Functional Skills - Frequently Asked Questions
We have collated questions asked at various functional skills events and other general queries and transformed these into a list of frequently asked questions. The following questions have been divided into 3 sections:
If you have another query about functional skills that is not answered then please email us at functionalskills@cityandguilds.com
General questions
What subjects are included in Functional Skills
Where are the Functional Skills criteria found?
Are Functional Skills on QCF - what is their credit value?
How can we become a Functional Skills centre?
What are the proxies for Functional Skills?
Are Functional Skills recognised for points and targets?
Assessment questions
When are the registration and entry deadlines for candidates?
What are the windows for the level 1 and 2 paper assessments?
Can the assessments be sat under supervised conditions?
Can Level 1 and 2 be marked at the centre?
Can a centre choose the assessment title?
How is a GOLA test marked
How long before results are issued?
Will learners be able to use computers to sit the assessments?
Do the assessments have to be sat in one sitting or can they be split up?
When will ICT and Maths be available onscreen
Is it possible to take English at different levels and at different times?
Do centres still need Internal Verifiers?
Does the verifier have to look at all the assessments or sample them?
Other questions
What are the access arrangements for speaking, listening and communication?
What are the access arrangements for reading?
What are the access arrangements for writing?
What support is available to help deliver Functional Skills?
Where can I find sample materials, and sample assessments?
What qualification will my staff qualifications need to have to teach Functional Skills?
What qualifications will entry level and speaking, listening and communications assessors and IV need to have?
General questions
What subjects are included in Functional Skills
Functional Skills are English, Maths and ICT qualifications from entry 1 to level 2.
Where are the Functional Skills criteria found?
These can be found on the Ofqual website.
Are Functional Skills on QCF - what is their credit value?
Functional Skills are an NQF qualification and do not currently have credits attached.
How can we become a Functional Skills centre?
If you are an active Key Skills (3638) centre or a Functional Skills pilot (3648) centre you will gain automatic approval. If you are an Adult Numeracy/Literacy (3792) centre a ICT Skills for Life (3804) centre or a ESOL skills for life (3692) centre you will need to complete a fast track form.
If you are not one of the above you will need to complete Qualification Approval (QAP) form.
What are the proxies for Functional Skills?
There are currently no proxies for Functional Skills, however there are transitional arrangements. To find out more go to the QCDA website.
Are Functional Skills recognised for points and targets?
| Level of Functional Skill | Performance points | Contribution to L1 & L2 thresholds |
|---|---|---|
| Entry 1 | 5 | |
| Entry 2 | 6 | |
| Entry 3 | 7 | |
| Level 1 | 12.5 | 10% |
| Level 2 | 23 | 10% |
Functional Skills at level 2 will attract 10 UCAS tariff points for 2010. These will be removed for 2011 entry to higher education.
National Targets
Functional Skills are one of the achievement measures for the 2020 World Class Skills literacy and numeracy targets. Back to top
Assessment Questions
When are the registration and entry deadlines for candidates?
For entry level and level 1 and 2 GOLA English assessments candidates can be registered on the same day as they sit the assessment. For Level 1 and 2 paper assessment entries will be accepted up until 10 working days before the assessment date (using the 'Dated Entry' screen within the Walled Garden). If the candidate is not already registered this will be created at the same time as the entry is made. For English additional late entry fees will be charged for any entries submitted after City & Guilds' standard exam entry closing dates (see http://www.cityandguilds.com/43090.html but for Maths and ICT no late entry fees will be charged until we have an on demand GOLA version available.
What are the windows for the level 1 and 2 paper assessments?
For English and Maths the window is 24 hours (ie the assessment may start at any time from 00:01 to 23:59 on a given day). For ICT the window is 72 hours. Candidates are able to sit the assessment any time on the date(s) permitted and candidates need not all take the assessment at the same time. However, the Invigilation Certificate (IC) must be used to record when each candidate started and finished the assessment, and where there is a possibility that candidates taking assessments at different times might come into contact with one another, a Declaration of No Prior Knowledge or Declaration Not to Divulge (as applicable) must be completed and signed by all of the candidates concerned.
Centres must take all reasonable steps to eliminate the risk of collusion between candidates taking the same paper assessment at different times during the day (or across the three-day 'window' in the case of Functional ICT, nor between candidates and anybody else with or without access to the assessment papers.
Can the assessments be sat under supervised conditions?
All Functional Skills assessments must take place under supervised conditions, that is:
- candidates must be continually supervised by a reliable person
- all necessary facilities must be available to candidates
- any time restrictions must be complied with
- candidates' work must be independent and unaided.
The centre must ensure that suitably informed and briefed adults carry out test supervision. The functional skills co-ordinator should be fully aware of potential conflicts of interest between a candidate and supervisor and take all reasonable steps to prevent any such conflict. More information about supervised conditions can be found in the handbook.
Can Level 1 and 2 be marked at the centre?
The Functional Skills criteria state that the only element that is internally assessed at level 1 and 2 is (English) speaking, listening and communication. Everything else must be externally marked. To find out more about the criteria go to http://www.ofqual.gov.uk/qualification-and-assessment-framework/89-articles/238-functional-skills-criteria
Can a centre choose the assessment title?
For entry level English, Maths and ICT and Speaking, Listening and Communication at all levels you can choose the title of the assessment. You may also make minor amendments to the assessments. Details about this will be found under the assessment guidance for each title.
For level 1 and 2 Maths, ICT, Reading and Writing assessments must be unseen. This means that centres do not have the opportunity to choose the titles they want candidates to sit.
How is a GOLA assessment marked?
The new English GOLA assessment will be examiner marked. The results will be found on CATglobal. www.catglobal.com/gola
How long before results are issued?
Results will be available on the Walled Garden within 32 working days of a paper based level 1 or 2 assessment following receipt of correctly packaged and completed materials where such results are authorised for release. Results slips and certificates will be issued to centres within 42 working days.
For entry level and speaking, listening and communication the results are known by the centre and may be issued after an EV visit or after assessments have been internally verified if the centre has direct claims status.
Will learners be able to use computers to sit the assessments?
There is guidance for computer use at entry level in the assessment packs. Candidates can use computers at entry when is will not impede their ability to complete the assessment. For level 1 and 2 computers are used during the onscreen assessments for English. For paper based assessments computers should not be used except in the case of ICT where computer access is compulsory.
Do the assessments have to be sat in one sitting or can they be split up?
For level 1 and 2 assessments must be sat in one sitting. For entry level there is the opportunity to split up the sessions, each assessment pack will have the details.
When will ICT and Maths be available onscreen
We are still developing these assessments and expect to have them available during 2011.
Is it possible to take English at different levels and at different times?
Each English assessment (reading, writing, speaking, listening and communication) are separate assessments and can be taken at different times. The three elements of English can also be taken at different levels. The certificate will be issued at the lowest level achieved.
Do centres still need Internal Verifiers?
Internal verifiers are still needed at Entry level for all subjects and at level 1 and 2 for English Speaking, Listening and Communication.
Does the verifier have to look at all the assessments or sample them?
We would expect Functional Skills sampling to follow CAMERA principles as set out in the Ensuring Quality document. www.cityandguilds.com/43506.html
Other questions
What is the guidance for learners with learning difficulties/ those that require access arrangements?
The same rules apply for our other qualifications EXCEPT in the case of English (see below)
For more information about access go to Access to assessment-candidates with particular requirements.
What are the access arrangements for speaking, listening and communication?
The term 'speaking, listening and communication' as used by these criteria is intended to be interpreted in a broadly inclusive way and is not intended to create any unnecessary barriers to candidates with speech or hearing impairment.
The needs of individual candidates will vary but as guidance, the term should be interpreted as meaning communication, discussion and presentation that:
- can include use of sign language (eg British Sign Language, sign-supported English) provided this is made accessible to all participants in the discussion. (It is recognised that BSL is a language in its own right and not a form of English. BSL is, however, permitted as an alternative to English for the assessment of speaking, listening and communication where BSL is the candidate's normal way of communicating in the contexts described by the criteria). No other languages are permitted as alternatives to English;
- can include access to augmentative speech equipment and such software as constitutes the candidate's normal way of working;
- does not depend solely on the use of written language or require the individual/s with whom the candidate is communicating to be able to read (as these skills are covered by the requirements for reading and writing).
What are the access arrangements for reading?
Reading within Functional Skills qualifications is defined as the independent decoding and understanding of written language and text in a purposeful context.
'Text' is defined as materials that include the use of words that are written, printed, on screen or presented using Braille.
As a reasonable adjustment, candidates who are classed as disabled under the terms of the Disability Discrimination Act (DDA) and use assistive technology as their normal way of reading can demonstrate that they are able to independently meet the requirements of the reading criteria through use of screen reader software.
A human reader cannot be used to demonstrate the requirements of the criteria as this does not meet the requirement for independence. As a last resort, an exemption from the reading requirements can be requested for candidates with disabilities who cannot use assistive technology.
What are the access arrangements-for writing?
Writing within Functional Skills qualifications is defined as the independent construction of written text to communicate in a purposeful context.
'Text' is defined as materials that include the use of words that are written, printed, on screen or presented using Braille, and which are presented in a way that is accessible for the intended audience.
As a reasonable adjustment, candidates who are classed as disabled under the terms of the Disability Discrimination Act (DDA) and use assistive technology as their normal way of producing written texts can demonstrate that they are able to independently meet the requirements of the writing criteria through use of a computer and appropriate software.
A human scribe cannot be used to demonstrate the requirements of the criteria, as this does not meet the requirement for independence. As a last resort, an exemption from the writing requirements can be requested for candidates with disabilities who cannot use assistive technology.
What support is available to help deliver Functional Skills?
We have over 100 teaching and learning materials that can be adapted as well as example assessments and other support documents on the SmartScreen forum (free to all City & Guilds Functional Skills centres). There is also other support available from the forum on SmartScreen and through your regional office.
You should also have a look at the Functional Skills Support Programme as this also provides lots of free materials for Functional Skills. http://www.fssupport.org/
Where can I find sample materials, and sample assessments?
These can be found on the SmartScreen forum. To find out how to get onto this forum go to http://www.smartscreen.co.uk/uploaded_files/Functional%20Skills/functional_skills_demo.htm
What qualification will my staff qualifications need to have to teach Functional Skills?
At this stage we understand no decisions have been taken about any mandatory qualifications for teaching Functional Skills, and it's also important to appreciate that these are not something we as an Awarding Organisation are in a position to enforce. Nevertheless, we do expect anybody assessing/IVing these qualifications to be competent and confident in the skills being assessed and would generally expect assessors' personal skills to be at least one level higher than the level they are assessing at.
Where Functional Skills are being delivered in a post-16 'Lifelong Learning Sector' context, it is likely that the QTLS and Skills for Life subject specialist requirements introduced in September 2007 will eventually apply. These require new teachers of literacy and numeracy to work towards QTLS status with the relevant Level 4 or Level 5 subject specialism. For more information, go to www.cityandguilds.com/qtls.
What qualifications will entry level and speaking, listening and communications assessors and IV need to have?
Assessors and internal verifiers must be competent in the skills being assessed, although we do not stipulate any particular qualifications.
All functional skills assessors and internal verifiers must be fully conversant with the assessment process and have an appropriate level of competence in the functional skills being assessed. Although assessment is distinct from teaching and learning, staff involved in the delivery of Functional Skills may wish to consider working towards the English and/or Mathematics Subject Specialist DTLLS qualifications - see www.cityandguilds.com/qtls
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