INTRODUCTION TO BUSINESS ENGLISH – NQF LEVEL 3
PRACTICE ASSIGNMENT
Dear Student,
Your studies are important to us at Fernwood Business College (FBC) and to assist you, we include an
assignment for each subject of the IBS Professional Qualification: Business Administration. Many of
the questions in each assignment appeared in previous examination papers and were sourced from
the official ICSA website. After completing the various assignments, you should be quite familiar
with the nature, level and format of the examination question papers. NOTE: The assignment is to
be used as an examination preparation tool and does not guarantee your success in the formal
examination. DO NOT SPOT!
Though not a formal requirement, you may complete each assignment and return it to the Academic
Support Team at FBC for review and comment. After reviewing the marked assignments, we will
return your script, together with a possible solution. Note: you will not receive a formal mark for
your assignment but an Academic Consultant will comment where appropriate. Once you have
received your reviewed scripts back from FBC, refer to the identified problem areas and comments.
Alternatively, you are can visit the ICSA website (www.icsa.co.za) to access past exam papers.
Before sending us your assignment, you must complete the Assignment Cover Page (at the back of
this assignment) and attach it to the front of each submitted assignment. Assignments must be
posted to: Academic Support, Fernwood Business College, Private Bag X6, Tecoma, 5214 or e-mailed
to ibssupport@fbc.edu.za.
Academic Support is also available Monday to Thursday from 8:00am to 5:00pm and on Fridays from
8:00 to 4:00pm. You may phone us on 0861887771 and/or e-mail us with your academic questions
on ibssupport@fbc.edu.za
All the best for your studies.
Academic Support Team
FERNWOOD BUSINESS COLLEGE – INTRODUCTION TO BUSINESS ENGLISH
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Institute of Business Studies (IBS) examination instructions:
Below are standard instructions that appear on all the Institute’s examination papers. We suggest
that you refer to them when completing the assignment.
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When receiving your examination paper, make sure it is for the correct subject.
Only BLACK BALL-POINT INK must be used to write the examination.
Do not use your own name or that of your company in any of your answers.
Start each answer on a fresh page, clearly numbering it at the top.
Check that all answers are correctly numbered.
The examination will be closed-book. Students are not allowed to consult any notes.
Answer all questions.
SPECIFIC OUTCOME 1
MODULE 4 & 6
READ AND VIEW FOR UNDERSTANDING AND EVALUATE CRITICALLY AND RESPOND TO A WIDE
RANGE OF TEXTS.
QUESTION 1
Read the following passage. Give it a clear heading then rewrite it in simple, straightforward modern
English in your own words. Eliminate all redundancy, verbosity and jargon so that is reads as an
effective advertisement.
The company has a long history of assisting client companies by finding creative solutions to address
all your computing requirements. We do not hesitate to provide state-of-the-art techniques to
improve and enhance your current systems. We service clients throughout all the geographical
regions of South Africa regardless of where you are located. Our highly skilled graduate professional
staff will analyse and problems you may encounter and seek to address them within a reasonable
timeframe.
Do not hesitate to enter into contract with us at www.quickcomputersolutions.co.za
(15)
FERNWOOD BUSINESS COLLEGE – INTRODUCTION TO BUSINESS ENGLISH
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QUESTION 2
The following article appeared in the “Business Day” on 29 August 2011.
“Estate agents watchdog leaderless again”
Trade and Industry Minister Rob Daves suspends chairman following allegations Thami
Bolani had contravened the conditions of his appointment as board member
THE Estate Agency Affairs Board received another blow on Friday when Trade and Industry Minister Rob
Davies suspended the board’s chairman, Thami Bolani.
The board is now leaderless, as former CEO Nomonde Mapetia continues to fight against her dismissal in
court. The regulatory body’s mandate is to ensure estate agents operating in SA’s R2-trillion property market
comply with governing legislation.
Mr Bolani yesterday denied any wrongdoing, saying the latest action was due to a witch hunt. The Department
of Trade and Industry said the suspension followed allegations Mr Bolani had contravened the conditions of
this appointment as board member.
“These allegations came about due to disclosures made to the department regarding an alleged conflict of
interest,” the department said in a statement.
Earlier this month, it was reported that the Hawks were investigating how NCF Consulting Enterprises, of
which Mr Bolani is chairman, allegedly pocketed R200 000 from the board.”
2.1
In no more than three sentences summarise the article from the “Business Day”
(6)
2.2
Why does the title include the word “again”?
(3)
2.3
In your own words explain why there is a “conflict of interest”.
(2)
2.4
Describe what is meant by the term “witch hunt”?
(3)
FERNWOOD BUSINESS COLLEGE – INTRODUCTION TO BUSINESS ENGLISH
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SPECIFIC OUTCOME 2
MODULE 4, 5 AND ALL MODULES
WRITE AND PRESENT DOCUMENTS FOR A WIDE RANGE OF PURPOSES AND AUDIENCES USING
CONVENTIONS AND FORMATS APPROPRIATE TO DIVERSE CONTEXTS.
QUESTION 3
Read the following sentences to find any slang terms or errors of grammar. Rewrite them using
correct grammar and modern English usage:
3.1
The administrator tried by all means to understand the problem.
3.2
The manager did not reply back to my letter.
3.3
The profits have dropped down this year.
3.4
The supervisor was very much happy to be promoted.
3.5
Please clarify me on what you mean.
3.6
I have not never owed anything to the bank.
3.7
The receptionist said she had never seen the manager today.
3.8
This new engine is more weak than the old one.
3.9
The secretary said she would be late for work as her husband he is sick.
3.10
The student would of passed if he had studied harder.
(10)
QUESTION 4
As personnel manager of Quicksell Supermarket, write an advertisement for the company notice
board to advertise a vacant post for a receptionist at head office.
Give brief details of the requirements of the post, what skills will be required, contact details for
submission of applications as well as the closing date.
(15)
QUESTION 5
You are the secretary of the manager in your company (Green Fingers Garden World) and you have
been told to plan a meeting to discuss the introduction of new working hours for staff.
5.1
Write a notice for the meeting.
5.2
Write a brief agenda in correct format for the management team to give details of the
meeting and topics to be discussed.
(6)
5.3
Write minutes for the meeting.
FERNWOOD BUSINESS COLLEGE – INTRODUCTION TO BUSINESS ENGLISH
(6)
(8)
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QUESTION 6
As manager of a supermarket, write a memorandum in correct format to your staff members to
remind them how important it is to handle telephone calls in a professional manner.
Use a list format in your memorandum to provide guidelines on effective telephone techniques.
(25)
QUESTION 7
After completing a diploma in travel, you have been employed as a temporary trainee for six months
in an administrative position in a travel agency, Global Travel.
You have now seen an advertisement for a permanent position in the agency as a senior
administrator. Write a letter, in correct format, to the manager, Mandla Mpisi, to apply for the
vacant post. Explain why you think you would be the right person for the new position. (Do not
include curriculum vitae.)
(20)
SPECIFIC OUTCOME 3
ALL MODULES
USE LANGUAGE STRUCTURES AND CONVENTIONS APPROPRIATELY AND EFFECTIVELY
QUESTION 8
Write full sentences (NOT definitions) in correct English to show that you understand the meanings
of the following words in a BUSINESS CONTEXT:
8.1
strike
8.2
demonstration
8.3
dispute
8.4
agreement
8.5
document
8.6
travel
8.8
march
8.9
develop
8.10
transfer
(10)
FERNWOOD BUSINESS COLLEGE – INTRODUCTION TO BUSINESS ENGLISH
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ASSIGNMENT COVER PAGE
SUBJECT NAME
STUDENT INFORMATION:
FIRST NAME
SURNAME
STUDENT NUMBER
CELL PHONE NUMBER
E-MAIL ADDRESS
POSTAL ADDRESS:
HOUSE NUMBER AND
STREET NAME
SUBURB
CITY/TOWN
POSTAL CODE
ACADEMIC CONSULTANT’S COMMENTS:
FERNWOOD BUSINESS COLLEGE – INTRODUCTION TO BUSINESS ENGLISH
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