WEELT EXAM

WEELT – Entrepreneurship English Language Test

The WEELT is a test of English language abilities for entrepreneurs and startups who want to engage with global markets, communicate with investors in English and develop their businesses internationally. It is administered by the English Language Department of the WBAF Business School. Test results are used to determine whether students will benefit from additional English as a foreign language courses. Some investors want a WEELT score before they listen pitches of entrepreneurs’ some demo day organisers and international startup pitching and fundraising organisations may require a WEELT score from entrepreneurs who apply. The test takes 110 minutes and is computer- and oral-based. The test consists of two parts; (1) the first part is computer-based and contains 90 multiple-choice questions (2) the second part is oral-based and devoted to speaking skill, but applicable only to those who get a score above WEELT 316 in the first part.

WEELT 106

  • Can understand and use familiar everyday expressions and very basic phrases aimed at the satisfaction of needs of a concrete type.
  • Can introduce him/herself and others and can ask and answer questions about personal details such as where he/she lives, people he/she knows, and things he/she has.
  • Can interact in a simple way provided the other person talks slowly and clearly and is prepared to help.

Basic User

Quoted From the Council of Europe A1

WEELT 246

  • Can understand sentences and frequently used expressions related to most relevant areas (e.g., very basic personal and family information, shopping, local geography, employment).
  • Can communicate during routine tasks requiring a simple and direct exchange of information on familiar matters.
  • Can describe in simple terms aspects of his/her background, immediate environment, and matters in areas of immediate need.

Basic User

Quoted From the Council of Europe A2

WEELT 316

  • Can understand the main points of clear standard input on familiar matters regularly encountered in work, school, leisure, etc.
  • Can deal with most situations likely to arise while traveling in an area where the language is spoken.
  • Can produce simple connected text on topics that are familiar or of personal interest.
  • Can describe experiences and events, dreams, hopes, and ambitions and briefly give reasons and explanations for opinions and plans.
     

Independent User

Quoted From the Council of Europe B1

WEELT 456

  • Can understand the main ideas of complex text on both concrete and abstract topics, including technical discussions in his/her field of specialization.
  • Can interact with a degree of fluency and spontaneity that makes regular interaction with native speakers quite possible without strain for either party.
  • Can produce clear, detailed text on a wide range of subjects and explain a viewpoint on a topical issue, giving the advantages and disadvantages of various options.

Independent User

Quoted From the Council of Europe B2

WEELT 561

  • Can understand a wide range of demanding, longer texts, and recognize implicit meaning.
  • Can express him/herself fluently and spontaneously without much obvious searching for expressions
  • Can use language flexibly and effectively for social, academic, and professional purposes.
  • Can produce clear, well-structured, detailed text on complex subjects, showing controlled use of organizational patterns, connectors, and cohesive devices.

Proficient User

Quoted From the Council of Europe C1

WEELT 631

  • Can understand with ease virtually everything heard or read.
  • Can summarize information from different spoken and written sources, reconstructing arguments and accounts in a coherent presentation.
  • Can express him/herself spontaneously, very fluently, and precisely, differentiating finer shades of meaning even in more complex situations.

Proficient User

Quoted From the Council of Europe C2

About the Exam

  • Duration: 110 minutes
  • Format: The speaking portions of the WEELT are oral based with an examiner. Reading  and writing portions are computer- and oral-based.
  • Sections: Multiple choice questions for Vocabulary, Grammar, Reading, Writing and Listening(110 Minutes).Also Speaking for B1 and above (10-15 minutes).
  • Scoring: Scores range from 0 to 700. The results are delivered within 5 days of taking the test and are valid for two years.
  • Commonly required score: The WBAF Business School requires scores in the range of 246 - 700, which is equivalent to B1/B2/C1/C2 proficiency levels of the Common European Framework (CEF) .
  • Where: You can register for the test online.
  • Price: 95 EUR
  • How often: The WBAF Business School usually offers the WEELT every month on the weekends.
  • Score Reports and Recommendations: Tests are scored and recommendations are completed before the end of the business day after the test is administered. Test scores and recommendations are communicated to the candidates by email 5 days after they take the test. The recommendations and the scores indicate which language support class(es) are suitable for the particular candidate. The   possible courses WBAF Business School recommends and their matching codes are as follows:


* (1) Participants with WEELT 316 and above will take an oral exam. The recommended course for each participant will be determined  after the oral exam. The exam will clarify if the participant should follow a course at his/her WELLT Level, above or below. (2) A0 – A1 – A2 will not take the oral exam. They are recommended to attend the English for Fundraising Course stated in the table above. (3) There are three modules in this speaking exam. In the first module, there are questions on general everyday topics. In the second part, there are debatable questions that should be answered in light of the personal opinions and reasons provided by the candidate. In the third module, the questions are all related to entrepreneurship and investment for starting up a new business. Due to the fact that the questions are all field-oriented in the third module, the answers given for the first two modules are taken into consideration in determining the language level of the applicant. Every candidate is allocated 15 minutes to complete the session, so each module lasts 5 minutes.

 

CEFR Levels and Can-Do Statements

Quoted From the Council of Europe

 

Proficient User

 

C2

  • Can understand with ease virtually everything heard or read.
  • Can summarize information from different spoken and written sources, reconstructing arguments and accounts in a coherent presentation.
  • Can express him/herself spontaneously, very fluently, and precisely, differentiating finer shades of meaning even in more complex situations.

C1

  •  Can understand a wide range of demanding, longer texts, and recognize implicit meaning.
  • Can express him/herself fluently and spontaneously without much obvious searching for expressions.
  • Can use language flexibly and effectively for social, academic, and professional purposes.
  • Can produce clear, well-structured, detailed text on complex subjects, showing controlled use of organizational patterns, connectors, and cohesive devices.

 

Independent User

 

B2       

  •  Can understand the main ideas of complex text on both concrete and abstract topics, including technical discussions in his/her field of specialization.
  • Can interact with a degree of fluency and spontaneity that makes regular interaction with native speakers quite possible without strain for either party.
  • Can produce clear, detailed text on a wide range of subjects and explain a viewpoint on a topical issue, giving the advantages and disadvantages of various options.

B1      

  • Can understand the main points of clear standard input on familiar matters regularly encountered in work, school, leisure, etc.
  • Can deal with most situations likely to arise while traveling in an area where the language is spoken.
  • Can produce simple connected text on topics that are familiar or of personal interest.
  • Can describe experiences and events, dreams, hopes, and ambitions and briefly give reasons and explanations for opinions and plans.

 

Basic User

 

A2      

  • Can understand sentences and frequently used expressions related to most relevant areas (e.g., very basic personal and family information, shopping, local geography, employment).
  • Can communicate during routine tasks requiring a simple and direct exchange of information on familiar matters.
  • Can describe in simple terms aspects of his/her background, immediate environment, and matters in areas of immediate need.

A1 

  • Can understand and use familiar everyday expressions and very basic phrases aimed at the satisfaction of needs of a concrete type.
  • Can introduce him/herself and others and can ask and answer questions about personal details such as where he/she lives, people he/she knows, and things he/she has.
  • Can interact in a simple way provided the other person talks slowly and clearly and is prepared to help.

 

 

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