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Functional skills English and maths explained

For some apprentices, English and maths qualifications are part of the programme. It is the element people worry about most, often because their last experience of a maths exam was a difficult one at school. This guide sets out who it applies to, what is involved and how much support you will get.

An adult learner working through English and maths practice questions at a desk

Do you need them?

If you already hold GCSE grade 4 or C or above in English and maths, or an equivalent qualification, you will usually be exempt. If you do not, or you cannot find your certificates, you may need to work towards functional skills alongside your apprenticeship. Your initial assessment at enrolment will confirm which applies to you, and NCE will tell you clearly rather than leaving you guessing.

Find your certificates early

Missing certificates are the single most common cause of an apprentice unnecessarily sitting functional skills. Contact your school, your exam board or the awarding organisation as soon as you enrol. Replacements take time to arrive, so start the search in week one rather than month six.

What the assessments involve

English is assessed in three parts: reading, writing, and speaking, listening and communicating.
Maths is assessed on your ability to use numbers, measures, shapes and data in realistic situations.
The content is deliberately practical. It looks much more like the maths in a school budget or a timetable than the algebra you may remember.
Assessments are usually online and can often be taken at a time that suits your setting.

How NCE supports you

A diagnostic assessment to work out exactly where the gaps are, so you are not re-learning things you already know.
A specialist tutor who works with adults, not children, and who has heard every version of "I was never any good at maths" before.
Practice papers and timed mock assessments so the real thing holds no surprises.
Reasonable adjustments where you need them, including extra time and assistive technology.

If you have exam anxiety

Tell us. It is far more common than most people assume, and it is something we can plan around rather than something to be embarrassed about. Reasonable adjustments, a quieter room, more practice under timed conditions and a slower build-up all make a genuine difference to outcomes.

"Adults who did not enjoy school maths often pass functional skills comfortably, because it is grounded in situations they deal with every week at work."
— NCE functional skills tutor

Fitting it around your job

Functional skills study counts towards your off-the-job training, so it belongs in your working hours, not your evenings. Agree a regular slot with your line manager and protect it in the same way you protect your other apprenticeship time.

Ready to take the next step?

Register your interest in an NCE apprenticeship.

Tell us a little about your role and the sector you work in. A member of our learner team will be in touch with the pathways that fit you best.

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Need help or advice?

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