Functional Skills. Designed to provide a robust measure of practical, real-world English and maths ability, the keyword remains ‘functional’, and we are proud to continue to serve this need.
The sector welcomed the uplift of funding in January 2024 and we look forward to seeing the positive impact more funding will have on apprenticeship learners. Research has shown that difficulty levels are consistent with pre-reform qualifications, although Ofqual has identified some areas for further investigation, such as effective practice in the assessment of problem-solving questions in FSQ maths. We continue to support Ofqual in their review, alongside our customers to make our online and paper-based assessments as accessible and flexible as possible for learners. With accessibility a key issue for many, we make our past papers freely available online and regular bite-size formative testing within Skills Builder to support both centres and their learners.
In the last academic year, we celebrated an increase in pass rates for our Level 2 English Functional Skills assessments, while maths returned to levels consistent with prior years.
We are continuing to improve our qualifications, assessments and support for Functional Skills. For example, centres are now making full and excellent use of contextualising Speaking, Listening and Communicating (SLC) assessments and more recently the launch of vocabulary lists for our Entry Level Maths. FAST (Functional Assessment and Skills Together), which combines One Assessment’s super-fast initial assessment, learning resources, teaching resources and progress tracking, continues to attract a lot of attention providing centres with everything they need in one place, at one price to support their learners through their learning journey.
Outlined below are NCFE’s assessment pass rates from 1 August 2023 to 31 July 2024. This data features all assessments sat during this period.
Level 1 Maths
Level 1 Reading
Level 1 Writing
Level 2 Maths
Level 2 Reading
Level 2 Writing
Level 1 Maths
Level 1 Reading
Level 1 Writing
Level 2 Maths
Level 2 Reading
Level 2 Writing
There are different ways to work out the pass rate, but for this purpose, the overall pass rate is the number of passes as a percentage against the number of assessments taken.
The first-time pass rate is the ratio of the total number of passes on the first attempt and the total number of first attempts expressed as a percentage for the 2023-2024 session.
Overall attempts tend to be lower than first-time pass rates – this is because they are calculated using candidate entries that had their first attempt and then any additional attempts in the 2023-2024 session. For example, a single learner may fail the first attempt, and then go on and have another three attempts before passing which would bring the overall total down.
It is the fourth year that we’ve released this data and we’ve seen a rise in Level 2 English results, although declines in English Level 1 and maths results. While much of this difference is due to the shifting cohort profiles, we’re working hard with our customers to close that gap and improve outcomes.
We’re always reviewing feedback, so our assessments remain consistent and robust, while as accessible as possible to all learners. Our Provider Development team continues to provide outstanding support for tutors, where engaged centres improve attainment by up to 6%. The team continues to deliver live CPD sessions, drop-in clinics and has added a learner toolkit as we look to expand the resources available for providers.
Barriers to learning are well documented, but research shows that confident learners are more engaged, resilient, and successful. You can better prepare learners for the assessment, by making full use of our Skills Builder platform, which will not only give learners the best possible starting point by assessing a clear baseline, but also enable you to set challenging, but achievable targets, deliver the most appropriate teaching at the right time, and track progress, to identify any issues before the final assessment. Book a demo to see how Skills Builder can support your learners.
The chart above shows the first-time pass rates from the previous four uninterrupted sessions for Functional Skills. For Maths, you can see a return to levels seen in previous years, with a shifting learner profile, while we have seen another big improvement in Reading Level 2, which is welcomed.
Results in English Writing remain the most consistent of the three assessment areas, and we are continuing to review feedback alongside results data to inform future developments.
The different subjects pose unique challenges for learners. In English, Reading and Writing assessments, much of the necessary information is provided to the students, who are then evaluated on their ability to use and apply the information. In contrast, Maths assessments require a higher degree of knowledge recall, spanning a broader range of topics within the curriculum. Combined with the language component, these differences contribute to the increased perceived difficulty often associated with Maths assessments compared to their English counterparts.
The online assessment method continues to perform well, providing a convenient and flexible option for learners and centres, especially training providers. It's important to note that online assessment is predominantly used by apprentices and work-based learners, who have historically demonstrated high achievement rates. In addition, the success of online assessment can also be attributed to its ability to accommodate the unique needs and learning styles. By offering the flexibility to start assessments at a time and date that works best for them, as well as the option to use our remote invigilation solution, online assessment enables learners to showcase their knowledge and skills through a media they are increasingly comfortable with.
As with previous years, results for training providers are higher than other types of centres. The driver for apprentices to complete Gateway is the primary reason. Functional Skills are a mandatory part of an apprenticeship unless the learner has a grade 4 or above GCSE or an equivalent level qualification.
Prior negative experiences with academic study often impact younger learners' achievement in Functional Skills. This history of academic difficulty often results in reduced confidence, demotivation, and general disengagement from these subjects. These learners may have specifically chosen vocational pathways to avoid traditional academic study, making their engagement particularly challenging.
We continue to support centres with younger learners and advocate the effective use of technology to support learning. Increasing learners’ foundational digital knowledge through Digital Functional Skills is one area that we are proud to support, as is the effective use of digital assessment and learning platforms like Skills Builder to personalise the learning journey while reducing the administrative load on teaching staff.
Level 1 Maths
Level 1 Reading
Level 1 Writing
Level 2 Maths
Level 2 Reading
Level 2 Writing
Level 1 Maths
Level 1 Reading
Level 1 Writing
Level 2 Maths
Level 2 Reading
Level 2 Writing
Level 1 Maths
Level 1 Reading
Level 1 Writing
Level 2 Maths
Level 2 Reading
Level 2 Writing
Level 1 Maths
Level 1 Reading
Level 1 Writing
Level 2 Maths
Level 2 Reading
Level 2 Writing
Entry Level 3
Level 1
The 2023-2024 academic year has been challenging for Functional Skills, especially in mathematics, although we saw an encouraging improvement in Level 2 English pass rates. NCFE's commitment to supporting learners through innovative tools like FAST and Skills Builder continues to make a positive impact. The successful implementation and support of online assessments, particularly beneficial for apprentices and work-based learners, demonstrates how the effective use of technology can enhance educational accessibility and outcomes.
As we look ahead, the introduction of Digital Functional Skills qualifications represents an important evolution in meeting the demands of our increasingly digital world. With ongoing collaboration with Ofqual to refine assessment practices, NCFE remains dedicated to providing robust, practical qualifications that serve real-world needs. Through continued investment in support resources, professional development, and responsive assessment methods, we are well-positioned to help learners develop the essential skills they need for success in both their educational journey and future careers.
To support your future delivery, take a look at our key links below:
If you need any additional assistance or have any questions, please contact us. We're here to help you every step of the way.
This is the first year of delivery for Digital Functional Skills and we are delighted to see so many customers making great use of the resources we created to support their delivery, although as with any new assessment, smaller numbers and notable performances by large cohorts can significantly affect pass rates.
The digitisation of our personal and professional lives continues at an ever-increasing pace, often leaving many people concerned about their ability to interact with this ever-changing world. Today’s school leavers are digital natives, never knowing a world before smartphones. Despite not wanting to make anyone feel old, the first iPhone was launched before any of our school-age children were even born!
To support your delivery of Digital Functional Skills from start to finish, we’ve created a complete ‘one-stop’ package and you can find out more on our DFSQ webpage for learners looking to enhance their career/education.
