The Skillsfirst Level 1 Functional Skills Qualification in English gives learners the opportunity to demonstrate their ability to read, write, speak, listen and communicate in English, and to apply these skills effectively to a range of purposes in the workplace and other real-life situations.

With a focus on spelling, punctuation and grammar, the qualification has also been designed to enable learners to:

• listen, understand and make relevant contributions to discussions with others in a range of contexts
• apply their understanding of language to adapt delivery and content to suit audience and purpose
• read a range of different text types confidently and fluently, applying their knowledge and understanding of texts to their own writing
• write texts of varying complexity, with accuracy, effectiveness, and correct spelling, punctuation and grammar
• understand the situations when, and audiences for which, planning, drafting and using formal language are important, and when they are less important.

Achievement of these qualifications will allow learners to develop the knowledge and skills to be able to communicate with confidence, effectiveness and with an increasing level of independence.

Achievement of the VTCT (Skillsfirst) Level 1 Functional Skills Qualification in English

To achieve the VTCT (Skillsfirst) Level 1 Functional Skills Qualification in English learners must successfully pass three mandatory units:

• One externally set and marked assessment in Level 1 Functional Skills Qualification in English: Reading; onscreen or paper-based exam
• One externally set and marked assessment in Level 1 Functional Skills Qualification in English: Writing; onscreen or paper-based exam
• One internally or externally set, and internally marked, assessment in Level 1 Functional Skills Qualification in English: Speaking, Listening and Communicating (SLC); for further information and guidance, please refer to the qualification handbook

The three units can be achieved separately, over time.

The unit results can be carried forward between awarding organisations, provided that sufficient evidence of achievement is submitted to Skillsfirst when making the request. For further information and guidance, please refer to the qualification handbook.

Certification will take place once all three units have been achieved at the same level (please note, this is a change from the legacy Functional Skills English qualification).

Qualification structure

Skillsfirst qualification number	Qualification title	Ofqual qualification reference
RFSE1	VTCT (Skillsfirst) Level 1 Functional Skills Qualification in English	603/4608/5

Mandatory units

Ofqual unit number	Skillsfirst unit number	Unit title	GLH
Y/617/2340	RSLC1	Functional Skills Speaking, Listening and Communicating Level 1	15
D/617/2341	–	Functional Skills Reading Level 1	20
H/617/2342	–	Functional Skills Writing Level 1	20

 

Related Documents:

VTCT (Skillsfirst) Level 1 Functional Skills Qualification in English Handbook

 

Total qualification time (TQT) and guided learning hours (GLH)

The total qualification time (TQT) for Skillsfirst Level 1 Functional Skills Qualification in English is 60 hours.

The minimum guided learning hours (GLH) are 55.

What has changed?

Speaking, Listening and Communicating

There has been a change to the definition of a Speaking, Listening and Communicating assessment. The legacy definition was:

“Speaking, listening and communication within Functional Skills qualifications are defined as non-written communication, normally conducted face-to-face.”

The new definition is as follows:

“Speaking, listening and communicating’ within Functional Skills English qualifications is non-written communication, normally conducted face-to-face and can also include ‘virtual’ communication methods such as telephone or spoken web-based technologies.”

Crucially, this new definition allows the use of remote ‘video-chat’ technology such as video-phoning, video-conferencing, ‘Skype’ etc. We know many of our centres will welcome this change!

The Skillsfirst approach to ‘speaking, listening and communicating’ will be to develop assessments that have:

• one externally set or centre devised task with a 30 minute duration
• two discussions at Level 1
• a scoring system whereby all pass criteria must be achieved
• the availability of reasonable adjustments.

Reading

There has been a change to the definition of the Reading component. The current definition is:

“The independent decoding and understanding of written language and text in a purposeful context. ‘Text’ is defined as materials that include the use of words that are written, printed, on screen or presented using Braille.”

The new definition is as follows:

“The independent understanding of written language in specific contexts. This can be demonstrated through the use of texts on screen or on paper.”

The Skillsfirst approach to this will be to develop examinations that have:

• one externally set, externally marked assessment, either online or paper-based, which has a total of 30 marks with a one-hour duration
• a pass/fail assessment with the pass threshold being around 18 marks
• a dictionary being allowed
• reasonable adjustments available

Writing

With regard to the writing component, the current definition reads as follows:

“The independent construction of written text to communicate in a purposeful context. ‘Text’ is defined as materials that include the use of words that are written, printed, on screen or presented using Braille.”

The new definition is as follows:

“Write texts of varying complexity, with accuracy, effectiveness and correct spelling, punctuation and grammar and understand the situations when, and audiences for which, planning, drafting and using formal language are important and when they are less important.”

These changes mean that learners will need to:

• spell, punctuate and write grammatically without use of dictionaries, spelling or grammar checkers
• spend more time learning the underpinning knowledge and skills to communicate well

The Skillsfirst approach to this will be to develop examinations that have:

• one externally set, externally marked assessment, either online or paper-based, which has a total of 60 marks with a one-hour duration
• a pass/fail assessment with the pass threshold being around 36 marks
• no spell checker, grammar checker or dictionary allowed
• reasonable adjustments available