What is the qualification?
The Functional Skills Level 1 English qualification is the equivalent to a PASS (C/4) grade in SAT’s English. SAT’s is a degree that you would receive at the end of your time at primary school. Its primary use is to help those who wish to go to high school or a similar education level. Useful for those who, for whatever reason, were unable to tale/pass their SAT’s English exams.
We can provide an exam and qualification that will best suit your needs. Tailoring the experience around your requirements. Ensuring that the degree received is the best possible for your situation.
We here at Pass Functional Skills have an affiliation with multiple exam boards. Including:
-
Open Awards
-
NCFE
-
City & Guilds
Online Exam
The Functional Skills Level 1 English exam is an Ofqual approved online exam. Designed to be easily taken remotely. So it can be taken from the comfort of your own home. No need to travel anywhere! There will however be some requirements that you will have to meet in order to take your online exam. As strict exam conditions have to be maintained throughout the entire exam. These conditions include:
Internet Connection
A minimum requirement of 10 upload, and 1 download. The test can be found here
Laptop/Computer
No iPads, phones, Chromebooks, etc. Windows and MacBook only
Webcam
A clear web camera that will be connected to your chosen PC (if not included)
Microphone
A clear microphone or a headset that includes a microphone (if not included)
Rules for the Exam
There will also be specific requirements for the room that you will be taking the exam in. The biggest is that no one can be present in the room during the exam (besides yourself of course). As well as no one will be allowed to enter the room while the exam is taking place. If this does occur, it could be considered cheating (especially if it happens more than once). The room will also be checked for revision materials, so your walls and the surface where your PC is will also be checked. These checks will be done through a room sweep. Where you will use the camera connected to your PC to show the invigilator the room.
-
Must be nobody else in the room
-
Emptied of revision materials
-
Invigilator will conduct a room sweep
The 3 step process to receiving your qualification
-
Select a date for your Functional Skills English Level 1 Exam
-
Get going with your revision (making sure you cover the mock papers!)
-
Pass your exam and receive your qualification
Functional Skills English Level 1 Online Exam
Get onto the next step with this revolutionary online functional skills English exam. Sit all three sections reading, writing and SLC at home on your laptop or computer.
The Exam
The exam itself is split into 3 parts, these being the Reading exam, the Writing exam, and the Speaking, Listening, and Communication exam (SLC). To gain access to the Functional Skills Level 2 English qualification, you are required to pass all 3 parts. All of the sections are individually designed to test different aspects of our knowledge of the English Language and your application of it.
Reading Exam – This is the first part, and consists of a 1 hour exam that will consist of reading and analysing texts. As well as the testing of your full reading comprehension skills.
Writing Exam – This is the second part, and consists of a 1 hour exam that will consist of writing long-form answers to scenario questions.
SLC Exam – This is the final part, and will consist off having to communicating with other people taking the exam, which tests your abilities in speaking, listening, and communicating.
FAQ
Functional Skills Level 1 is not equivalent to a GCSE, however they are equivalent to SATs! Functional Skills Level 2 exams are equivalent to GCSEs.
Functional Skills English Level 1 has a estimated pass mark of 50%-60%, depending on the exam paper given to the learner.
The Functional Skills English exams take up to 210 minutes to complete (3.5 hours). The exam is split into 3 sections, the Reading exam, which is 60 minutes long, the Writing exam, which is also only 60 minutes long. And the SLC (Speaking Listening and Communicating) exam, which is 90 minutes long. The SLC exam is also taken on a different day than the Reading and Writing exams, which are taken back to back.
Unfortunately the Functional Skills Level 1 exams are not free to take. Pass Functional Skills does provide a course that can be paid for but does have free sections available as well. You can find out more about those here.