Functional skills have replaced Key Skills as the mandatory English, maths and ICT components of  Apprenticeship frameworks.  

Learn more about the differences between Key Skills and functional skills, as well as Edexcel's functional skills offer. View our Key Skills to Functional Skills transition flyer.

We have the following to support you with the transition:

• Work-based learning specific training events 
• Ask the Expert questions and answers
• Work-based learning specific functional skills resources
• AELP step-by-step guide from moving from Key Skills to functional skills

Our functional skills qualifications give you the opportunity to use onscreen on-demand testing, meaning that your learners can sit their functional skills assessments whenever they’re ready.

For paper-based assessments, learners are given up to eight five-day assessment opportunities throughout the year, with the flexibility to sit their assessments on any day of that week.

Important functional skills information and documents:

• Level 1-2 assessment dates 2012/13 (pdf)
• Entry levels 1 – 3
• English levels 1 – 2
• ICT levels 1 – 2
• Mathematics levels 1 – 2 
• Onscreen on-demand testing
• Key administrative documents  
• General functional skills resources
• Transition of Key Skills to Functional Skills FAQs (pdf)