LCCI International Qualifications
Level 3 Certificate in
English for Business
Syllabus
Effective from January 2006
Tel. +44 (0) 8707 202909
For further
Email. enquiries@ediplc.com
information
www.lcci.org.uk
contact us:
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INTRODUCTION
EDI is a leading international awarding body that was formed through the merger of the London
Chamber of Commerce and Industry Examinations Board (LCCI) and GOAL, a leading online
assessment provider. EDI now delivers LCCI International qualifications (LCCI IQ) through a
network of over 5000 registered centres in more than 120 countries worldwide. Our range of
business-related qualifications is trusted and valued by employers worldwide and recognised
by universities and professional bodies.
Please note that a UK accredited ESOL version of this examination is available as EDI Level 1
certificate in ESOL International (Level1) (500/5745/5)
Level 3 Certificate in English for Business
Aims
The aims of this syllabus are to enable candidates to develop the ability to:
żð understand and write English used in a variety of ways within a range of business
contexts
żð employ appropriate business formats and styles to produce a range of business
documents for different audiences and purposes
żð understand spoken and recorded Business English at the defined level
żð participate in conversations and discussions
żð make an oral presentation on a business-related topic
Target Audience and Candidate Progression
This qualification is intended for candidates who wish to
żð Gain a recognised English qualification at the equivalent of Council of Europe B2
(Vantage) level
żð Progress to LCCI IQ Level 3 in English for Business at the equivalent of Council of
Europe C1 (Effective Operational Proficiency) level.
Further progress can be made up to Level 4 of this qualification. Each of these levels builds on
the previous one and provides a consistent extension to the levels of skill and knowledge
developed at the previous level.
Level of English Required
This qualification is intended for candidates who have achieved a sound understanding of
English in a business context, equivalent to Council of Europe B1 (Threshold) level, gained
either through previous learning or employment or both,
Note: The equivalences shown above are specific to a pass grade at the respective EFB level.
A credit or distinction is considered to be equivalent of one Council of Europe Framework
(CEF) level higher than that of a pass (eg a level 3 credit / distinction = CEF C1).
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Structure of the Qualification
This qualification has three parts, one part is compulsory, the other two parts are optional.
The LCCI IQ Level 3 Certificate in English for Business will be awarded to candidates who
successfully complete the learning outcomes and assessments for the following part:
żð Reading and Writing (compulsory)
żð An additional certificate will be awarded to candidates who successfully complete the
learning outcomes and assessments either one or both of the following parts:
żð Listening (optional)
żð Speaking (optional)
Syllabus Topics
Reading and Writing
1 Composing a business letter
2 Drafting an internal company report
3 Business-related text comprehension
4 Business-related text and data conversion and reformulation
There will be 4 compulsory questions corresponding to the 4 syllabus topics listed above. Each
question carries equal marks. For a full breakdown of these topics, refer to syllabus topics 1 to
4 and the associated learning outcomes that are shown on pages 10 13 of this document.
Speaking
The English for Business Speaking Test is a test of English with a commercial and business
focus, so candidates will be tested for their competence in English within a general business
and/or commercial context. The topics for the oral test are as follows:
1 Earning a living
2 Production and sale of goods
3 Trade
4 Money
5 Transport
6 Communications
7 Education
8 Travel and tourism
Candidates will be expected to demonstrate a level of linguistic competence as outlined on
syllabus topics 5 to 8 and the associated learning outcomes that are shown on pages 14 - 19.
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Listening
The English for Business Listening Test is a test of English with a commercial and business
focus, so candidates will be tested for their competence in English within a general business
and / or commercial context. The topics for the listening test are as follows:
1 Personal information
2 Travel information
3 Work information
4 Business transaction
5 Instructions
6 Arrangements
Candidates will be expected to demonstrate a level of listening competence as outlined in
syllabus topic 9 and the associated learning outcomes shown on page 19 of this document.
Guided Learning Hours
EDI recommends that 140 - 160 Guided Learning Hours (GLHs) provide a suitable course
duration for an average candidate at this level. This figure includes direct contact hours as
well as other time when candidates work is being supervised by teachers. Ultimately,
however, it is the responsibility of training centres to determine the appropriate course duration
based on their candidates ability and level of existing knowledge. EDI experience indicates
that the number of GLHs can vary significantly from one training centre to another.
ASSESSMENT
Assessment Objectives
The examination will assess the candidate s ability to:
Reading and Writing
żð employ techniques for handling, displaying, and interpreting information on a range of
common business practices
żð display a range of appropriate tones and styles suitable for a variety of common business
contexts
żð display an advanced ability relative to the:
layout of business documentation
correctness for a given requirement
communicative impact
żð assume a business role in a given scenario in order to perform a particular task on behalf
of an employer
żð transfer and reformulate information based on a given business scenario
żð display imagination, originality and knowledge of business issues in fulfilling the role
required by the scenario
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żð employ suitable linguistic forms used for business requirements so as to:
be sufficiently accurate in English to understand and express specialised business-
related concepts
be able to understand and use common idiomatic forms as used in a business
context
be able to understand subtleties of details and meaning in English material
presented to them
make limited use of the one dictionary allowed during the examination
żð display an awareness of the impact of new technology and innovative business ideas and
practices on the nature and forms of communication.
Speaking
żð discuss orally, business-related topics
Listening
żð understand standard speech encountered in work and everyday situations, including
factual information, such as instructions and directions, short talks, announcements, and
news bulletins.
Coverage of Syllabus Topics in Examinations
Reading and Writing Compulsory
Candidates will be assessed via a 3-hour examination consisting of 4 questions as follows:
żð Question 1 involves the composition of a letter, the stimulus for which will be an incoming
letter, or the employer s instructions, or both. The rubric will include data on which a reply
might be based and an indication of the tone required
żð Question 2 involves the drafting of an internal report based on raw data given in the form
of graphs, notes, press cuttings, charts, tables, etc. Candidates will have to understand,
select, collate and, if necessary, supplement this data in order to write the report in the
light of the instructions given.
żð Question 3 involves a comprehension task in which candidates will be asked to show an
understanding of information given for a defined purpose. This might be a press article,
an extract from a business journal, a company report, a circular letter, a tender, or some
other form of business reading matter, with which candidates should be familiar at this
stage
żð Question 4 is a conversion task involving the reformulation of a message for some
defined purpose. Thus candidates may be required to produce a memo from a fax, letter
or computer printout; or an abstract from an article; or a summary of a phone call for
discussion; or a fax from a company notice, employer s instructions, etc.
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Speaking - Optional
Candidates will be assessed by a 15 minute examination including 5 minutes preparation time.
The examination consists of 2 parts. There are four criteria fluency, lexis, grammar and
pronunciation and candidates will be assessed on their performance in both parts. The
assessment tasks are as follows:
żð Part 1 consists of a warm up conversation during which the candidate will be asked
about, eg. study, work ambitions for the future,
żð Part 2 requires the candidate to participate in a discussion of the topic selected by the
examiner
Topics for speaking tests are listed in the Guidance for Speaking Test Examiners.
Listening Optional
Candidates will be assessed by a listening test lasting about 25 minutes. The test comprises 30
short listening tasks, each with a multiple-choice question. There is one mark for each question.
There are 2 types of tasks:
Task 1. Candidates listen to a recorded question, which has three recorded responses (A, B,.
C). Candidates choose the appropriate response.
Task 2. Candidates listen to a short conversation or announcement. They then read a question
about the conversation, which has 4 possible written answers (A, B, C, D), and choose the
correct answer.
Answer Formats
Reading and Writing Test:
This examination will test at a higher level the linguistic skills and business knowledge tested at
Level 2. The techniques for handling, displaying, interpreting, transferring and reformulating
information already introduced at the previous levels will be invoked for more advanced tasks.
It is assumed that there will be no need for as great a level of close supervision and scrutiny as
that required at the lower levels, and that successful candidates will, apart from occasional
stylistic errors and slips, be able to carry out successfully all the linguistic tasks an employer
might set.
In Question 1 the candidate s letter must be mailable and hence must be correctly laid out,
linguistically accurate and appropriate in tone and content.
In Question 2 the report must be clear, well-organised and logically paragraphed and where
appropriate numbered. The language must be correct and stylistically appropriate, so that
the report will be fit for internal distribution. The rubric will give guidance on the form and
content required.
Question 3 is not only a test of factual understanding but also a test of candidates
understanding of argument, bias, persuasive devices and internal organisation. Their
comprehension should be signalled by the most economic means available, eg incomplete
sentences, figures, single words, diagrams, organisation trees, etc.
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The task in Question 4 is to ensure that a message received in one form is transmitted in
another form. This will involve reducing lengthy messages, expanding fragmentary messages,
completing inadequate messages, or selecting from redundant messages. In transferring the
data from one form to the other the candidate must adopt the appropriate format and tone.
Candidates English will be expected to be correct in formal terms in relation to grammar,
punctuation and spelling together with the conventions governing general usage. Each
question requires an answer that is:
żð correct in formal terms (unless instructed otherwise) regarding:
grammar, punctuation, spelling, layout
good non-literary business communication
żð appropriate in terms of:
adopting an imagined business role if requested
fitness for the occasion and any social role required
displaying firmness, politeness, persuasiveness, tact etc
żð adequate in practical business terms in the sense that:
the purpose of the communication is achieved
the task is successfully completed
the correct format is chosen
essential matters are included
irrelevant information is excluded
order, clarity, balance and relevance are evident
Marks will be awarded differently for content, tone, style, layout, correctness and
communicative impact, according to the nature of the various tasks. Candidates will be
assigned an office role within a scenario and provided with ample data on which to base an
adequate answer. Nevertheless, there will be scope for the display of imagination, originality
and business background in fulfilling the role and developing the scenario.
Candidates English should be sufficiently accurate, specialised, and idiomatic for them to
detect subtleties of detail and meaning in English material presented to them, and to express
such subtleties when they write.
Candidates will be required to exercise their judgement on matters of appropriacy and
adequacy. They should be able to grasp a total situation from the fragments presented to them
and respond linguistically in a way that would benefit their business.
Where possible candidates should avoid copying whole phrases or sentences from the
examination paper.
Mark Allocation
Reading and Writing:
Pass 50%
Credit 60%
Distinction 75%
żð Percentage allocations in each question are shown in brackets where applicable
żð All questions carry equal marks
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Question 1 The business letter (25% of total)
żð Layout (20)
żð Content (40)
żð Style and impression (20)
żð Mechanical accuracy (20)
Question 2 The report (25% of total)
żð Organisation and presentation of content (40)
żð Format (20)
żð Layout and mechanical accuracy (40)
Question 3 Comprehension task (25% of total)
żð Candidates are required to read a passage, adopt a role and answer questions
żð An average of 10 questions may be asked, the mark value of which may vary according
to depth and difficulty of specific points in the text or gained from information across the
text
żð Language correctness may not necessarily be a significant factor in answers which may
be signalled in incomplete sentences, figures, diagrams, charts etc
Question 4 Conversion task (25% of total)
żð Normally this question requires the production of 2 mutually dependent tasks based on
the same scenario
żð The allocation of marks for both tasks may differ according to the degree of difficulty and
the input required for, typically:
żð content (45)
żð language and tone (45)
żð layout (10)
Speaking:
Marks are awarded for: fluency, lexis, grammar and pronunciation with 4 possible marks
available for each criterion (i.e. 1 = Fail, 2 = Pass, 3 = Credit, 4 = Distinction).
Fail two or more criteria scored at fail level.
Pass minimum of three criteria scored at pass level (or higher) but failing to meet
credit/distinction requirements.
Credit minimum of three criteria scored at credit level + one at pass (or higher) but
failing to meet distinction requirements.
Distinction minimum of three criteria scored at distinction level + one at credit.
The weighting of marks for a complete oral examination is:
żð fluency 25%
żð lexical range and accuracy 25%
żð grammatical range and accuracy 25%
żð pronunciation 25%
TOTAL 100%
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Listening:
1 mark is awarded for each correct answer.
Pass 15 17 marks
Credit 18 22 marks
Distinction 23 > marks
Task 1 10 marks
Task 2 20 marks
Varieties of English
EDI will accept any of the main varieties of English (British, North American, Australasian) in
candidates answers as long as candidates are consistent in the variety they use.
Certification
Successful candidates will be awarded the Level 3 Certificate in English for Business on the
achievement of the percentages and grades below:
Pass 50%
Credit 60%
Distinction 75%
Recommended Reading List and Support Material
Reading List Reading and Writing only
Title Publisher ISBN Code Order Code
How to Pass English for Business,
Third Level LCCIEB 1-86247-098-7 0124 ARLA
How to Pass English for Business, LCCIEB 1-86247-023-5 ASPB 0110
Third Level Teacher s Guide
LCCI English for Business MACMILLAN 978-0-230-43390-9
Level 3 Testbuilder
Support Material
Candidates are allowed to take one dictionary into this examination which may be either
English or foreign language/English; EDI cannot undertake to advise on which dictionaries to
choose and candidates make the choice entirely at their own risk. Poor quality dictionaries may
be misleading and candidates will lose time looking up words if they frequently have recourse
to them.
For advice on the layout and presentation of the reading and writing test, candidates are
recommended to refer to the past question papers and corresponding model answers which
are available from EDI. For the listening and speaking tests, candidates are recommended to
refer to the Guidance Document for English for Business Optional Tests. Sample items for the
listening test and sample topic sheets for the speaking test can be found within the appendices
of this document. In addition, a listening test sample CD and a speaking test tutorial CD are
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available from EDI. The speaking test tutorial CD has been developed to be used in conjunction
with the speaking test sample topic sheets.
Page 10 of 23
How To Offer This Qualification
To offer this qualification you must be an LCCI IQ registered examination centre. To gain centre
approval please contact Customer Support on 08700 818008 between the hours of 0830 and
1700 (GMT) Monday to Friday or by email on centresupport@ediplc.,com.
Alternatively you may contact your Regional LCCI Office or Co-ordinating Authority.
Page 11 of 23
Syllabus Topic Learning outcomes
1 Composing a business letter Candidates must be able to:
The stimulus for the letter will be:
żð an incoming letter/employer's
instructions or both
żð rubric information giving data on
which to base the reply
żð an indication of the required tone
1.1 Compose a letter on the basis of given
data with a particular aim or instruction in
view
1.2 Adopt the correct tone for the particular
purpose
1.3 Employ consistent business letter
conventions regarding:
1.3.1 layout, address, salutation,
complimentary close etc
1.3.2 conventions of business letter
language
1.4 Offer complete language correctness and
mechanical accuracy
1.5 Display a range and fluency of business
vocabulary and structures appropriate to
this level
1.6 Display coherence and cohesion to ensure
fluent reading
1.7 Provide adequate paragraphing
1.8 Avoid repeated and overt copying of
information supplied in the rubric
1.9 Ensure the length of the letter is adequate
for the stated purpose
1.10 Ensure that the finished letter is mailable
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2 Drafting an internal company Candidates must be able to:
report
żð based on raw data given in the
form of graphs, notes, press
cuttings, charts, tables etc
żð requiring the selection and
collation of the data
żð supplementing the given data
żð in order to conform to the
instructions given
2.1 Demonstrate the purpose of the report by
writing in a clear and well-organised
manner
2.2 Add invented content to the report if
required to do so
2.3 Organise the report material in an
appropriate fashion rather than merely
copying from the input
2.4 Observe the standard conventions for
report writing determined by the purpose of
the report and the nature of the information
given
2.5 Organise the information content in
relation to headings, paragraphs and
indentation
2.6 Number logically the paragraphs and
sections of the report
2.7 Employ correct and stylistically
appropriate, matter-of-fact language which
is usually neutral and factual
2.8 Meet the requirements of internal
distribution of the report within the firm
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3 Business-related text Candidates must be able to:
comprehension
The candidate will be required to
read a passage which might be:
żð a press article or extract from
a business journal
żð a company report or circular
letter
żð some other form of business
communication
3.1 Ensure that the meaning of the passage is
fully understood before answering the
questions
3.2 Demonstrate a factual understanding of
the passage
3.3 Detect and handle argument, bias and
persuasive devices evident
3.4 Reply to questions and instructions by
employing the most suitable economic
means available. This may be in the form
of incomplete sentences, figures, single
words, diagrams, organisation charts etc
3.5 Be aware of the fact that answers may not
be found consecutively in the text
3.6 Answer questions by seeking information
from across the whole text
3.7 Avoid lifting the wording of the passage to
provide answers, except where this is
essential
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4 Business-related text and data Candidates must be able to compose:
conversion and reformulation
The candidate is given information
input in one form (eg text of a phone
call) and has to reformulate this
information in, usually, two other
forms eg a fax or a company notice.
4.1 A memorandum from, say, a fax, letter or
computer printout
4.2 An abstract from an article
4.3 A summary of a phone call or discussion
4.4 A fax from a company notice or employer's
instructions
4.5 Notes from written or spoken information
4.6 A notice, correctly presented
4.7 Messages, suitably styled, for various
purposes
4.8 A list or guidelines from a text
The candidate must ensure:
4.9 That, in transferring the data, an
appropriate format and tone are adopted
4.10 That the message received in one form is
transmitted in the required form. This may
involve:
4.10.1 reducing lengthy messages
without loss of information
4.10.2 expanding fragmentary messages
4.10.3 completing inadequate messages
4.10.4 selecting from redundant
messages
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5 Linguistic competence Candidates must be able to use:
(structures)
5.1 Subordinate clauses (eg The report, as
you said, was ...)
5.2 Introductory adverbials expressing:
5.2.1 attitude (eg frankly, honestly)
5.2.2 declarative sentences (eg
naturally, obviously)
5.2.3 defining a viewpoint (eg
theoretically speaking)
5.2.4 argument structure (eg
nevertheless, otherwise)
5.3 The anaphoric use of pronouns;
using pronouns, possessives, pro-
adverbials there, then and the verb do
when referring back (eg His manager lived
there long before he did)
6 Linguistic competence Candidates must be able to express:
(concepts)
6.1 (Non) existence (eg to destroy, to create,
to occur, to discover)
6.2 Location:
6.2.1 nouns (eg place/position)
6.2.2 verbs (eg to be situated/arranged)
6.2.3 relative position preposition (eg
at the back of), adverbs below, at
the side
6.3 Distance (eg remote)
6.4 Motion (eg to flow, to come along)
6.5 Direction:
6.5.1 destination (eg is there a
direct route?)
6.5.2 adverbs (eg backwards/clockwise)
6.5.3 prepositions (eg up, down, towards)
6.6 Arrangement (eg pattern, set)
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6.7 Dimension:
6.7.1 size (eg enormous/tiny)
6.7.2 verbs (eg to become, to get bigger)
6.7.3 weight (eg load, weigh)
6.7.4 volume (eg content, to contain)
6.7.5 nouns (eg depth, length)
6.8 Time:
6.8.1 indications (eg whenever)
6.8.2 duration:
- prepositions (eg throughout)
- verbs (eg to continue)
- adverbs (eg always, for good)
6.8.3 sequence (eg next, later on)
6.8.4 simultaneousness (eg meanwhile,
while + sub-clause)
6.8.5 future reference (eg soon)
6.8.6 past reference (eg recent(ly))
6.8.7 speed (eg rapid(ly))
6.8.8 frequency (eg occasional(ly),
weekly)
6.8.9 continuity (eg to carry on)
6.8.10 performance/intermittence (eg
permanent(ly), sporadic(ally))
6.8.11 commencement/end (eg to begin,
finish)
6.9 Number:
6.9.1 fractions (eg It s half of what we
ordered)
6.9.2 minus/plus (eg It s minus
5 degrees)
6.9.3 negative/positive
Page 17 of 23
6.10 Quantity:
6.10.1 determiners (eg less, least)
6.10.2 percent/sum/total
6.10.3 to add/to subtract/to multiply/
to divide
6.11 Degree (eg somewhat more expensive /
hardly a bargain)
6.12 Quality:
6.12.1 shape:
- adjectives (eg circular, crooked)
- nouns (eg circle, curve)
6.12.2 visibility:
- nouns (eg glance, darkness)
- adjectives (eg blind, invisible)
6.12.3 audibility (eg silence, silent)
6.12.4 taste (eg flavour)
6.12.5 smell (eg odour, perfume)
6.12.6 texture (eg smooth, rough)
6.12.7 age:
- adjectives (eg elderly, mature)
- nouns (adolescent, maturity)
- generation (eg to be under, over
age)
6.12.8 physical condition (eg in good
shape)
6.12.9 material (eg aluminium, concrete)
6.12.10 genuineness (eg false, imitation)
6.13 Evaluation:
6.13.1 quality:
- adjectives (eg perfect, poor,
outstanding)
- verbs (eg to deteriorate, improve)
- adverbs (eg badly, excellently)
Page 18 of 23
6.13.2 acceptability (eg it's just/not quite
what I wanted)
also a range of adjectives (eg
(in)correct, (un)successful,
(ab)normal, (un)usual,
complex, particular, special)
6.13.3 expressions of opinion (eg I'm
against / I cannot accept... / It s
useless)
7 Linguistic competence Candidates must be able to use vocabulary in
(vocabulary) the following areas:
7.1 Identification of people, roles and
relationships:
7.1.1 appearance, personality, character
and skills of people
7.1.2 group descriptions (eg work teams
and personnel/business networks)
7.2 Personal interests:
7.2.1 hobbies, entertainment, sport,
mass media
7.2.2 social discussions on current
affairs, books, personal views and
preferences
7.3 Travel:
7.3.1 types of travel/modes of transport
for business and personal use
7.3.2 description/analysis of journeys
7.4 Business accommodation - exchanging
views on:
7.4.1 types of premises, furnishings,
layout/design, running costs
7.4.2 regional analysis of communication
facilities for business
7.5 Making deals:
7.5.1 prices, payments, exchange rates,
discounts, terms and conditions,
negotiating prices, quantities
Page 19 of 23
7.6 The workplace:
7.6.1 job descriptions, pay, hours of
work, holidays, length of notice,
task descriptions, routines
7.6.2 health, safety, security regulations,
accident reports
7.6.3 operating instructions for
equipment - faults, symptoms,
remedies
7.6.4 technical assessments and
proposals
7.6.5 prospects and the social life within
the organisation
8 Linguistic competence Candidates must be able to express:
(functions)
8.1 Opinions (eg (personally) I think you
should ...)
8.2 (Dis)agreement:
- strong (eg exactly/definitely)
- reluctant (eg I suppose so)
- with reservation (eg that may be so/
perhaps so)
- strong disagreement (eg nonsense!)
- weak disagreement (eg I'm not so sure)
8.3 Communication repair:
8.3.1 Did you mean ...?
8.3.2 requesting clarification (eg what is
... (exactly)?)
8.3.3 correcting (eg let me start/say that
again)
9 Listening competence Candidates must be able to demonstrate their
ability to:
9.1 Understand the main ideas of complex
speech on both concrete and abstract
topics, including technical discussions in
his / her field of specialism.
Page 20 of 23
9.2 Follow extended speech and complex lines
of argument provided the topic is
reasonably familiar, and the direction of
speech is signposted by explicit markers.
9.3 understand standard spoken English, live
or broadcast, on both familiar and
unfamiliar topics normally encountered in
personal, social, academic or vocational
life.
9.4 Understand announcements and
messages spoken at normal speed.
9.5 Follow the essentials of complex reports
and presentations.
9.6 Understand recordings in standard dialect
likely to be encountered in social,
professional or academic life and identify
viewpoints and attitudes as well as the
information content.
Page 21 of 23
EDI
International House
Siskin Parkway East
Middlemarch Business Park
Coventry CV3 4PE
UK
Tel. +44 (0) 8707 202909
Fax. +44 (0) 2476 516505
Email. enquiries@ediplc.com
www.ediplc.com
© Education Development International Plc 2008.
All rights reserved. This publication in its entirety is
the copyright of Education Development
International Plc. Reproduction either in whole or
in part is forbidden without the written permission
from Education Development International Plc.
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