Functional Skills English Exam

Functional Skills English Exam

This Course at a Glance

• Complete your Functional Skills English exam at home
• Includes reading and writing exams and SLC assessment
• An essential step to obtain your FS qualification
• Includes registration and certification fees
• Also includes Exam Preparation course
• Utilises virtual classroom technology
• No need to travel to exam centres
• Available for Level 1 and Level 2

About Your Course

If you find the pressure or logistical element of completing exams in a group setting at a nominated centre overwhelming, our remote Functional Skills exams could be exactly what you're looking for!

learndirect is proud to be one of the UK's only online providers of remote Functional Skills exams, which allow you to sit your exams in the comfort of your own home using our virtual classroom technology. This removes the pressure and anxiety often associated with sitting in a room with other people while completing this highly important aspect of your studies.

Now, 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 Level 2 qualifications are recognised as a GCSE equivalent and accepted by most colleges and universities. As such, a qualification in Functional Skills English proves you have the practical skills you need to use English in life, study and work.

Our online 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 that regulates 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 (SLC) assessment taken remotely using online classroom technology

Getting Started

learndirect is a leading UK distance learning provider. This Online Functional Skills English Exam is available at Level 1 and Level 2 and is approved by The Office of Qualifications and Examinations Regulation (Ofqual).

Completed online, the convenience offered with this online Functional Skills exam takes away the pressure and logistical issues associated with group exams completed in nominated exam centres. Instead, you can complete your exam when you are ready, from the comfort of your own home.

Exams are available 24 hours per day, 365 days per year. Speaking, Listening and Communicating (SLC) assessments are held on Friday mornings. This frequency and flexibility put the decision of when to complete the final phase of your Functional Skills course in your hands.

This means you can be on the way to reaching your goal much quicker. Whether that be using your Functional Skills qualification to meet university entry requirements or quickly obtaining the knowledge and confidence to tackle daily challenges.

*Please note that entry requirements differ between universities. So it’s always best to check with your chosen institution that your Functional Skills qualification will be accepted before enrolling on a course.

Modules

This online Functional Skills English exam includes our ‘exam preparation’ course that explains everything you need to know about taking your Functional Skills exam online.

Included is one exam - taken on the exam board's secure website - which tests your English skills. This 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 in 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 English is speaking, listening and communicating (SLC). As such, 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

Entry Requirements

Great news! There are no entry requirements for this online Functional Skills English exam. All you need for your learning is access to a computer or tablet and an internet connection. If you wish to, you can complete your exam at one of our centres, however, this option provides you with the opportunity to 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.

All course fees, inclusive of all payment plans including our Premium Credit Limited option, must be settled before certification can be ordered.

*You will have access to the course for 12 months.

Once you’re ready to book your Functional Skills English exam, please contact exams@learndirect.com. Please note we need at least four weeks notice to book exams. 

Exams are available 24 hours per day, 365 days per year. Speaking, Listening and Communicating assessments are held on Friday mornings.

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 in full before a Functional Skills exam can be booked. 

NCFE

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

NCFE is a national Awarding Organisation, passionate about designing, developing and certificating diverse, nationally recognised qualifications and awards. These qualifications contribute to the success of millions of learners at all levels, bringing them closer to fulfilling their personal goals. Last year alone, over 340,000 learners from over 2,000 colleges, schools and training organisations chose NCFE as the Awarding Organisation to help them move their careers forward.

NCFE is a registered educational charity and has a strong heritage in learning, going back over 150 years. With a buzz that sets it apart, NCFE is proud to be recognised for its exceptional customer service and friendly approach. We're a values based company and our values are at the heart of everything we do.

NCFE’s extensive product catalogue includes a wide range of general and vocationally related qualifications in a variety of subject areas, as well as Competence Based qualifications/NVQs, and Functional Skills qualifications.

NCFE is recognised as an Awarding Organisation by the qualification regulators ('regulators') for England, Wales and Northern Ireland. The regulators are the Office of the Qualifications and Examinations Regulator (Ofqual) in England, the Welsh Government in Wales and the Council for Curriculum, Examinations and Assessment (CCEA Regulation) in Northern Ireland.

Career

Functional Skills English can help you to develop your career or even to access 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. As such, 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, so 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.

Frequently Asked Questions