English B2 (Upper Intermediate)
Summary of the English B2 (Upper Intermediate) test
The English B2 (Upper Intermediate) test evaluates candidates' knowledge of English at the B2 level of the CEFR framework. This test will help you hire employees who can participate in upper intermediate professional and social conversations in English.
Covered skills
Grammar and vocabulary
Sentence composition
Reading comprehension
Listening comprehension
Use the English B2 (Upper Intermediate) test to hire
Employees who need upper-intermediate proficiency in English to hold a conversation and perform well in their roles.
About the B2 English test for employment
The B2 level English test evaluates a candidate’s ability to communicate at the B2 CEFR level.
Proficiency at level B2 of this English language test means applicants can confidently present themselves on various topics relevant to their position, actively participate in discussions, and provide well-founded explanations and arguments.
An upper intermediate level of English proficiency helps applicants who learn English comprehend complex texts and technical discussions in their field of expertise and engage easily with native speakers.
You can use this English B2 test online to measure:
Grammar and vocabulary proficiency
Coherent sentence construction
Reading comprehension skills
Listening comprehension abilities
Fluency in expressing oneself on relevant topics
Capacity for engaging in meaningful discussions
The English B2 test results confirm a candidate has a solid grasp of the language. That’s important for roles that require intermediate communication skills, like administrative assistants, receptionists, and data entry clerks.
In contrast, the English (C1) test is necessary for roles that require superior use of English language skills, such as editors, content creators, and customer success managers.
Here are some sample multiple-choice questions from this English practice test for learners:
Fill in the blanks:
If I ______ you were coming to town, I would have thrown a party with all our friends.
___________ that she isn’t the best candidate for the job, she is considering withdrawing her application.
The test is made by a subject-matter expert
TestGorilla’s tests are created by subject matter experts. We assess potential subject-matter experts based on their knowledge, ability, and reputation.Before being published, each test is peer-reviewed by another expert, then calibrated using hundreds of test takers with relevant experience in the subject.
Our feedback mechanisms and unique algorithms allow our subject-matter experts to constantly improve their tests.
Isabel S.
Isabel has a PhD in English and Applied Linguistics, and over 25 years of experience teaching English as a second language. She is also a language teacher trainer and has vast experience of curriculum and materials design.
For many years, she trained ESL certificate students in higher education, as well as active teachers in theories, methods, and approaches to second language teaching. She regularly creates content and materials for language schools and websites.
Reliability: Cronbach’s alpha coefficient = .81
Face validity: Candidates rated this test as accurately measuring their skills (average score of 4.36 out of 5.00)
Criterion-related validity: Candidates with higher scores on this test received higher average ratings from the hiring team during the selection process (r = .15, N = 668).
For an in-depth look at interpreting test results, please take a look at our Science series articles: How to interpret test fact sheets (part 1): Reliability, and How to interpret test fact sheets (part 2): Validity.
For an explanation of the various terms, please refer to our Science glossary.
Reliability and validity | Sufficient data available | Analyses and checks conducted | Outcome |
|---|---|---|---|
Reliability | ✔ | ✔ | Acceptable |
Content validity | ✔ | ✔ | Acceptable |
Face validity | ✔ | ✔ | Acceptable |
Construct validity | ✔ | ✔ | Acceptable |
Criterion-related validity | ✔ | ✔ | Acceptable |
Group differences | |||
Age differences | Pending | Pending | Pending |
Gender differences | ✔ | ✔ | Acceptable |
Ethnicity differences | Pending | Pending | Pending |
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Why are English B2 skills important to employers?
English B2 skills are important to employees because they support effective communication in various workplace settings, including remote environments.
Employers rely on an English language test (B2) to verify job applicants’ language level, which is crucial for team communication, collaboration, and handling everyday tasks with ease.
Candidates can complete the English B2 (Upper Intermediate) test online, which helps you find remote workers who can collaborate effectively.
Implementing a pre-employment English test for job applicants guarantees that candidates can adapt to the demands of remote work, stay productive, and contribute to the success of your distributed team.
For example, Click&Boat, a boat rental platform, used our English language assessments to hire online customer success agents. Employees hired with our skills tests proved to be 30% more productive than the rest of the team.
What job roles can you hire with our B2 Level English test?
A B2 level of English proficiency is essential for almost every job. This level ensures effective communication, understanding, and interaction in a professional setting. You can use our B2 English test online to hire:
Administrative assistants: Manage correspondence and documentation with precision and professionalism
Receptionists: Greet and assist visitors and clients with a friendly, professional demeanor
Delivery drivers: Follow instructions and interact with customers during deliveries
Data entry clerks: Accurately enter data and manage information in English
Junior accountants: Manage basic financial tasks and communicate with stakeholders
Research assistants: Support research projects by collecting and analyzing data and communicating results
Entry-level salespeople: Evaluate leads, work on customer research, and support more senior sales professionals
Office managers: Coordinate office activities, manage schedules, and ensure smooth operations
Project managers: Lead project teams, communicate project goals and requirements, and coordinate project activities
Create a multi-measure assessment: 4 tests to pair with the English B2 (Upper Intermediate) test
You can combine our English B2 test online with other skills tests to create a holistic assessment of your candidates. That way, you are guaranteed to make a better hiring decision.
For example, you can use the C1 or C2 English test to determine if job seekers have even more advanced English skills that can contribute to their job success. In addition, you can use role-specific, personality, or cognitive tests.
Improve your hiring accuracy by combining these four tests with the B2 English test into a comprehensive talent assessment:
Communication test: Discover your candidates’ written and verbal communication styles. Combine it with an English test for job applicants to identify people who can express themselves confidently and understand others.
DISC Personality test: Understand an applicant’s personality traits and how they influence their behavior at work. Use it with our B2 English test to determine how well a candidate can fit into your team dynamics.
Problem Solving test: Evaluate job seekers’ ability to analyze available information and overcome issues using logic and reasoning. Use this test with the English (B2) test online to find English speakers who can overcome obstacles in the workplace.
Motivation test: Assess what drives an applicant and how their motivations align with your company’s goals. Pair it with the pre-employment English test to identify individuals who are passionate about their work.
Note: We haven’t included any role-specific skills tests here because they depend on the position you’re hiring for. However, we highly recommend you add at least one in your five-test assessment to ensure your candidates possess the right skills for the job.
FAQs
View a sample report
The English B2 (Upper Intermediate) test will be included in a PDF report along with the other tests from your assessment. You can easily download and share this report with colleagues and candidates.