Welcome to the functional skills page. Here is where you will find information about the functional skills Maths level 2 and functional skills English level 2 qualifications.

The Levels

There are 5 levels in both the maths qualification and the English qualification. The functional skills go from entry level 1, entry level 2, entry level 3, level 1 and the final level is level 2. The level 2 is the qualification that universities accept since that is the GCSE equivalent qualification.

Exam Boards

There are many awarding bodies that supply functional skills qualifications for learners in maths and English. The City and Guilds is one of the largest exam boards. This exam board provides functional skills level 2 qualifications and is popular since there are thousands of people every year that sit an exam with them. The government has set the curriculum for the exam board as well as the majority of exam boards in the UK, therefore they have nearly no difference between them. But, there are different functional skills courses that offer different things.

We have put together the most frequently asked questions to give you better information about the functional skills exam and qualifications.

FAQs

Can functional skills get you a Job?
Yes this qualification will be accepted by employers since it is a GCSE equivalent qualification.

What is the difference between functional skills and GCSE?
One of the differences is the content that the learner needs to know when taking the exam. The GCSE exam is more abstract and has more contents than the functional skills exam.

What is a functional skills qualification?
The functional skills qualification is a GCSE equivalent as long as you achieve the level 2. This qualification is required if you didn’t achieve a GCSE grade C or 4 for university or employment.

Is functional skills easier than GCSE?
This is hard since it’s not a yes or no, it depends on each individual. If you would prefer questions that are based on real life experiences then functional skills is better for you.

What is the pass mark for the functional skills exams?
The again isn’t a straightforward answer since it changes depending on the difficulty of the paper but the pass mark is around 50-60%.

How long does it take to complete a functional skills qualification?
This question again is hard since everyone is different. Cardiff Tutor Company will supply you with a programme that will be made just for you, meaning that we have looked at your knowledge to sort out a timeline when we think you can complete this qualification by.

Can I get a free functional skills exam?
The government does provide funding for some of the functional skills courses. There is a criteria that you must meet to get the funding. If you are older than 19 then you don’t meet the government’s criteria. This doesn’t mean that there aren’t other routes for example you can apply through apprenticeships programmes to get funding, however most people over 19 have to fund for the course themselves. The cheapest online functional skills English exams is with MME.

Can I take an online functional skills maths level 2 exam?
The online maths functional skills level 2 exams is an exam you can take and MME can provide it for you.

Additional Support

If you are still have questions about the Functional Skills exams, or simply want to discuss the exams with other learners taking the same exam as you, the Functional Skills Support Group on Facebook is available to you. With the help of other learners and tutors in the group, you should be able to find the answers you seek.

If, for whatever reason, you are looking to sit with a different provider, we also recommend Pass Functional Skills, who provide Functional Skills exams in both Maths and English at levels 1 and 2.