Functional Skills English

Showcase Training delivers Functional Skills English at Level 1 and Level 2, accredited by Highfield Qualifications, as part of the apprenticeship programme.

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Functional Skills English

Showcase Training delivers Functional Skills English at Level 1 and Level 2, accredited by Highfield Qualifications, as part of the apprenticeship programme. The delivery period is over 8 months, giving learners time to develop practical skills in reading, writing, speaking, and listening.

The qualification assesses learners’ ability to communicate effectively in real-life contexts.

Learners must complete three mandatory assessments:

  • Reading assessment – evaluates learners’ ability to understand, interpret, and analyse written texts.
  • Writing assessment – evaluates spelling, punctuation, grammar, and the ability to communicate clearly in writing.
  • Speaking and listening assessment – evaluates verbal communication, listening, and the ability to respond appropriately in discussions.

All assessments must be passed to achieve the qualification. Assessments can be delivered on-screen or paper-based.

Reasonable Adjustments: Highfield Qualifications offer reasonable adjustments and/or special considerations for all Functional Skills assessments if applicable. For more information and the policies on this, please see the following link: https://www.highfieldqualifications.com/about-us/downloads

Qualification Specification

Highfield Functional Skills Qualification in English at Level 1 and Highfield Functional Skills Qualification in English at Level 2 Qualification Specification

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Functional Skills English Level 2 Timeline

How to Pass Functional Skills English – Quick Tips

General Strategies

Practice Papers

Use official past papers to get familiar with scenarios, timings, and formats.

Manage Time

Be aware of word counts and mark allocations for each question.

Write Everything Down

If advice/reason is needed, provide both; the marker can’t see what’s not written.

Check Multiple Choice

Only select one answer for multiple-choice questions.

Writing Tips

Structure is Key

Use appropriate format (letter, report, article) with intro, body (addressing bullet points), and conclusion.

SPaG Matters:

Aim for 40% of marks; use varied punctuation (commas, apostrophes, full stops, etc.) and full sentences.

Audience & Purpose

Adapt tone and vocabulary for the intended reader (formal/informal) and goal (persuade, inform).

Plan & Proofread

Plan your points before writing and leave time to check for clarity, sense, and errors.

Reading Tips

Misunderstanding or misreading

Close and careful reading is required to ensure that the question is understood.

Pay attention to the wording of the question

If you are asked to explain or describe something, add more than a list for your answer.

Make sure you use the text to answer the question

It’s a test of your reading skills – you must make sure the answer is taken from the documents rather than from your own ideas or experience.

Pay close attention to how many marks a question is worth

If an answer is worth 3 marks, for example, examiners are likely to be looking for three separate points.

Read the wording of multiple-choice questions carefully

If you are asked to only choose one answer, only choose one or you will not get any marks.

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