Pearson Functional Skills Pass Rates 2024/25: Maths, English and Digital Skills
Functional Skills
Data coverage: This guide summarises Pearson’s Functional Skills pass-rate analysis for the 2024/25 academic year, published in September 2025. Pearson is the awarding organisation and the publisher of the results. The figures cover Pearson qualifications only, so they are not national pass rates for every awarding organisation.
Pearson’s latest publication reports three distinct measures: first-attempt pass rates, pass rates across all completed assessment attempts, and the proportion of individual learners who achieved after one or more attempts. Reading those measures separately is essential because they answer different questions.
Important source note: Pearson’s exact 2024/25 publication contains the authoritative figures and breakdowns. Because qualification results may also be displayed in charts and accessible tables that Pearson can revise, readers should verify any percentage used for formal reporting against Pearson’s Functional Skills Pass Rates 2024/25 analysis. Do not substitute figures from another year or treat Pearson’s results as all-board national data.
What each Pearson pass rate means
The denominator changes between Pearson’s measures. That means the percentages must not be combined or compared as though they describe the same population.
- First-attempt pass rate: the percentage of completed first assessment attempts that resulted in a pass.
- Overall-assessment pass rate: the percentage of all completed assessment attempts that resulted in a pass, including relevant resits. A learner may appear more than once.
- Individual-learner pass rate: the percentage of unique learners who achieved the relevant qualification or component during the reporting period after one or more attempts.
- Attendance information: Pearson’s 2024/25 analysis also discusses attendance. A registration, booked assessment, completed attempt and unique learner are not automatically the same denominator.
Pearson Functional Skills pass rates for 2024/25
Denominator for the table: first-attempt and overall-assessment rates use completed assessment attempts; individual-learner rates use unique learners. English reading and writing are separate assessment components. Digital Functional Skills is available at Entry Level 3 and Level 1, not Level 2.
| Qualification or component | First attempt | All assessment attempts | Individual learners |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mathematics Level 1 | See Pearson’s verified 2024/25 result | ||
| Mathematics Level 2 | See Pearson’s verified 2024/25 result | ||
| English reading Level 1 | See Pearson’s verified 2024/25 result | ||
| English reading Level 2 | See Pearson’s verified 2024/25 result | ||
| English writing Level 1 | See Pearson’s verified 2024/25 result | ||
| English writing Level 2 | See Pearson’s verified 2024/25 result | ||
| Digital Functional Skills Entry Level 3 | See Pearson’s verified 2024/25 result | ||
| Digital Functional Skills Level 1 | See Pearson’s verified 2024/25 result | ||
Pearson’s publication should be treated as the controlling source for the precise percentages. It allows readers to compare mathematics, English reading, English writing and Digital Functional Skills while retaining the correct assessment and learner denominators.
What the latest results tell readers
The results provide a descriptive picture of assessments delivered through Pearson. They can show where first-attempt outcomes differ from outcomes across all attempts, and where learner-level achievement differs from attempt-based performance. They may also be broken down by characteristics such as provider type, age or assessment mode.
They cannot establish that a particular provider type or delivery method caused a higher result. Groups may differ in prior attainment, programme purpose, age profile, attendance, readiness policies and resitting behaviour. An aggregate pass rate also cannot predict whether a particular learner will pass.
A useful mechanism: attempts and learners answer different questions
Consider two learners. Learner A passes on the first attempt. Learner B fails twice and passes on a third attempt. Together, they generate four completed attempts and two passes:
2 passed attempts ÷ 4 completed attempts × 100 = 50% overall-assessment pass rate.
Both learners eventually achieved:
2 learners achieving ÷ 2 unique learners × 100 = 100% individual-learner pass rate.
Neither calculation is wrong. The first describes assessment events; the second describes eventual achievement among unique learners. This is why Pearson’s addition of individual-learner data in its 2024/25 analysis is useful for providers. Attempt-level results can highlight resit pressure, while learner-level results provide a clearer view of how many people eventually achieved during the reporting period.
The same distinction matters to learners. A low assessment-attempt rate does not mean that an individual has only that probability of ever achieving. Conversely, a high learner-level rate does not reveal how many attempts, how much additional tuition or how long learners needed before passing.
Digital Functional Skills in 2024/25
Legacy ICT Functional Skills was replaced in England from August 2023 by Digital Functional Skills qualifications. The current qualifications are available at Entry Level 3 and Level 1. There is no Digital Functional Skills Level 2 qualification.
| Current qualification | Available? | What to compare |
|---|---|---|
| Digital Functional Skills Entry Level 3 | Yes | Use Pearson’s Entry Level 3 results for 2024/25 |
| Digital Functional Skills Level 1 | Yes | Use Pearson’s Level 1 results for 2024/25 |
| Digital Functional Skills Level 2 | No | Do not infer a Level 2 result from legacy ICT data |
The qualification structure and content are set out in the Department for Education’s Digital Functional Skills qualification subject content. Legacy ICT Level 1 and Level 2 percentages are not directly comparable with the new qualifications because their content and level structure differ.
Methodology box: how to interpret the figures
- Check the year: this page concerns Pearson’s September 2025 publication about the 2024/25 academic year.
- Check the organisation: Pearson’s rates do not include every awarding organisation.
- Check the measure: distinguish first attempts, all completed attempts and individual learners.
- Check the component: English reading and writing are reported separately. Speaking, listening and communicating is assessed differently.
- Check attendance treatment: registrations and booked assessments should not automatically be treated as completed attempts.
- Check cohort size: percentages based on smaller groups may vary substantially from year to year.
- Avoid causal claims: an association with provider type, age or mode does not prove that characteristic caused the result.
Why English and mathematics rates can differ
English and mathematics assess different knowledge and skills. English includes reading, writing, and speaking, listening and communicating. Mathematics tests mathematical knowledge and its application to practical problems. Their pass rates should not be treated as like-for-like measures of general ability.
Ofqual’s work on reformed Functional Skills mathematics examined assessment difficulty and provides better context than a simple claim that mathematics results have one identifiable cause. See Ofqual’s evaluation of reformed Functional Skills mathematics.
Differences may reflect learners’ starting points, curriculum coverage, programme purpose, preparation, attendance and cohort composition. Those are possible influences rather than proven explanations for a particular annual percentage.
Speaking, listening and communicating
English speaking, listening and communicating is assessed differently from externally marked reading and writing assessments. Centre assessment and qualification-claim processes may not generate the same attempt-level data as an externally marked test.
A pass-rate table for reading and writing should therefore not be assumed to include every English component. Learners and centres should consult Pearson’s current specification and administrative guidance for assessment requirements and permitted arrangements.
Historical comparison: Pearson’s 2021/22 results
The following figures are retained as a concise historical reference. They describe Pearson assessment attempts in 2021/22, not current outcomes or national pass rates. Changes in qualifications, cohorts and reporting methods limit direct comparison with 2024/25.
| 2021/22 assessment | First-attempt rate | Overall-attempt rate |
|---|---|---|
| Mathematics Level 1 | 43% | 33% |
| Mathematics Level 2 | 39% | 34% |
| English reading Level 1 | 82% | 76% |
| English reading Level 2 | 72% | 66% |
| English writing Level 1 | 68% | 60% |
| English writing Level 2 | 69% | 61% |
For example, the difference between the 43% first-attempt rate and 33% overall-attempt rate for Level 1 mathematics was 10 percentage points. That is not a 10% reduction and does not represent an individual learner’s chance of passing a resit.
Legacy Pearson ICT results from 2021/22 should not be used as a baseline for Digital Functional Skills. The replacement qualifications have different subject content and are offered at different levels.
Functional Skills, GCSEs and progression
Functional Skills and GCSEs are different qualifications with different specifications and assessment approaches. Functional Skills focuses on applying knowledge in practical contexts. A Level 2 Functional Skills qualification may be accepted instead of a GCSE for a particular job, course or apprenticeship, but acceptance is not universal.
Entry Level 2 is below Levels 1 and 2 on the regulated qualifications framework. It should not be described as GCSE-equivalent. It can instead support learners who are building foundational knowledge before progressing.
If you are considering Functional Skills Entry Level 2 Maths, confirm that the level matches your starting point and progression goal. Ask the relevant employer, college or university whether it accepts the exact qualification and level before enrolling.
Functional Skills should not be described as universally easier than GCSEs. A learner’s strengths, the qualification level, the specification and the assessment format all affect how demanding an assessment feels.
Apprenticeship English and maths requirements
Apprenticeship requirements depend on factors including the apprentice’s age, prior attainment, programme and applicable funding rules. It is not accurate to state that every apprentice must pass English and mathematics before completing an apprenticeship.
Requirements can change between funding years. Apprentices, employers and training providers should use the current Department for Education apprenticeship funding rules and obtain programme-specific confirmation from the provider.
How Functional Skills pass boundaries work
There is no universal percentage pass mark for every Functional Skills assessment. Awarding organisations set boundaries for individual assessment versions through their awarding processes. A boundary can therefore differ between papers and, for English, between components.
For a Pearson assessment, check the exact paper or series using Pearson’s grade-boundary information. A general statement such as “55% is always a pass” should not be relied upon.
How learners and providers can use the data
For learners
Use pass-rate information as context, not as a predicted result. Preparation should be based on the current specification, diagnostic work, appropriate teaching and practice with the correct assessment format. If you need reasonable adjustments, discuss them with your centre early so it can follow the awarding organisation’s requirements.
For providers
Compare like with like: the same awarding organisation, qualification, component, level, year and denominator. Reviewing first-attempt rates alongside learner-level achievement can reveal different operational issues. A weak first-attempt result may indicate a need to examine readiness decisions, whereas a stronger learner rate may show that support and resits eventually lead to achievement. Attendance data should be considered separately rather than being hidden within a general pass-rate discussion.
For employers and admissions teams
Pass rates describe groups; they do not change what an individual qualification certifies. Decisions should be based on the exact qualification and level required for the role or programme, not on whether one annual cohort had a comparatively high or low result.
Functional Skills courses
Relevant courses
Before purchasing a course or exam package, confirm the awarding organisation, qualification level, assessment fees, resit terms and whether the intended employer or education provider accepts the qualification.
Frequently asked questions
What is Pearson’s Functional Skills pass rate?
There is no single Pearson Functional Skills pass rate. Pearson reports separate results by qualification, level and English component, and distinguishes first attempts, all completed attempts and individual learners. Use its 2024/25 publication for the relevant percentage.
Are Pearson’s figures national pass rates?
No. They describe qualifications delivered through Pearson. They do not combine results from City & Guilds, NCFE, Open Awards or other awarding organisations.
Why can the individual-learner rate exceed the overall-assessment rate?
One learner may make several attempts before passing. Those attempts all affect the overall-assessment rate, while the successful learner is counted once in the individual-learner measure.
What percentage is needed to pass Functional Skills?
No single percentage applies to every assessment. Check the official awarding-organisation boundary for the exact paper or assessment version.
Can a learner resit?
Resit arrangements depend on the awarding organisation and centre. A further entry is normally needed, and fees or readiness requirements may apply. Learners should obtain the centre’s current terms before booking.
Is ICT Functional Skills still available?
No. Legacy ICT Functional Skills was replaced in England from August 2023 by Digital Functional Skills at Entry Level 3 and Level 1. There is no current Digital Functional Skills Level 2 qualification.
Can Functional Skills secure university admission?
No qualification guarantees admission. Some institutions accept Level 2 Functional Skills for specified requirements, while others require a particular GCSE subject and grade. Ask the admissions team about the exact course and qualification.
Sources and publication details
- Pearson, September 2025: Functional Skills Pass Rates 2024/25.
- Department for Education: Digital Functional Skills qualification subject content.
- Ofqual: Reformed Functional Skills mathematics: evaluation of difficulty.
- Department for Education: Current apprenticeship funding rules.
- Pearson: Grade boundaries.
This article is an educational summary. Qualification rules, funding requirements, boundaries and admissions policies can change. Confirm case-specific decisions with Pearson, the relevant training provider, employer, admissions team or other competent organisation.
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