What are functional skills?What are Functional Skills?
Functional skills are a set of qualifications that are offered at schools, colleges and at workplaces in England.
Everyone needs functional skills to do well in life, they are the skills you need for learning, working and to be confident.
There are three functional skills:
They are available as qualifications at Entry level, Level 1 and Level 2. You may do functional skills as standalone exams or you may also be studying for the new 14-19 Diploma, GCSEs or A levels. They will replace key skills in England at some stage in the near future.
Functional skills are currently at the pilot stage, which means they are not available to everyone yet. If you are taking part in the pilot, you may not have specific functional skills lessons as many people will be improving their functional skills through other lessons or activities.
How will I be assessed?
There are a number of different awarding bodies (also known as exam boards). Your teacher should be able to tell you which one your fuctional skills will be awarded by.
Each awarding body is assessing functional skills in slightly different ways. During the pilot as far as we are aware, none are using portfolios. Most seem to be using multiple choice and task based questions. You may be assessed at a computer or using a written paper.
For more information you should ask your teacher and see our links to past papers and practice tests.
What about other countries?
- Wales is developing its own set of essential skills qualifications. Key skills are currently taken in Wales.
- Scotland has its own core skills qualifications.
- Northern Ireland currently has key skills and essential skills qualifications.