About Functional Skills
It's important to make sure Functional Skills are the right choice for you. If you need to research, we hope the information and links below will help you. If you are looking to join a particular course at college, always double-check with the admissions officer/s regarding qualification requirements.
PLEASE NOTE WE WILL NO LONGER OFFER FUNCTIONAL SKILLS, WITH EFFECT FROM SUMMER 2023 - IF YOU ARE READY TO SIT MATHS ONLY, PLEASE GET IN TOUCH AS WE MAY STILL BE ABLE TO HELP.
multiple levels
Functional Skills are available starting at Entry Level 1, 2 and 3, and at Levels 1 and 2 (which is the exams we offer). Level 2 is equivalent in difficulty to a GCSE A*- C, however it is not the same "size" - roughly half the size or just under, and the content is different.
employability
A 2014 consultation by Ofqual found that 70% of employers felt Functional Skills qualifications assessed the skills needed in the workplace. Functional Skills are often taken alongside vocational qualifications and apprenticeships.
self study
Just as with GCSE's/iGCSE's, it is entirely possible to self-study for Functional Skills. There are now a large number of resources (free and paid-for) online, as well as practice tests in paper and on-screen form.