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Functional Skills Courses

Improve your English and Maths with flexible Functional Skills courses designed for adults and learners who need recognised qualifications for work, further education, apprenticeships or university entry. Study online with tutor support and learn at your own pace.

  • Flexible online learning
  • Level 2 recognised qualifications
  • Expert Tutor support
  • Fast-track
  • Online exams
Woman thrilled to have passed their Functional Skills Online Courses

What are Functional Skills? 

Functional Skills are nationally recognised qualifications in English and Mathematics.  They develop the practical skills that you use in everyday life, work and education helping you gain the most from life.

Focus is on gaining knowledge in real-life situations, enabling learners to build more confidence whilst communicating, problem-solving and enhancing numerical skills.

The qualifications are available at different levels, with Level 2 being the most common studied as many employers and training providers accept this as meeting the acceptable entry requirements. Learners should always check with organisations as to their minimum requirements needed before applying.

Unlike traditional school qualifications, such as GCSE, Functional Skills place a strong emphasis on using English and Maths in practical, everyday situations rather than studying a broad academic syllabus.  They can be used as an alternative to IGCSE or GCSEs in many situations, but you should always check this applies beforehand.

Available Functional Skills Courses

Why Study with Learn Now?

At Learn Now, our Functional Skills courses are designed to make learning easily accessible, supportive and you can work at your own pace. Studies can fit around your work life commitments, enabling you to complete at times that suit you.

You will receive access to tried and tested learning materials as well as having access to a dedicated tutor throughout your course. You will also have the option to either sit your exams remotely or at an approved exam centre.

This flexibility is popular with adult learners, students who are home schooled or those returning to education after a break.

Enrol Online

There are no fixed dates for intake which means you can start your course whenever you are ready. 

Study at your own pace

You are in control of your studies and can access your course materials, assignments and practice exam papers 24/7. Whether you commit to full time or part time studies, we will support you whatever your deadline is.

Tutor Support

Tutors are available to answer any questions you might have and provide you with assistance.  They are experienced and will provide graded feedback on all assignments and practice exam papers.

Examinations

Our Functional Skills courses are designed to help you improve your skills and boost your confidence in these areas.

They are also great if you are looking for more flexibility than a conventional college: as exam based courses have more frequent dates available for sitting your exams, meaning you can complete the course much quicker.

Maths Examinations

For Functional Skills Maths Level 2, the questions are usually set in real-life contexts. You will need to choose the information and methods to use – there is often more than one correct way to do something.

You are allowed to use a calculator for part of the exam to work your answers out. Some questions will ask you to show how to check your results and you can check by using estimations, reverse methods or working things out in a different way. You will also need to explain your answers – there is often more than one correct answer, and you may have to explain why you chose the answer you gave.

English Examinations

As with Maths, questions are usually set in real-life contexts, with three exams in total.

You will read a passage and answer questions on that particular text; you will also demonstrate your ability to write for different audiences and purposes in situations that you would expect to find at home, in education and work environments.

The speaking, listening and communicating part of your exam will allow you to engage in subjects that will draw on your own specific learning.

Online invigilated exams are now offered through Learn Now

We are proud to announce that we can offer online invigilated exams for your Functional Skills Course in English and Maths.

Whilst you can still attend one of our centres all over the UK, you do now have the option to sit your exams at your preferred location.

Free Resit with Online Exams

We do not put learners forward for their exams unless we are confident they are ready.

Sometimes, an exam can be overwhelming if you have not | taken one in a while. Therefore if anything was to happen, we do also offer one free resit with the online exam.

Requirements for Online Functional Skills Exams 

For you to sit a remotely invigilated assessment you’ll need the following equipment/environment:

  • Laptop/desktop with webcam and microphone
  • Wi-Fi connection (Min 1Mbit/s Upload | Min 10Mbit/s Download)
  • Smartphone or Tablet (Apple iOS 8.0 / Android 4.1 or higher)
  • Suitable test environment (quiet room with no distractions).

Your laptop/desktop will run the assessment software and your smart phone or tablet will be used to record you and the assessment. The assessment itself cannot be undertaken on a smartphone or tablet or macbook/chromebook.

What are the Functional Skills exam boards?

Depending on where students are based, we can offer City & Guilds, Edexcel, NCFE and OCR for examinations. Functional skills have standards which are set by Ofqual. Therefore, whichever awarding body you take, the outcome will be the same – you will still come out with exactly the same qualification. Ofqual also sets the subject criteria which is the same for all awarding organisations.

  • City and Guilds – the global leader in skills development & apprenticeship schemes with 2 million learners working on diverse qualifications every year.
  • Pearson Edexcel – the UK’s largest awarding organisation offering academic, vocational and work-based learning qualifications, including BTEC, Edexcel and LCCI.
  • NCFE – a national Awarding Organisation, passionate about designing, developing and certificating diverse, nationally recognised qualifications and awards.
  • OCR – A leading UK awarding body, providing qualifications for learners of all ages.

For more details of how these qualifications are assessed, see our City and Guilds and Edexcel guides.

Functional Skills Levels Explained

Functional Skills qualifications are available at different levels, this allows learners to study at a stage appropriate to their existing knowledge and experience.

The first level is Entry Level which builds basic literacy and numeracy skills, whilst Level 1 develops practical everyday skills and prepares learners to continue to further study.  Level 2 is widely recognised by educational institutions and may be a requirement if you wish to further your job prospects

What grades do I need to be accepted onto a Functional Skills course?

There are no previous entry requirements for this course, however learners will be expected to have a reasonable standard of literacy.

Why Study Functional Skills Online?

Studying online means that there is no need to attend a physical school or college and you can study from anywhere at any time.       

You will receive access to comprehensive learning materials and a dedicated tutor throughout your course. You will also have the option to either sit your exams remotely or at an approved exam centre.

What Subjects Are Available?

Functional Skills English

Functional Skills English develops practical communication skills that are essential for work, study and everyday life, whether you are applying for jobs, sending an email to a friend or making a phone call.  

Learners improve their ability to:

  • Read and understand a range of texts
  • Write clearly and accurately
  • Communicate effectively in different situations
  • Develop speaking, listening and presentation skills (where required)

Functional Skills Maths

Functional Skills Maths focuses on solving practical mathematical problems that people encounter in everyday life and the workplace. For example, you can use arithmetic to work out how long it will take to save enough money to buy something.  A cook uses scales to measure the weights of ingredients for a recipe. A carpet fitter uses geometry and metric measurements to work out the carpet needed to cover a floor and a football fan can look at statistics about their favourite club or player to find out how they are doing.

Topics covered are:

  • Numbers and calculations
  • Fractions, decimals and percentages
  • Ratio and proportion
  • Measurement
  • Data handling
  • Graphs and charts
  • Practical problem solving

You will not be required to memorise complex mathematical techniques as learners develop the confidence to apply mathematics in real-world situations.

Functional Skills Levels Explained

Functional Skills qualifications are available at different levels, this allows learners to study at a stage appropriate to their existing knowledge and experience.

The first level is Entry Level which builds basic literacy and numeracy skills, whilst Level 1 develops practical everyday skills and prepares learners to continue to further study.  Level 2 is widely recognised by educational institutions and may be a requirement if you wish to further your job prospects

Functional Skills vs GCSEs

Functional Skills and IGCSE or GCSE courses are both designed to help learners develop English and Maths skills, however they do have different purposes.

Functional SkillsGCSEs
Focus on practical, everyday applicationsBroader academic study
English and Maths onlyWide range of school subjects
Popular with adults and apprenticesUsually studied in secondary school
Flexible study optionsTraditionally classroom-based, though online options exist

Functional Skills FAQs

A Level information