Business Skills Quiz

What is your level of competency?

 

Note the 5 answers which best apply to you. Then, at the end of the quiz,

scroll down for the analysis.

 

1. You make a phone call in English. Do you

 

a. pick up the receiver, dial and start talking

b. prepare some sentences in your mind and try to phone when no-one

    is in the room

c. write a full text, wait till after-office hours, then read out the

    information to the answering machine

 

2. The display shows the caller is an English-speaker. Do you

 

a. answer fluently and confidently

b. get a shock and then speak slowly and carefully

c. get a shock and quickly leave the room

 

3. A business letter must be formulated in English. Do you

 

a. sit down at the computer straightaway and work without a dictionary

b. wait until it is almost too late, and then spend ages consulting the

    dictionary

c. when it is too late, find someone in the office to do it for you

 

4. English-speaking visitors are coming. Do you

 

a. look forward to meeting them and speak to them easily

b. accept that you have to receive them and give them a minimum of

    information and conversation

c. worry about the visit beforehand and feel afterwards that you made a

    poor impression

 

5. There is a 10 page document in English to be read. Do you

 

a. skip through it and make occasional notes about points you are not

    clear on

b. read through several times, underlining unknown words and

    consulting a dictionary

c. look at the first paragraph, put the document in the drawer, and hope

    no-one will ask your opinion about the contents

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Analysis

 

Mainly a. answers

 

You probably have a very good working knowledge of English and an open approach. You are confident and relaxed when you use it. Possibly you have had no training in English for several years and have remained on the same level. Is this still adequate? Checking up on your level from time to time is no great shame and you might even think of at last taking time to improve and extend your skills.

 

Mainly b. answers

 

You probably have a good working knowledge of the language but have neither the chance nor the confidence to use it. Take all the opportunities possible to use English – any phone call, any e-mail, any visitor. Practise as much as you can on-the-job, then follow this up by learning the new structures and words you have met. The recipe for you is : little and often.

 

Mainly c. answers

 

You probably have a basic knowledge of English and afraid to go further. Unfortunately for you, English will not simply “go away”. You may need to do some really hard work learning this tricky language and there are plenty of programmes to support you. Practise small items regularly for at least 6 months to build your confidence. You will see how much better you feel.

 

Thank you for taking part

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