OK. So, if I don’t do that, what should I do?
c Thanks for your help. What should I do next?
3 Do you think you should change supplier?
a Let’s see that as a challenge to overcome.
b I think it would be best for you to think about it.
c Well, I’m not sure that’s the solution.
4 How do you think you could best approach this
issue?
a What would you do if you were me?
b I could see which of the approaches that worked
on the last project could also work here.
c I’m not sure. It’s all very sudden.
5 What options do you have as a next step?
a I’ve got a few options to consider...
b That option could be a good idea...
c We could choose an option as a next step…
BP_B2_Test_ 08_002_mp3
Listening 1
A: Hello, Chris Henson speaking.
B: Hi, Chris. It’s Philip Mathers.
A: Hello, Philip. What can I do for you today?
B: Well, I’d like to renegotiate the contract we
have with you.
A: Really? Aren’t you happy with the current
one.
B: It’s not that. We’ve just won a new contract,
which will increase our production output. So, as
we’re going to need double the amount of steel
casings we get from you, we were hoping to get a
bigger discount. And we expect the volumes to
increase even more over time.
A: I see. This is a big change for your
organisation, isn’t it?
B: Yes, it’s very exciting. So getting back to the
discount …
A: Yes, well if you’re going to buy twice as many
casings each month, I think we can do something.
Let’s see, your current discount is 7.5% is that
right?
B: Actually it’s 8.
9

A: Oh, yes, sorry, I was looking at the wrong file.
Well, we could offer you 10%.
B: I was hoping for something more like 12.
A: Mm, we don’t usually give more than 10.
Company policy, you understand.
B: I understand. But if we can guarantee
minimum orders for two years, couldn’t you make
an exception?
A: I’m going to have to check it with the Sales
Director. Leave it with me and I’ll get back to you as
soon as I’ve spoken to her.
A: OK. I look forward to your call.
Listening 2
A: Daisuke speaking.
B: Hi, Daisuke. It’s Franz from head office here.
A: Hello, Franz. Nice to hear from you. I bet I
can guess what you’re calling about: the changes
being implemented next week?
B: Yes, that’s right. I just wanted to make sure
that you haven’t got any problems. We need the
whole organisation to move at the same time.
A: I understand, but we’ve got an issue with
staff holidays. You want everyone to request
holiday time from head office, right?
B: Well, not everyone. It’s only for management
and directors. For most employees, things will be
agreed locally.
A: The staff aren’t very happy about that.
B: Oh, dear. Would it help if I had a video
meeting with them to explain why we’re doing this?
A: I think it might. They’re refusing to cooperate,
I’m afraid.
B: I’ll set that up. It’s really only about
standardising staff benefits and welfare and sharing
holiday calendars.
A: I see.
B: Now, purchase orders, any issues there?
A: No. All the staff know they have to send
these through the central processing office in
Frankfurt.
B: Excellent. And finally, don’t forget that the
monthly sales reports have to be ready by the 28th
of each month now, and not the 1st of the month.
A: So next month you’ll get one report on the 1st
and then another on the 28th?
B: Yes, that’s it.
A: Okay. No problem.
BP_B2_Test_ 08_003_mp3
A: Welcome back to Business Today, with me,
Michael Andrews. In this part of the programme, we
talk to guests who successfully run their own
businesses after leaving the corporate world.
Today, I’m talking to Elena Halsch, who two years
© Pearson Education 2018
Tests audioscripts
ago completely changed the course of her career.
Elena, welcome.
B: Thank you, Michael.
A: Could you start by telling us what happened
two years ago?
B: Well, I’d been working in a family-run
automotive company for ten years as Marketing
Director, but they were bought out by their main
rival. I loved my job with the company but they were
being squeezed out of the market by the huge
multinationals and finally they were taken over by
one of them. Then things changed dramatically.
A: As so often happens these days. But the
changes that occurred as a result led to you
leaving, didn’t they? Why what was that?
B: First of all, let me say that everyone in our
small company felt as if they were part of a family.
Most of the employees had been working there for
years and it was a very happy place. But when we
were taken over many employees were made
redundant although they’d promised that no one
would lose their jobs. I was demoted to Marketing
Manager with double the workload I previously had.
A: But I assume your salary increased because
of that?
B: Not at all. That was the worst thing. Because
I was only the marketing manager at that point, my
salary had decreased. I think that was the final
insult really. I realised then I couldn’t stay there so
I started looking for other jobs. I applied for four or
five but didn’t even get an interview. Then, a friend
of mine who was setting up a new business asked
my advice about marketing. I was happy to help her
for free to help get her business off the ground.
Then she told people how helpful I’d been and
they started calling me for advice. That’s how my
consultancy business was born.
A: You specialise in helping new companies,
don’t you?
B: I do. I don’t want to be part of a big
conglomerate business. I like to work closely with
individuals who really care about what they do.
I charge fees that won’t break the bank of the start-
up company. It’s so rewarding to see a new
business grow. I have contributed to that, and it
makes me feel good. But once they’re successful,
I insist that they take on someone else if they need
a permanent member of staff.
A: Why would you do that?
B: Because I prefer to be my own boss. For me
it’s not about the money or financial security. I earn
enough to have a comfortable lifestyle. I can use
my skills and knowledge to help people who really
need my help but without the stress one might feel
working for a large company. I set my own goals
and objectives and work with wonderful people.
A: That sounds like the ideal job.
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B: For me it is. Every day is different and I can

be as creative as I like. It’s wonderful not to have
to do the same things over and over again. Big
companies tend to follow so many rules and
procedures that creativity sometimes gets lost.
Don’t get me wrong, I have to follow what my clients
want, but they allow me much more freedom. I can
go home at the end of the day and feel I’ve done
something worthwhile, hopefully helping people
achieve their goals for their own business.
A: So, will you do this for the foreseeable
future? What happens next?
B: More of the same for a while, but I’m thinking
of taking a year out to travel, which I didn’t have the
chance to do when I was younger. And at some
point, I want to have time to myself to work out what
I will do next. I think I’d like another change at some
point, although at the moment I’m not quite sure
what that change might be.
A: Well, it sounds like there’s no hurry at the
moment.

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