The Functional Skills English Level 1 course helps learners strengthen their practical English abilities for real-world use in work, study, and daily communication. Equivalent to a GCSE Grade D–E (or Level 3), it focuses on developing strong reading, writing, and verbal skills through realistic scenarios and tasks.

Ideal for those progressing from Entry Level 3 or looking to boost their employability, this course prepares learners to use English confidently and accurately in professional and personal settings.

Functional Skills Qualification in English at Level 2 are for learners to develop understanding and skills in English.

The qualifications give learners the opportunity to:
● Gain a qualification for work, study and life
● Demonstrate the ability at an appropriate level to read, write, speak, listen and communicate in English
● Apply these skills effectively to a range of purposes in the workplace and in other real life situations.

1. Speaking, Listening & Communicating

Learners should be able to:

• • Identify relevant information and lines of argument in explanations or presentations
  • Make requests and ask relevant questions to obtain specific information in different contexts
  • Respond effectively to detailed questions
  • Communicate information, ideas and opinions clearly and accurately on a range of topics
  • Express opinions/arguments supported by evidence
  • Follow and understand discussions and make contributions relevant to situation/subject
  • Use appropriate phrases and registers, adapt contributions for purpose, audience and medium
  • Respect turn-taking rights of others in discussions, use appropriate language for interjections.

2. Reading

Learners should be able to:

• Identify and understand main points, ideas and details in texts
• Compare information, ideas and opinions in different texts
• Identify meanings in texts, distinguish between fact and opinion
• Recognise that language and other textual features can be varied to suit different audiences and purposes
• Use reference materials/strategies (e.g., knowledge of word types) to find meaning of words
• Understand organisational/structural features and use them to locate relevant information (index, menus, subheadings, paragraphs)
• Infer from images meanings not explicit in accompanying text.

3. Writing

• • Use a range of punctuation correctly (full stops, question/exclamation marks, commas, possessive apostrophes)
  • Use correct grammar (subject-verb agreement, consistent tense use, definite/indefinite articles)
  • Spell words used most often in work/study/daily life including specialist words.

Composition:

• Communicate information, ideas and opinions clearly, coherently and accurately
• Write text of an appropriate level of detail and length for purpose/audience
• Use format, structure and language appropriate for purpose/audience
• Write consistently and accurately in complex sentences, using paragraphs where appropriate.

• Learners will develop skills to read, write, speak/listen and communicate in English. They should be able to apply these to real-life, work and study
• The qualification builds on Entry Levels and prepares learners for further learning or work.

Successful completion allows progression to:

• Functional Skills English Level 2 (equivalent to GCSE Grade 4/C)
• Access to apprenticeships, higher-level study, or employment requiring English proficiency