In a nutshell
What are the qualifications about?
Key Skills qualifications give you the transferable skills you need to succeed at work, in education and training, and in life in general.
There are six Key Skills:
- Application of Number
- Communication
- Information and Communication Technology (ICT)
- Improving Own Learning and Performance
- Problem Solving
- Working With Others.
Who are they for?
Key Skills are usually taken as part of a broader programme such as an apprenticeship.
The 'first three' Key Skills qualifications are now closed (except for apprenticeship learners in England). Depending on where you live, they've now been replaced by:
England - Functional Skills (3748)
Northern Ireland - Essential Skills (3800)
Wales - Essential Skills Wales (3768)
The three wider Key Skills are no longer eligible for public funding in England, but remain available in Wales.
Why choose City & Guilds?
A City & Guilds qualification is proof that you have the right skills to do your job well - which is why so many employers look for people who have one. You can be confident your qualification is well respected within your industry.
City & Guilds qualifications are engaging and rewarding, and can lead to a whole range of fulfilling careers - including many of the UK's happiest professions.
Fast facts
| Qual. number: | 3638 |
|---|---|
| Type: | Key Skills |
| Level: | 1, 2, 3 and 4 |
| N/A | |
| Duration: | Varies |
| Fundable? | Varies. See the Learning Aims Database |
| Last registration: | 30/09/2012 |
Your questions
... if you're taking these qualifications
- What sorts of things do they cover?
You could cover any of the following:
- Application of Number
- Communication
- Information and Communication Technology (ICT)
- Improving Own Learning and Performance
- Problem Solving
- Working With Others.
- How will I learn and be assessed?
Key Skills
In a Key Skills qualification you'll learn at your own pace, usually with a group. You'll usually prove your skills by writing down evidence or talking about your learning with your assessor.If you're taking a Key Skills Application of Number, Communication or ICT qualification your assessor will look at a portfolio of work that you've built as formal evidence of your learning. You'll also take a test.
If you're taking a Key Skills Improving Own Learning and Performance, Problem Solving or Working with Others qualification, an assessor will look at your portfolio of work, as well as ask you questions.
- Which level is right for me?
Level 1
You want to develop the basic skills that are important for key skills competence to enable you to apply them to routine situations.Level 2
You want to extend your basic skills and take responsibility for decisions about how you apply them to meet straightforward tasks.Level 3
You want to respond to the demands of more complex activities and demonstrate your reasoning ability and personal responsibility in making decisions about how tasks are organised.Level 4
You want to take full responsibility for managing activities and identifying how key skills relate to your situation. - How long do they take?
It varies. Each centre decides its own timescales and it will often depend on what other qualifications you are also taking.
- What jobs could they lead to?
Key Skills qualifications cover the skills you need to get the most out of work, learning and everyday life. A Key Skills qualification will help with any job or career and enable you to go on to further learning or employment.
... if you're delivering these qualifications
- How would we deliver and assess them?
Please be aware that the 'first three' Key Skills (Application, Communication and ICT) are now only approved for use by learners on an apprenticeship programme in England. Please check with the relevant funding authorities before registering any candidates for these qualifications.
There are two assessment components: portfolio and externally-marked test. The portfolio can be based on any activity with a clear purpose, including the candidate's vocational area.
The three 'wider' Key Skills (Improving Own Learning and Performance, Problem Solving and Working With Others) are assessed by portfolio, with some additional knowledge questioning usually required. Please see the Part A affirmation questions, within the Key Documents section for details. These qualifications are no longer eligible for public funding in England, but may continue to be used in Wales.
The portfolio standards and assessment requirements are set out in full in:
- Key skills qualifications standards and guidance (Comm/AoN/ICT)
- Key skills qualifications standards and guidance (WWO/IOLP/PS)
For more information about the key skills tests (including practice tests) go to our National Tests Resource Centre.
To find all the requirements for assessment and delivery, please also see our Key Skills Centre Guide from the Key Documents section
- What resources do we need?
In order to offer the Key Skills you will need:
- suitably qualified staff to carry out training and assessment
- suitable facilities to carry out the required training to enable learners to achieve the Key Skills standards.
Full details are contained within the Key Skills qualifications standards and guidance document and our own Key Skills Centre Guide.
- How can we get approval to offer them?
New to City & Guilds?
First become a centre - then you can apply for qualification approval.Already a centre?
Download and complete the qualification approval form (PDF) and send it to your local City & Guilds office. - Are there any learner eligibility requirements?
The 'first three' Key Skills qualifications are now only approved for use by apprenticeship learners in England. They are no longer approved for use in Northern Ireland or Wales. Please note these qualifications will close to new registrations on 30 September 2012.
The three 'wider' Key Skills are no longer eligible for public funding in England, but may continue to be used in Wales.
Any learner registered for a Key Skills qualification must be able to access the resources they need to complete it.
- Do these qualifications replace any others?
The Key Skills qualifications were introduced more than ten years ago, and are in the process of being phased out.
- In England they have been largely replaced by the Functional Skills qualifications (3748)
- In Northern Ireland they have been replaced by Essential Skills (3800)
- In Wales they have been replaced by Essential Skills Wales (3768), although the wider Key Skills qualifications remain available.
e-learning support
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Online tutor and learning support available (SmartScreen) What is this?
Related subject areas
- Literacy, language and numeracy (LLN) and related qualifications
- Employability
- Higher level study skills
- Key skills and workplace core skills
- General learning, including languages, skills for life and key skills.
- Literacy, language and numeracy (LLN) and related qualifications
- Employability
- Higher level study skills
- Key skills and workplace core skills