Functional Skills

Functional Skills are practical skills in English, Maths and ICT for all learners aged 14 and above.

Functional Skills are important because they provide young people and adults with the skills, knowledge and understanding that they will need in order to progress and succeed in education, work and life.

Functional Skills qualifications in English, Maths and ICT are available at Entry 1, Entry 2, Entry 3, Level 1 and Level 2. Each subject area has a set of performance standards based on three key areas:

Maths – Key areas:

Representing – making sense of a situation and representing it mathematically.

Analysing – processing and using maths.

Interpreting – interpreting and communicating the results of analysis..

ICT – Key areas:

Use of ICT systems.

Finding and selecting information.

Developing, presenting, and communicating information.

Functional English – Key areas:

Speaking and listening – making an oral presentation or report.

Reading – reading and understanding information and instructions.

Writing – writing accurately so that the meaning is clear.

What qualifications do TfL accept?

TfL has confirmed that any of the below will meet the English Language Requirement:

• UK GCSE grades A to G
• UK O level grades A to E
• UK CSE grades 1 to 5
• UK AS level/A level
• UK NVQ/BTEC/City and Guilds qualification level 1 or above
• UK HNC/HND
• UK degree or higher (e.g. master’s, PhD)
• ESOL Skills for Life (Entry Level 3, Level 1, Level 2)
• Functional Skills qualifications in English (Entry Level 3, Level 1, Level 2)
• SELT certificate at B1 level or higher, issued by Trinity College London or IELTS