The Bell Syllabus

Note: each level beyond A1 is cumulative, and presupposes mastery of at least 70% of the requirements of the preceding level. Level Vocabulary Speaking Learn to: - introduce somebody and use basic greeting and leave-taking expressions - ask and answer simple questions on familiar topics and about personal details - make and respond to simple statements - make simple purchases - talk about numbers, quantities, cost and time - order something to eat or drink Listening Understand: - when someone speaks to you clearly and slowly with pauses and repetition - simple directions from one place to another - basic questions and instructions - numbers, prices and times Reading Understand: - simple factual messages on postcards, notes or e-mail - simple everyday signs - when and where local events take place, using a leaflet or calendar - questionnaires asking for personal details - basic commands on a computer programme Writing Learn to: - fill in a questionnaire with your personal details - write a simple postcard or greeting card - write sentences and simple phrases about yourself and your family

Bell Learn how to Level 1 use: Beginner - the alphabet - to be - there is / there are - have got - the present simple tense for things that are always true - the present continuous tense for things that are happening around now - imperative verbs - common past simple verbs - basic question forms and short answers - can for ability and possibility - like and would like - subject - verb - object word order - possessive adjectives

A1

Level

Language

Speaking

Listening Understand: - clear everyday

Reading Understand: - simple personal e-

Writing Learn to: - write short simple notes

Bell Level Learn how to Learn to: 2 Learn to: use: - possessive - describe

Elementary pronouns and s - adverbs of frequency (sometimes, In addition always) - like +ing to Bell - countable and Level 1: uncountable nouns with some, any, much, many - articles a, an, the, no article - irregular past simple verbs - the present perfect simple with ever - will future - going to for future plans - Modal verbs: have to for obligation, should for advice, could / might / must / cant for possibility - too / (not) enough - comparative and superlative adjectives - this / that / these / those - prepositions of time and place - adverbs and adjectives - Whats ____ like?

A2

yourself, your family and where you live - describe your hobbies and interests in a simple way - say what you like and dislike - make simple transactions in shops, post offices or banks - say what you want in a shop and ask the price - use public transport, asking for basic information and buying tickets - ask for and give directions referring to a map or plan - make and respond to invitations - make and accept apologies - ask for attention - show that you understand whats being said to you - give short basic descriptions of events

speech with speakers able to adjust their language to help you - the main point in recorded announcements - the topic of conversation when people are speaking clearly and slowly - the main point in short, clear, simple messages and announcements - essential information in short recorded passages based on everyday matters

mails or letters about everyday life - short written messages from friends and colleagues - simple texts on everyday topics - basic information about people in newspapers

and messages - write a simple e-mail or letter including expressions for greeting, addressing, asking or thanking

Level

Language

Speaking

Listening

Reading

Writing

Bell Level 3 Learn how to Preuse: intermediate - the past continuous tense - subject questions (e.g. In addition Who gave it to you?) to Bell - simple Level 2: quantity expressions - the past simple and continuous in a narrative - the present continuous for future arrangements - can / cant for permission - the present perfect simple and continuous with for and since - the first and second conditional - used to - so / neither - the passive to describe processes (The coffee is grown in..) - reported speech with say and tell

A2

Learn to: - discuss with others where to go and what to do and make arrangements - describe your educational background and your job - describe past experiences where the order of events is straightforward

Understand: - clear everyday speech which includes repetition and reformulation - the main point of most general conversations - the main points of TV news

Understand: - instructions for equipment - the main points of short newspaper articles - the most important information about leisure activities from leaflets and brochures - information from advertisements by skimming the text

Learn to: - write about your everyday life in simple sentences - describe an event in simple sentences and report what happened when and where - write a note to tell somebody where you are or where to meet - connect simple sentences with and, but or because - indicate chronological order of events with first, then, after etc - complete a questionnaire giving information about your educational background, job, interests and skills

Level

Language

Speaking Learn to: - start, maintain and close simple face to face

Listening Understand: - clearly articulated speech when directed at

Reading Understand: - the main points in short newspaper articles

Writing Learn to: - write simple texts on a range of topics within your

Bell Level 4 Learn how to Intermediate use: - the past perfect simple and continuous

B1
In addition to Bell Level 3:

- the past continuous for unfulfilled promises (I was going to.. but..) - the present simple with future reference - the passive voice in different tenses - reported speech statements, commands and questions, say vs. tell - tag questions - the third conditional - if only / I wish + past perfect - if and unless - verbs which can be transitive or intransitive - verb + (to) infinitive or ing - defining relative clauses - could and be able to - Modal and semi-modal verbs: could /might / will, needn't have and didnt need to, had better - used to and would - -ed and ing

conversation on familiar topics - deal with most situations when making travel arrangements or travelling - ask for and follow detailed directions - express and respond to feelings such as surprise, happiness, sadness, interest or indifference - give or seek personal opinions - agree or disagree with someone politely - narrate a story - give detailed accounts of experiences, describing feelings and reactions - describe dreams, hopes and ambitions - relate the plot of a book or film and describe your reactions - paraphrase short written passages orally

you, though you may have to ask for repetition - follow the main points of extended discussion, if clearly articulated in standard dialect - short narratives, and be able to guess what comes next - clearly expressed radio news bulletins on topics of personal interest - the main points of TV programmes on familiar topics - simple technical information such as instructions

- the overall meaning of columns or interviews in the press - the meaning of unknown words and phrases from the context - how to use different reading techniques such as skimming and scanning to get relevant information - the most important information in short everyday information brochures - the plot of a clearly structured story and recognise the significance of events

field of interest or experience - express personal views and opinions in writing - write personal letters asking for or giving news and narrating events - describe the plot of a film or book or describe a concert - express feelings in writing such as grief, happiness, interest, regret or sympathy - reply in written form to advertisements and ask for specific information on products and services - convey, for example by email, short, simple information to friends or colleagues - write your CV in summary form

adjectives (amazed / amazing) - make and let - be used to and get used to - would rather / prefer - look and look like, feel like

Level

Language

Speaking Learn to: - initiate, maintain and end discourse naturally with effective turntaking - exchange considerable amounts of detailed factual information on your field of interest - convey degrees of emotion and highlight the personal significance of events - engage in extended conversation on most topics - give opinions by providing relevant explanations, arguments and comments - help a conversation along by confirming

Listening Understand: - in detail what is said to you in standard language, even in a noisy environment -a straightforward, clearly structured lecture on a familiar topic - most radio programmes and be able to identify the speaker's mood - most TV shows and films in standard dialect

Reading Understand: - in detail, texts on your specialised subject - specialised articles outside your field with occasional dictionary use - the content and significance of news articles and reports on familiar topics - writers' points of view and feelings in reports on current issues - reviews of films, books etc, and summarise the main points - how to look quickly through a

Writing Learn to: - write clear detailed reports and texts on an area of special interest - write summaries of articles on topics of general interest - summarise information from different media sources - discuss a topic in a composition, giving reasons for or against a specific point of view - develop an argument, emphasising decisive points and including supporting details - write about events and experiences in a detailed and

Bell Level 5 Learn how to Upper use: Intermediate - simple and continuous verb forms, in different tenses, In addition appropriately - perfect to Bell simple and Level 4: continuous forms, in different tenses, appropriately - the passive in report structures (it is believed that..) - the present simple and present perfect with time clauses (when you read it / when you have read it) - have / get something done - indirect questions (Id like to know where she was)

B2

- statements as questions - the full range of conditional forms, including mixed conditionals - quantifiers and determiners such as each, every, some, none and several - past modals with perfect infinitive (He must have been there) - a range of modal forms, plus alternative expressions such as bound to, unlikely to, perhaps, be required to.. - defining and non-defining relative clauses - articles, including their use in a range of fixed expressions (the other day, at night, once in a while) - noun and adjective formation - common collocations - auxiliaries for emphasis (I do like it)

comprehension, inviting others in etc - carry out an interview, checking and confirming information, following up interesting replies - give clear, detailed descriptions of subjects within your field of interest - summarise extracts from news items or documentaries containing opinions, argument and discussion - summarise the plot and sequence of events in a film or play - construct a chain of reasoned argument, linking your ideas logically - explain a viewpoint giving the advantages and disadvantages of an opinion - speculate about causes, consequences, and hypothetical situations

manual and find relevant explanations and help for a specific problem - in a narrative, the reasons for characters actions and their consequences for plot development

easily readable way - write a short review of a film or a book - write a personal letter or e-mail expressing different feelings and attitudes and emphasising the important aspects of an event

Level

Language

Speaking Learn to: - express your ideas and opinions clearly and precisely - orally summarise long demanding texts - give clear, detailed accounts and descriptions of complex subjects, integrating themes, developing points and concluding appropriately - give clearly developed presentations on a subject in your field - speak with a good command of broad vocabulary, consistently maintaining a high degree of grammatical accuracy

Listening Understand: - extended speech even when it is not clearly structured - a wide range of idiomatic expressions, slang and colloquialisms, including in settings such as a film - even poor quality public announcements, and be able to extract information from them - complex technical information e.g. operating instructions

Reading Understand: - long, demanding texts, and be able orally to summarise these - complex reports, commentaries, contemporary literary texts and correspondence with the occasional use of a dictionary, and extract ideas and opinions - complex instructions

Writing Learn to: - write clear and wellstructured compositions and reports on a wide range of complex topics - summarise information from different sources coherently - give detailed descriptions of experiences, feelings and events - write formally correct letters e.g. to complain - write texts which are grammatically correct and stylistically appropriate with a wide range of vocabulary

Bell Learn how to Level 6 use: Advanced - ellipsis (leaving out words) appropriately - different tenses to In addition express nuances of to Bell Level 5: meaning - a wide range of adverbs and adverbial forms and their collocations (e.g. deeply worried) - more complex discourse markers in speech and writing - Fronting (Out came Steve) and there / it / what clauses (What mattered was..) - Inversion (Had we known..) - Prepositional phrases (e.g. be inspired by) - Compound nouns and noun phrases

C1

Level Bell Level 7

Language Learn how to use: - verbs with

Speaking Learn to: - take part in all

Listening

Reading

Writing Learn to: - write wellstructured and

Understand: Understand: - any spoken - texts written language, even in a very

Advanced closely related meanings appropriately and accurately (e.g. rise, raise, arise) In addition - Varied participles and to Bell Level 6: participle phrases (Having left the building..) - subjunctive forms (we propose that she leave) - homonyms (bow and bow), homophones (write and rite) and homographs (row and row) without ambiguity

C2

conversations with native speakers. You only need to pause occasionally in order to select precisely the right words - summarise information from different sources in a coherent presentation - speak with a good command of idiomatic expressions and colloquialisms

delivered at fast native speed, provided you have time to get familiar with the accent

colloquial style containing many idiomatic expressions or slang - manuals, regulations, and contracts in familiar fields - contemporary literary texts in different genres (prose, poetry, drama)

easily readable reports and articles on complex topics - write a report or essay, giving a complete account of a topic based on research you have carried out, evaluating detailed facts and opinions - write a wellstructured review of a paper or project giving reasons for your opinion - write a critical review of a cultural event (film, theatre, literature etc) - write summaries of factual texts - write clear, well-structured complex letters and emails in an appropriate style

Level

Language

Speaking Be able to: - take part effortlessly in all conversations with native speakers - present ideas and viewpoints

Listening Understand: - any spoken language, even delivered at fast native speed, and via different media (face to face, telephone,

Reading Understand: - ironic and satirical texts and plays on words without difficulty - manuals, regulations, and contracts even

Writing Learn to: - write summaries of, technical, scientific or literary texts - write extended narratives about

Bell Use: Level 8 - a range of Expert language forms with the breadth, variety and accuracy of an educated native speaker In addition - the

C2

to Bell appropriate Level 7: style and register for every situation and with different interlocuters / readers - idiom, simile and metaphor appropriately - new and borrowed words (metrosexual, blas) - slang - puns

in a very public flexible manner announcement in order to give etc) emphasis, differentiate or eliminate ambiguity - repair, rephrase and paraphrase smoothly in conversation - convey finer shades of meaning precisely, using a wide range of expressions to qualify statements and and pinpoint the extent to which something is the case - use idiomatic expressions and colloquialisms with a native speaker-like command - consistently maintain grammatical control of complex language even when your attention is otherwise engaged

in unfamiliar fields - classical literary texts in different genres (prose, poetry, drama) - literary or satirical texts where much is said in an indirect and ambiguous way with hidden value judgements - different stylistic means (e.g. puns, metaphors, connotations) and evaluate their function within the text

experiences in a clear, fluent style appropriate to the genre - express yourself in a consciously ironical, ambiguous or humorous way in a letter or email