Online Functional Skills English Exam

Overview

Our brand new remote Functional Skills exams could be exactly what you're looking for! Have you ever thought that sitting an exam would be so much more comfortable if you could just do it from home? Well now you can! learndirect are proud to be one of the UK's only online providers of remote Functional Skills exams. 

So what does this actually mean?

Remote exams are exams you can do in the comfort of your own home using our virtual classroom technology. This means you won't have to sit in a room with other people to take your exam. You can do your exam on your own, with an invigilator watching via webcam to make sure you are following the exam guidelines. Before your exam you will be sent a handbook with all of the rules and regulations you need to follow and guidance on how we will make your exam as fair as possible. 

Functional Skills Qualifications are recognised as a GCSE equivalent, and accepted by most colleges and universities.

A qualification in Functional Skills English proves you have the practical skills you need to use English in life, study and work.

Our Functional Skills exams are available at Level 1 and Level 2 and are approved by The Office of Qualifications and Examinations Regulation (Ofqual) – the regulatory body who regulate qualifications, examinations and assessments in England.

NB - Failure to meet the requirements of the exam board during your exam could result in disqualification. 

What's included:

• Awarding organisation registration fees
• Certification fees
• One reading and one writing online exam taken from home using our online classroom technology
• One Speaking, Listening and Communicating assessment taken remotely using online classroom technology.

Modules

Functional Skills English includes two exams and an assessment:

• Reading – This exam will test you on your ability to read for information, including looking at biased pieces of work and will help you to work out how much the opinions of certain authors can be trusted. It also tests you on the different types of layout features and how these can impact the reader.

• Writing – This exam will assess your writing ability on a variety of ways to write certain pieces. This may include letters, newspaper articles, emails and blogs amongst others. This exam will also test your spelling, punctuation and grammar skills. 

• Speaking, Listening and Communicating – An important element of the English is speaking, listening and communicating (SLC). The Functional Skills English qualification includes an assessment on SLC, assessing your skills in the various ways SLC is used on a daily basis. This assessment will be in a group situation.

Requirements

Great news! There are no entry requirements for the course. All you need for your learning is access to a computer or tablet and an internet connection. For your exam, you can attend one of our centres, or you can access the exam from home.

Equipment requirements:

For you to sit a remotely invigilated assessment, you’ll need the following equipment/environment:

• Laptop/desktop with webcam and microphone (Microsoft Windows or a Mac, Chromebooks cannot be used)

• Wi-Fi connection (Min 1Mbit/s upload | Min 10Mbit/s download)

• Smartphone or tablet (Apple iOS 8.0 / Android 4.1 or higher)

• Suitable test environment (quiet room with no distractions).

Your laptop/desktop will run the assessment software and your smartphone or tablet will be used to record you and the assessment. The assessment itself cannot be sat on a smartphone or tablet.

Laptop/desktop requirements:

You’ll need to have access to a laptop/desktop that has the following set up:

• Broadband speed/bandwidth: - Minimum 1Mbit/s upload speed - recommended upload speed is 1.5Mbit/s - Minimum 10Mbit/s download speed - Tethering via a mobile phone is not supported. Tip: You could try connecting your computer directly to your Wi-Fi router using an ethernet cable to improve and/or guarantee your connection. You can test your broadband speed/bandwidth here: https://www.speedtest.net/  The operating systems supported are Windows 8 or higher, and MAC OS X (latest and previous releases). Chromebooks are not supported therefore shouldn’t be used.

 • Wi-Fi connection – you should be positioned where the signal is strongest

• Web browser – you’ll need the latest version of Google Chrome

• Webcam required – maximum resolution of 1280 x 720

• Microphone required

• Audio required

• If possible, turn off any updates on devices

• Ensure that your laptop/desktop is plugged in for the duration of the assessment

Note: Attempting to use a laptop or device that is intended for work purposes may have restricted access and admin rights installed. This may cause issues when trying to access the ProctorExam platform and therefore it is recommended that you use a personal laptop or device.

Mobile devices:

You’ll need a smartphone or tablet on which you’ll need to download the ProctorExam app. You can download the app by accessing the Google Play Store (Android devices) or the App Store (iOS (Apple) devices) and searching for ProctorExam. Our instructions for downloading the app will be provided during the system check process once your assessment is booked. Specifications for downloading and running the app are:

• Android 4.1 or higher / iOS (Apple) 8.0 or higher

• Video resolution must be minimum 800 x 600 px

• Ensure you can connect to Wi-Fi – so you don’t use up your data

• Ensure your mobile device can be plugged in for the duration of your assessment.

Please note that the Google Pixel series of phones are currently unsupported due to issues with blurring within the ProctorExam application.

Assessment

You’ll be assessed throughout your learning by our online quizzes. If you achieve 80% or more in our quizzes, you’re ready to take a mock exam. One marked mock exam is included in this package. 

Once you’re ready to book your exam, please contact upskilluk@learndirect.com.

Exams are available:

• During normal office hours
• Tuesday and Thursday evenings from 5p.m. to 9p.m. inclusive, and
• Saturday mornings from 10a.m. subject to the availability of an invigilator.
• The SLC component is assessed in small groups every Friday.

You must have a quiet room where you will not be disturbed. We will invigilate your exam using online classroom technology.

All instalment plans must be paid and up to date before an exam can be booked. In addition, exams cannot be booked for dates before the final payment is successfully made. For example, if two monthly payments are due in the future, an exam can be booked, but the exam date will be after the final payment is received.

Qualifications

Open Awards

For our functional skills qualifications and certification we work with both NCFE and Open Awards.

Your exam will be one of:  

• NCFE Level 2 Functional Skills Qualification in English, qualification code: 603/5054/4
• Open Awards English Functional Skills Level 2, qualification code: 603/4605/X

Once you’ve passed your exam, you’ll have a nationally recognised qualification in Functional Skills English.

Achieving the Functional Skills qualification will enable you to go on to further education programmes and can also give you access to some universities (we advise checking this before you start your course).

NCFE is a leading provider of educational services and a not for profit organisation. They have a strong heritage in learning and have been at the forefront of technical and vocational education for over 170 years. Their core purpose is to promote and advance learning, with a particular emphasis on supporting social mobility and prosperity.

Open Awards are a UK-based Awarding Organisation approved by both Ofqual and as an Access Validating Agency by the Quality Assurance Agency for Higher Education (QAA). They provide a broad range of qualifications from Functional Skills, Vocational Training, Access to Higher Education Diplomas. They are committed to helping provide the highest quality learning experience to help transform lives.

Open Awards are a UK-based Awarding Organisation approved by both Ofqual and as an Access Validating Agency by the Quality Assurance Agency for Higher Education (QAA). They provide a broad range of qualifications from Functional Skills, Vocational Training, Access to Higher Education Diplomas. They are committed to helping provide the highest quality learning experience to help transform lives.

Developing your career

Functional Skills English can help you do develop your career or even to find that job you’ve always wanted. Many employers now look for a level 2 qualification in English before they consider hiring a candidate for a job. Gaining this qualification could be just what you need to give you that boost against the other people applying for the position.

English is also really beneficial for your day to day life skills. You can write a letter to a company if you need to complain or send an email without worrying if your grammar is correct. You can even practice your skills when in a group conversation.

Functional Skills English is also great if you want to help your children with their homework, you’ll learn how to help them get the right answer.

Functional Skills English can even give you the skills you need to go to university. Many universities now have an entry requirement of a level 2 in English, gaining this could be your ticket to studying your degree. You need to check with the university that they accept Functional Skills English before starting your course.