Article overview
Employers often require Maths and English Level 2 qualifications, and Functional Skills exams offer an accessible way to add these to your CV. Many people who don’t hold GCSE qualifications complete these exams to bridge the gap and support their career but learning the best study tips is essential to passing first time.
Whether moving into higher education, starting an apprenticeship, or beginning a new job, these courses help adults build the valuable, practical core skills needed to achieve their goals.
This article explores how to pass your Functional Skills exams, from getting on the right course to acing your revision.
Choosing the right course
How do you know which course is right for you?
Start by exploring and understanding the various options available to you. Functional Skills courses cover Maths, English and Digital Skills, with each subject available at different levels. They offer a more practical qualification that’s often seen as an alternative to academic GCSEs.
The various course levels are:
- Entry 1, 2 and 3
- Level 1
- Level 2
Pick the right course for your skills and needs
Some people focus on one subject at a time while others study two together, especially if both are needed for work, apprenticeships or further study.
Consider where you are now and where you need to be to reach your goals. If you’re starting from scratch or haven’t studied in a while, Entry Level or Level 1 might suit you. If you’re aiming to meet given requirements for a job or course, you’ll probably need to complete Level 2 exams.
Level 1 is not a mandatory requirement for taking a Level 2 Functional Skills course, however if you’re unsure of your current ability it may be helpful to start with Level 1 to build your skills first. If you already have some foundational knowledge and confidence, you can go straight to Level 2 according to your ability.
Entry level Functional Skills
Entry level exams are focused on real-life skills, with entry level 1 being the most basic and entry levels 2 and 3 being progressively more advanced. These exams are ideal for people looking to build up their core skills before working up through the higher levels.
Adults who left school without qualifications can lay the foundations for entering work, speakers of other languages can strengthen their English communication and literacy, and individuals with additional educational needs can build confidence and strengthen core skills with entry level Functional Skills.
Level 1 Functional Skills
Level 1 exams are for learners who already have some foundational knowledge and want to develop their practical skills for education, training, or employment. They also prepare you for the more advanced level 2s that follow.
Level 2 Functional Skills
Often considered an alternative to GCSEs, Level 2 qualifications are for those who need a work-ready level of Maths, English, or Digital Skills. This level is a common requirement for employers, so adding them to your CV can really open up your job prospects, making these courses very popular among jobseekers.
GCSE equivalents
Level 2 Functional Skills qualifications are equivalent to a GCSE grade 4, which is on par with a C on the traditional grading system.
Level 1 is roughly equivalent to a low GCSE pass of a grade 2-3, in alignment with an E-D on the older grading system.
Understanding how the exams work
Knowing what to expect
Functional skills exams differ from GCSE exams — the questions are not just based on academic theory but on real-life situations. These courses prepare learners to apply their knowledge to practical situations that may arise in the workplace or daily life. This approach to learning comes more naturally to some people, so don’t worry if you found GCSEs challenging; functional skills exams are intended to be accessible for everyone.
For example, instead of a simple sum, you might be asked to calculate a shopping list. Instead of answering questions based on hypothetical scenarios, you may be asked to write a letter or an email. You’ll encounter scenarios that are relevant to everyday life, making the questions more familiar and relatable than what you may have experienced in GCSE exams.
There are no specific grades, only pass or fail. If you don’t pass, you can revise and retake the exam another time when you feel ready. Functional Skills tests are designed to build confidence, not catch you out.
The exam process
Most exams last for 1 – 2 hours, although this does vary between subjects and levels.
To take your exams online, you’ll need a quiet, private room and valid photo identification. You’ll also be given details of any supporting items allowed, like scrap paper or your calculator.
English exams are structured in 3 sections:
- Reading
- Writing
- Speaking, listening and communication
Maths exams are split into 2 sections:
- Non-calculator
- Calculator allowed
You don’t need a scientific calculator for Functional Skills Maths, a standard one is absolutely fine.
Functional Skills Digital exams consist of a single, continuous assessment that evaluates practical skills such as using devices and software, ensuring digital safety and security, communicating online, and troubleshooting common tech issues.
Using practice papers
The benefits of using past papers
Past papers are a goldmine for revision. By using them, you get to know the style and type of questions to expect in your own exam. This can help reduce any anxiety you may be feeling, and eliminate some uncertainty. Anxious feelings commonly arise due to fear of the unknown, and becoming familiar with what’s to come takes away that element of unease — allowing you to sit your Functional Skills exams calmly and confidently.
You can also use past papers to practice following the timing boundaries of the real exam. Working against the clock gets you ready for the real thing and helps you gain a sense of the timeframe you’re working with. You may start to notice patterns in certain topics that need further attention, allowing you to focus your revision efforts most effectively.
How to use past papers for practice
To begin with, don’t worry about timing. Start by simply getting to know the style and format of the questions. Test your knowledge by answering the questions as best you can, and check your answers where possible.
Once you’ve built up some confidence, you can set the scene as if it were your real exam. Sit in a private, quiet space, use a timer, and eliminate any distractions. If you only have your phone to use for a timer, resist the urge to touch it! You could try setting the alarm instead of using the stopwatch to keep some distance from your phone screen.
Revisit any difficult questions and ask yourself where and why you went wrong. Did you accidentally skip a step? Misread the question? Or do you need to revise the topic in more depth? Once you’ve figured out what went wrong, wait a couple of days and then try the question again to ensure you’ve truly learnt from the mistake.
Organising your revision
Keep all your revision notes and resources together in an organised, non-chaotic way so you can always find them easily. Create a dedicated folder on your desktop or phone to keep all your digital resources centralised. For printables and handwritten notes, have a separate pad to write in and a folder to store notes away from other paperwork or clutter.
Set SMART goals
SMART goals help you focus on actionable steps that challenge you without being too far-fetched. The acronym stands for:
Specific, Measurable, Achievable, Realistic and Timebound.
They’re a widely recognised technique that’s useful in many situations, both in working environments and other aspects of life. Here’s what a SMART revision goal could look like:
- Specific — I want to improve my skills with percentages and fractions in maths
- Measurable — I will complete a practice sheet and score 80% or higher
- Achievable — I will refer to my resources and use my notes if I need to
- Relevant — The functional skills maths exam will contain questions on percentages and fractions
- Timebound — I will achieve this goal within one week, completing 10 minutes of practice questions every day
This formula keeps your goals realistic and within reach, meaning you’ll absolutely be able to hit them as long as you keep focus.
How to break it down
It’s easy to feel overwhelmed by a mountain of revision and end up putting it off. Keep out of the procrastination trap by breaking large chunks of work down into smaller, manageable sections that you can easily fit around your lifestyle.
Start by writing a list of all the subjects you need to know, and break each one down into topical units. For example, Functional Skills English Level 2 can be broken down into the three main exam sections of: reading, writing, and speaking, listening and communication.
Take a separate sheet of paper for each of these three sub topics, and use this to break them down even further. If you’re a visual learner, using a different coloured pen or highlighter for each sheet might help you keep the distinction.
You can cross off small sections as you become confident in the subtopics, and use these sheets to make any important notes that will be handy to look back on later. If you’re somewhat tech-savvy, a spreadsheet is another way you could do this.
Mastering time management
Time blocking
Life can be hectic, and it’s likely you have other commitments and responsibilities taking up hours of your week. Finding the time to fit in revision is often one of the biggest hurdles to cross. Time blocking can help you fit everything in comfortably, you’ll need a calendar or diary to mark your blocks. Here’s how it works:
- Identify your priorities for the day or week
- Assign a start and end time to each task
- Block out time on your calendar accordingly
Block out all hours when you’re fully committed to other responsibilities. With your unavailable time slots down, you’ll easily be able to identify your free time and decide how much you want to dedicate to studying.
Habit stacking
Look especially for slots where you can double up. Do you spend time on public transport? 10 – 20 minutes on a bus or a train offers the perfect opportunity to fit in a quick read, without eating into the rest of your week. Try to identify timeslots where you’re partially occupied but also available, these are golden opportunities to double your productivity, a tactic known as habit stacking. This is when you piggy-back a new habit on top of an existing one. Here are some examples of how to habit stack for revision:
- Test yourself on a tricky question while the kettle boils
- Listen to audio revision while taking a walk
- Read through revision notes for 5 minutes before starting a Netflix show
- Answer one question every time a YouTube advert comes up
- Complete a practice paper while your food is cooking
This method helps you make revision a seamless part of your daily routine, without needing to find extra time. Waiting for an appointment that’s running late, or got half an hour to kill before the afternoon school run? Instead of scrolling social media to fill the time, make it focused and use that time to revise. These extra minutes soon add up to hours.
3 simple steps to create a study schedule
- Decide on the timeslots you will dedicate to studying.
Pick your days and hours based on what works for you, your routine, and your lifestyle. Remember you don’t always need to fit in full hours, just 10 – 20 minute sessions can make a big difference.
- Know what you need to cover and prioritise weak spots.
Refer back to your topic breakdown sheets we discussed earlier in this article, and any results you have from your practice papers. Use these to identify your weakest areas that need the most work, and prioritise these in your schedule.
- Set your SMART goals.
You can review and adjust these as you progress. If a goal becomes too challenging, tweak it by adjusting the scope to make it more achievable. A flexible approach is key in staying productive.
Pomodoro technique
Working in short, hyper-focused bursts with regular breaks can really help you stay productive. The Pomodoro Technique is named after an old-fashioned tomato-shaped kitchen timer, with pomodoro being Italian for tomato. It’s a time management method that helps you stay focused and avoid burnout by working in short bursts. Typically, it’s done in blocks of 25 minutes, and the schedule will look something like this:
- Set a timer for 25 minutes and work on one specific task thoroughly, without distractions until the timer rings
- Take a 5 minute break
- Repeat this process up to 3 times
- After the 4th Pomodoro cycle, take a longer break
This technique is perfect for people who struggle with distractions. You get 5 minutes every half an hour to take a break, and the 25 minute work blocks are short enough to hold your attention. The breaks keep your brain fresh, and you could potentially get 4 tasks ticked off your list in just 2 hours by using the Pomodoro technique. If you only have a small amount of free time to fully focus, this could be an ideal way for you to get some maximum productivity minutes into your week.
Effective study techniques for Functional Skills
Flashcards
Having visual aids on hand can help tricky topics stick. Simple flashcards are one way to do that, and it’s easy to make your own set tailored to your personal knowledge gaps. You just need some plain cards to write the question on one side and the answer on the back. For example:
- Front: What’s 25% as a fraction?
- Back: ¼
- Front: Correct this sentence: ‘Their going too the shop’
- Back: They’re going to the shop
- Front: What is phishing?
- Back: A scam where fake messages mimic real organisations to steal personal information
Flash cards are a handy resource to pull out whenever you find a spare few minutes for revision. Move each card to the back once successfully answered to keep the deck fresh, and remove any cards you’re fully confident on as your knowledge grows.
Mind mapping
Another one for the visual learners, mind mapping is an alternative way to brainstorm beyond your typical list. Start with a central topic in the middle of a blank page, then draw branches that reach out from the centre to explore related subtopics.
From these subtopics, smaller branches with key details branch out further, and you can link these ideas together, across or around the page, with connecting lines. The process helps your brain to not only recognise ideas but form connections between them, giving you a deeper understanding and improving your memory of the topics.
It’s like a more detailed and in depth version of a spider diagram, and can be particularly helpful if you prefer a non-linear style of learning. Mind mapping provides a bigger picture overview of your whole revision process, making it more engaging and stimulating.
Active recall
One of the most effective ways to ensure your learning actually sticks is active recall. Many common revision techniques are passive, such as reading texts or reviewing notes, and while these methods definitely have their place, they don’t really test your skills. It’s easy to find yourself coasting along, passively reading the words without fully digesting them.
To truly ensure you’ve remembered your learning, try an active approach. Cover your notes and ask yourself the question, prompting you to actively recall the information. Research indicates that actively retrieving information, rather than passively reviewing it, strengthens your memory retention by reinforcing neural pathways (Roediger & Butler, 2011).
Neural pathways are like your brain’s internal roads, the pathways that form connections between brain cells. Every time you learn something new or practice a skill, your brain strengthens the pathways related to that activity. The more often you use these connections, the stronger they become, and the faster you can recall the information.
How to stay motivated
Staying motivated when studying for your Functional Skills exams can be tough, especially if it’s been some time since you last studied. Here’s a few tips for keeping motivation up:
Track your progress
Keep a record of all the revision sessions you complete, even if they’re only 5 or 10 minutes long. Jot each date, duration and topic down in a diary or calendar, and see how quickly the minutes add up to hours. The satisfaction of knowing how much you’ve already achieved will push you to continue.
Visualise the outcome
Keep in mind how you’ll feel once you’ve passed your Functional Skills exams, this can help keep you focused. Once you pass, those qualifications are yours for life. Remind yourself why you’re aiming for this goal, and the open doors and opportunities that may follow.
Keep your goals manageable
Don’t push yourself too hard, you’ll be more likely to walk away from your schedule if it’s tough. It’s better to tweak a goal than to abandon it completely, remember to keep them realistic and SMART to avoid overwhelm and burnout.
Reward yourself for your achievements
Give yourself something to look forward to after each study session, like your favourite drink, a catch up with a friend, or an hour of whatever it is you like to do to relax.
What to do when motivation won’t come
If you’re really struggling with motivation, take a full system reset. Step back for an hour, or a day if you need to, but avoid procrastination. Have a change of environment and set your intentions for the next step. This could mean adjusting your schedule, or breaking your revision tasks down into manageable micro-tasks.
Revisit the core reasons why you’re doing this. It’s likely you’re completing your Functional Skills exams to further your career, start an apprenticeship, or for personal development reasons. Coming back to your ‘why’ can remind you of the long-term benefits, and give you the push you need to get back on track.
Free resources for Functional Skills revision
Skills Workshop
A comprehensive, well-established site with free downloadable resources for Functional Skills English and Maths to help you succeed in your exams, covering all levels from Entry to Level 2. Skills Workshop is created by teachers and widely respected in adult education.
Navigating the site can take a bit of getting used to — here’s a breakdown of how to use Skills Workshop:
- Choose Your Subject — Select Maths, English or Digital Skills
- Refine Your Search — Filter by level (E1, E2, E3, 1 or 2)
- Alternatively Use the search bar to find resources on specific topics, eg. ‘level 2 percentages’
- Download worksheets and exercises directly in PDF format for offline use
- Try the quizzes and games to break up your revision with a more relaxed approach
English Banana
A free educational platform offering a vast array of resources designed to support English language learners, ideal for those preparing for Functional Skills exams.
English Banana provides over 4,000 pages of free printable worksheets, books, podcasts and interactive tools, covering various aspects of English language learning. Materials cover grammar, vocabulary, reading, writing, speaking, and listening skills in line with the competencies required for Functional Skills assessments.
Corbett Maths
While not designed solely for Functional Skills students, their videos, worksheets and 5-a-day questions are free, accessible and great for brushing up maths skills.
Corbett Maths covers key topics like arithmetic, algebra and geometry, providing downloadable materials for offline use. The clear explanations and targeted exercises help build confidence and improve problem-solving skills for Functional Skills exams.
