Northern Ireland, Scotland and Wales

Please note the Skills for Life strategy only applies to England. Click here to find out more about the equivalent language, literacy and numeracy strategies in each of the other UK nations.

Certificates in Essential Skills (3800)
Northern Ireland

The following qualifications support the Essential Skills for Living strategy in Northern Ireland:

Entry Level Certificate in Essential Skills - Adult Numeracy
Entry Level Certificate in Essential Skills - Adult Literacy
Level 1 Certificate in Essential Skills - Application of Number
Level 1 Certificate in Essential Skills - Communication
Level 2 Certificate in Essential Skills - Application of Number
Level 2 Certificate in Essential Skills - Communication.

The Entry level qualifications are based on the adult numeracy and adult literacy national standards, whereas at level 1 and 2 they are adapted from the key skills standards for Application of Number and Communication. ICT is currently being piloted at levels 1 and 2 as a third Essential Skill.

Essential Skills qualification documents and assessment materials

Nearly all of the documents needed to offer the Essential Skills qualifications can now be downloaded from this site. The only exceptions are the live Entry Level Tasks and Level 1-2 Desktop Tasks which can be ordered for registered candidates from the City & Guilds Northern Ireland office (Tel: 028 9032 5689).

Please note no further orders for hard copies of the example tasks, tutor/learner guides or action-based activities will be accepted after 28 February 2007, and thereafter it will only be possible to order live tasks during the following months:

March
September
November.

Entry Level Essential Skills - Adult Numeracy
Catalogue of live numeracy tasks
Example task - Party
Candidate answer book (Entry 1)
Candidate answer book (Entry 2-3)
Candidate answer book (session 2)
Handout 1a
Handouts 2.1-2.4
Tutor guide
Assessment scheme

Entry Level Essential Skills - Adult Literacy
Catalogue of live literacy tasks
Example task - Giant's Causeway
Candidate answer book (Entry 1)
Candidate answer book (Entry 2-3)
Handouts 1a-3a
Handouts 3.1-3.2
Tutor guide
Assessment scheme

Level 1-2 Essential Skills - Application of Number
Application of Number learner guide
Application of Number tutor guide
Generic action-based activities
Moving home (N1.1)
The cost of crime (N1.2)
Community planning (N1.3)
Shopping (N2.1)
Tax (N2.2)
Buying and running a car (N2.3)
Managing a family budget (N3.1)
Diet (N3.2)
Home and garden design (N3.3)
Arranging a trip (N4.1)
Keeping fit and healthy (N4.2)
Celebrities (N4.3)
Handling money (N5.1)
Work (N5.2)
Creating a business plan (N5.3)
Using spreadsheets (N6.1)
Online shopping (N6.2)
Sport (N6.3)
Vocational action-based activities
Joinery - site (VN1)
Joinery - workshop (VN2)
Tiling (VN3)
Brickwork (VN4)
Plumbing (VN5)
Construction - health and safety (VN6)
Painting and decorating (VN7)
Horticulture (VN8)
Early years care (VN9)
Care (VN10)
Beauty therapy (VN11)
Travel and tourism (VN12)
Sport and recreation (VN13)
Motor vehicle (VN14)
ICT (VN15)
Retail (VN16)
Business administration (VN17)
Food preparation (VN18)
Food and bar service (VN19)
Hairdressing (VN20)
Example desktop tasks
Level 1 (Car boot sale) - question/answer book
Level 1 (Car boot sale) - assessment scheme
Level 2 (The community centre) - question/answer book
Level 2 (The community centre) - assessment scheme

Level 1-2 Essential Skills - Communication
Communication learner guide
Communication tutor guide
Generic action-based activities
Law & order (C1.1)
The environment (C1.2)
Health (C1.3)
Earning a living (C2.1)
Career choice (C2.2)
Starting your own business (C2.3)
Home and garden (C3.1)
Food and cooking (C3.2)
Celebrations (C3.3)
Television (C4.1)
Driving (C4.2)
Holidays (C4.3)
Working outdoors (C5.1)
Customer/client care (C5.2)
Health and safety at work (C5.3)
ICT job seek (C6.1)
Wireless technology (C6.2)
ICT presentation (C6.3)
Vocational action-based activities
Joinery - on site (VC1)
Joinery - bench (VC2)
Tiling (VC3)
Brickwork (VC4)
Plumbing (VC5)
Construction - health and safety at work (VC6)
Painting and decorating (VC7)
Hospitality (VC8)
Early years (VC9)
Care (VC10)
Beauty therapy (VC11)
Travel and tourism (VC12)
Sport and recreation (VC13)
Motor vehicle (VC14)
Information communication technology (VC15)
Retail (VC16)
Business & administration (VC17)
Food preparation (VC18)
Catering (VC19)
Hairdressing (VC20)
Example desktop tasks
Level 1 (Traffic calming) - question/answer book
Level 1 (Traffic calming) - resource material
Level 1 (Traffic calming) - assessment scheme
Level 2 (Smoking) - question/answer book
Level 2 (Smoking) - resource material
Level 2 (Smoking) - assessment scheme

Other required reading for Essential Skills tutors and assessors
National standards for adult numeracy, literacy and ICT
Key skills standards and QCA guidance
Adult numeracy and adult literacy core curriculum documents (electronic versions)