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Functional Skills Speaking and Listening

This page gives a basic summary of the skills you must demonstrate for the Speaking and Listening component of the English Functional Skills qualification.

Please note these are not full explanations, just basic guidance to help students understand the level of skills required.  For the full explanation you should see the QCA Functional Skills standards (PDF) although please note this is not really written for students. Please speak to your teacher for a fuller explanation.

Entry Level

Participate in discussions in subects that you are familiar and more formal discussions, including:

  • understand the main points of short explanations and listen for specific information
  • follow instructions
  • respond appropriately to comments and requests
  • make contributions clearly, to be heard and understood
  • ask questions using appropriate terms to obtain specific information
  • listen for and identify the main points of short explanations and instructions
  • speak clearly to be heard and understood
  • express simply one’s own feelings and opinions and understand those expressed by others
  • express clearly statements of fact, short accounts and descriptions
  • ask and respond to straightforward questions
  • follow the gist of discussions and make appropriate contributions
  • use techniques to clarify and confirm understanding
  • give own point of view and listen to and respond appropriately to others’ points of view
  • use formal and informal language as appropriate
  • follow the main points of discussions and make relevant contributions, respecting others’ turn-taking rights 

Level 1


Take full part in formal and informal discussions/exchanges, including:

  • make relevant contributions to discussions, responding appropriately to others
  • prepare for and contribute to formal discussion of ideas and opinions
  • be flexible in discussion, making different kinds of contributions
  • present information/points of view clearly and in appropriate language

 

Level 2


Make a range of contributions to discussions and make effective presentations in a wide range of contexts, including:

  • listen to complex information and give a relevant, cogent response in appropriate language
  • present information and ideas clearly and persuasively to others
  • adapt contributions in discussions to suit audience, purpose and situation
  • make significant contributions to discussions, taking a range of roles and helping to move discussion forward to reach decisions

Please note in places we have copied directly from the standards.  This is necessary to prevent ambiguity and we acknowledge the copyright of the QCA .