Functional Skills Practice Tests: English and Maths Levels 1 and 2

Functional Skills practice tests can help you understand an assessment, identify gaps in your knowledge and decide what to revise next. The most useful papers match your subject, level, awarding organisation and current qualification specification.

This guide explains Functional Skills English and maths practice papers at Levels 1 and 2, with links to official sample assessments and mark schemes. It also covers Entry Levels, Digital Functional Skills, reasonable adjustments and remote assessment.

Important: assessment formats, permitted materials, timings and pass marks can differ between awarding organisations and qualification versions. Always use the specification and sample materials supplied by your chosen awarding organisation. Your approved centre can confirm which qualification you are taking.

Functional Skills Maths Level 2

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What are Functional Skills qualifications?

Functional Skills qualifications assess the practical use of English and mathematics in work, education and everyday contexts. Current Department for Education subject content sets out five stages for each subject:

• Entry Level 1
• Entry Level 2
• Entry Level 3
• Level 1
• Level 2

There is no Functional Skills Level 3 qualification in English or mathematics. The government’s qualification-level guide places Entry Level qualifications below Level 1. Functional Skills Level 1 sits at the same regulated qualification level as GCSE grades 1–3, while Functional Skills Level 2 sits at the same level as GCSE grades 4–9.

That framework comparison does not make Functional Skills and GCSEs identical. They have different subject content and assessment arrangements. Employers, universities, apprenticeships and professional programmes may set their own entry requirements, so ask the relevant organisation whether it accepts the precise qualification and subject you plan to take. Our guide to what Functional Skills Level 2 is equivalent to explains this distinction further.

Choose the right subject, level and awarding organisation

Before downloading a mock paper, check three details on your registration documents or ask your centre:

1. Subject: English, mathematics or Digital Functional Skills.
2. Level: Entry Level 1, 2 or 3, Level 1 or Level 2 for English and maths. Digital Functional Skills are available only at Entry Level 3 and Level 1.
3. Awarding organisation and specification: sample materials from another provider can be useful for broad topic practice, but they may not reproduce your assessment’s wording, structure or permitted resources.

If you do not yet know your appropriate level, ask a learning provider or assessment centre for an initial assessment. A mock score alone should not be treated as a formal placement decision, especially where a learner has accessibility needs or has not previously encountered the question format.

What the current English and maths qualifications cover

Functional Skills Maths Level 1

The current DfE mathematics subject content organises the qualification around using numbers and the number system, measures and geometry, and information and data. Questions require learners to select methods and apply them to practical problems rather than merely recall isolated facts.

At Level 1, representative skills include:

• working with whole numbers, decimals, fractions and percentages;
• using ratios and direct proportion in practical situations;
• estimating, checking answers and interpreting results;
• converting between commonly used units of money, time, length, weight and capacity;
• calculating perimeter, area and volume in specified contexts;
• using simple formulae and scale drawings;
• interpreting tables, charts, diagrams and grouped data;
• calculating and interpreting averages and range; and
• expressing the likelihood of events.

A suitable Level 1 practice test should therefore include multi-step, contextual questions. Exercises limited to recognising coins, naming basic shapes or counting to 20 do not represent the breadth of Level 1.

Functional Skills Maths Level 2

Level 2 involves more complex information, reasoning and problem-solving. Representative content includes:

• positive and negative numbers of any size;
• fractions, decimals and percentages, including equivalence and percentage change;
• ratio, direct proportion and inverse proportion;
• substitution into formulae and evaluation of expressions;
• compound measures such as speed, density or rates of pay where relevant information is supplied;
• area, circumference and volume, including composite shapes in suitable contexts;
• Pythagoras’ theorem and scale drawings;
• probability, including combined events in appropriate problems;
• averages, spread and comparison of data sets; and
• interpreting and presenting information in tables, charts and graphs.

Practise explaining what an answer means in context. A mathematically correct calculation may not complete a question if you have not compared options, selected a suitable unit or stated the resulting decision.

Entry Level maths

Entry Level content develops progressively across three stages. Depending on the stage, examples include counting and ordering, calculations with smaller whole numbers, money and time, common measures, simple fractions, shapes and straightforward data displays. Use materials labelled with your exact Entry Level because the required range and complexity increase from Entry Level 1 to Entry Level 3.

Functional Skills English Levels 1 and 2

According to the current DfE English subject content, Functional Skills English has three components:

• Reading: understanding, comparing and evaluating information and ideas in texts.
• Writing: communicating information, ideas and opinions clearly, coherently and accurately for a stated audience and purpose.
• Speaking, listening and communicating: taking part in discussions and presenting or responding appropriately.

At Level 1, learners work with straightforward and some complex information. Reading practice should cover purposes, main points, detail, organisational features and comparisons. Writing practice should include extended responses for different audiences, with attention to structure, vocabulary, spelling, punctuation and grammar.

At Level 2, texts and tasks are more complex. Learners may need to distinguish points of view, assess how language conveys meaning, compare material across texts and produce detailed, well-structured writing suited to its purpose. Our Functional Skills English Level 2 writing sample answers can support writing practice, but the current awarding-body specification and mark scheme remain the controlling documents.

Speaking, listening and communicating is normally assessed separately from reading and writing. A downloadable reading or writing paper therefore does not practise the entire English qualification. Obtain your awarding organisation’s task requirements and assessment criteria from your centre.

Official Functional Skills practice tests and mark schemes

The links below lead to awarding-body qualification or support pages where current sample assessment materials are published. Resources are generally available without payment, although page layouts, file names and access arrangements can change. Select the correct qualification level and download both the question paper and its corresponding mark scheme or answer document.

Pearson Edexcel practice materials

Pearson’s Functional Skills qualification hub provides specification and course-material routes for English and mathematics. Choose the relevant subject and level, then check that the sample assessment carries the current qualification title.

City & Guilds sample assessments

The City & Guilds Functional Skills page provides qualification documents and sample assessments for English and mathematics. Match every mark scheme to the exact paper code and version shown on its front page.

NCFE sample papers

NCFE publishes qualification pages for Level 1 mathematics, Level 2 mathematics, Level 1 English and Level 2 English. Each page links to supporting documents where available.

Open Awards sample assessments

Open Awards provides current qualification information and sample materials through its Functional Skills hub. Check the level, assessment type and document date before starting.

Other Ofqual-recognised awarding organisations may also offer Functional Skills qualifications. Use your provider’s materials where possible because assessment delivery, paper structure and administrative rules are not necessarily interchangeable.

Assessment format, timing and pass marks

There is no single universal timing for every Functional Skills test. The duration depends on the subject, level, awarding organisation and assessment version. Mathematics can include separate non-calculator and calculator sections. English reading and writing are separately assessed, while speaking, listening and communicating has its own arrangements.

Before attempting a timed mock, record the following directly from the paper cover, specification or official assessment guidance:

• the allowed time;
• the total marks;
• whether reading time is included;
• whether and when a calculator is permitted;
• which dictionaries, rulers or other resources are allowed;
• whether answers must be entered into a booklet or onscreen; and
• the instructions for any separate component.

Do not assume that a mark boundary printed on an old practice paper will be used in your live assessment. Awarding organisations set and maintain standards under their own assessment arrangements. Treat an official mark scheme as a diagnostic tool: it shows how the sample responses earn marks, but only the awarding organisation or centre can confirm a result.

How to take a practice test properly

1. Begin with an untimed diagnostic

Use one current sample paper without time pressure. Mark it carefully and list the topics you could not start, questions where your method failed and answers lost through reading or presentation errors. This separates missing knowledge from unfamiliarity with the format.

2. Revise a small number of priorities

Choose two or three weaknesses rather than repeating full papers immediately. For mathematics, complete several varied questions on each weak topic and show every step. For English, practise the precise skill: identifying evidence, comparing viewpoints, planning for an audience, paragraphing or proofreading, for example.

3. Complete a different paper under official conditions

Use the stated time and permitted equipment. Work in a quiet place, put away notes and follow the paper’s calculator rules. This produces a more useful indication of pacing than reusing a paper whose answers you remember.

4. Mark for method as well as totals

Compare your work with the mark scheme. In maths, note whether marks were awarded for a method even where the final answer was wrong. In English, read the level-based criteria and annotations rather than searching only for a model phrase.

5. Repeat the cycle

After targeted revision, answer fresh questions and then sit another full mock. Improvement on unfamiliar material is more meaningful than a higher score on a repeated paper.

Mock-test error tracker

This simple review table turns a score into a revision plan. Copy it into a notebook or spreadsheet and create one row for every lost mark.

Useful error labels include knowledge, misread instruction, method, calculation, missing evidence, spelling or punctuation, unit and time management. Add the marks lost by category after each mock. If several errors come from misreading, more topic revision alone will not solve the problem; practise underlining command words and checking what the answer must contain.

Digital Functional Skills are not legacy ICT Functional Skills

Digital Functional Skills qualifications replaced ICT Functional Skills for new learners in August 2023. Under the current DfE Digital Functional Skills subject content, qualifications are available at Entry Level 3 and Level 1 only. They are not offered at Entry Levels 1 or 2, Level 2 or Level 3.

The five official skills areas are:

1. using devices and handling information;
2. creating and editing;
3. communicating;
4. transacting; and
5. being safe and responsible online.

Digital Functional Skills Entry Level 3 is an Entry Level qualification. It is not equivalent to GCSE grade 4, which is at qualification Level 2. Likewise, Digital Functional Skills Level 1 is a Level 1 qualification and should not be described as a GCSE.

Our page on Functional Skills ICT past papers concerns the withdrawn legacy ICT qualifications. Such papers may illustrate historical ICT tasks, but they are not reliable mock assessments for current Digital Functional Skills because the subject content and qualification structure have changed. For current preparation, use sample assessments issued for your Digital Functional Skills awarding organisation and specification.

Reasonable adjustments and accessibility

Reasonable adjustments are not automatic or identical across qualifications. Under Ofqual’s General Conditions of Recognition, an awarding organisation must have arrangements for reasonable adjustments while ensuring that an adjustment does not invalidate the assessment requirements.

Whether a screen reader, reader, scribe, speech-recognition system, extra time, supervised rest break, modified paper, sign-language support or another arrangement is permitted depends on the learner’s needs, the competence being assessed and the awarding organisation’s current policy. For example, assistance that supplies the reading or writing skill being assessed may not be permitted even if similar support is allowed elsewhere.

Tell your centre about your needs as early as possible, before booking or sitting an assessment. The centre should explain the evidence required, apply to the awarding organisation where necessary and allow you to practise with the approved arrangement. Do not assume that an adjustment used at school, work or for another qualification will transfer automatically.

Paper-based, onscreen and remotely invigilated assessments

Available delivery methods depend on the awarding organisation, centre, subject and component. An onscreen test taken at an approved centre is not the same as a remotely invigilated test taken at home. English speaking, listening and communicating may also follow different delivery arrangements from English reading and writing.

Remote assessment is not available simply because a learner has an internet connection. Providers impose identity, room, operating-system, browser, camera, microphone, device and network requirements. Pearson’s current Functional Skills remote-invigilation FAQs, for example, specify technical arrangements including Windows, Chrome, a webcam and microphone, and a second camera-equipped device. Those requirements should not be assumed to apply to another awarding organisation.

Before booking a remote assessment:

• confirm that your subject and component can be taken remotely;
• read the current rules published by the awarding organisation and centre;
• complete the centre’s system and equipment checks on the devices you will actually use;
• check identification and room requirements;
• ask what happens if the connection or equipment fails; and
• confirm any approved reasonable adjustments.

What to do if your mock result is low

A low score is useful information, not proof that you cannot achieve the qualification. First check whether the paper matched your correct level and specification. Then use the error tracker to distinguish subject gaps from exam-technique problems.

For maths, revisit one method at a time, practise it in several contexts and check units and reasonableness. For English reading, support each point with relevant textual evidence. For writing, spend a short period identifying the purpose, audience, format and required content before drafting, then reserve time to proofread.

If you repeatedly struggle to understand why marks were lost, ask a qualified tutor or your centre to discuss the official criteria with you. Lead Academy’s course options include Functional Skills Maths Level 1, Functional Skills Maths Level 2 and Functional Skills English Level 1. Course access and mock-test availability should be checked on the relevant course page before purchase.

Functional Skills practice-test checklist

• Confirm the correct subject, level, awarding organisation and specification.
• Download an official sample paper and its matching mark scheme.
• Read the cover instructions and permitted-material rules.
• Take an untimed diagnostic before attempting a timed mock.
• Record errors by topic and cause, not only by total score.
• Revise weak skills using fresh questions.
• Complete another current paper under the stated conditions.
• Ask your centre about booking, delivery and reasonable adjustments.
• Check acceptance requirements with the employer or education provider concerned.

Frequently asked questions

What levels of Functional Skills are available?

English and mathematics are available at Entry Levels 1, 2 and 3, Level 1 and Level 2. There is no Functional Skills Level 3. Current Digital Functional Skills qualifications are available at Entry Level 3 and Level 1.

Are Functional Skills qualifications GCSEs?

No. They are separate qualifications. Functional Skills Level 1 is at the same regulated qualification level as GCSE grades 1–3, and Level 2 is at the same level as GCSE grades 4–9, but their content and assessments differ. Confirm acceptance with the employer, university, apprenticeship or professional course concerned.

Where can I find Level 1 and Level 2 mock tests with answers?

Use your awarding organisation’s qualification page and download the current sample assessment together with its corresponding mark scheme or answer document. Pearson, City & Guilds, NCFE and Open Awards resources are linked above. Check paper codes carefully so that you do not combine different versions.

What is the pass mark for a Functional Skills practice test?

There is no universal practice-test pass mark across every subject, level and awarding organisation. Mark your paper according to its official scheme, but do not assume an old or sample threshold guarantees the same outcome in a live assessment. Ask your centre how results are determined for your qualification.

Can I take a Functional Skills test online at home?

Possibly, but not every assessment or centre offers remote invigilation. Eligibility, devices, software, room arrangements and identity checks vary. Read the current awarding-body and centre requirements and complete the required system check before booking.

Can I use a calculator in Functional Skills maths?

Calculator rules depend on the assessment section and awarding organisation. Current mathematics assessments can include calculator and non-calculator work. Follow the paper instructions and practise both mental or written methods and appropriate calculator use.

Can I use a screen reader, scribe or other support?

An adjustment may be possible where it meets your needs without changing the competence being assessed. It is not guaranteed for every component. Request reasonable adjustments through your assessment centre well before the test and follow the awarding organisation’s decision.

How many practice papers should I complete?

There is no suitable number for every learner. One diagnostic, targeted revision and at least one fresh timed paper provide a sensible cycle. Additional papers are useful only when you review mistakes and change your revision plan rather than repeating the same errors.

Are old ICT papers suitable for Digital Functional Skills?

No. Legacy ICT papers relate to withdrawn qualifications and do not cover the current Digital Functional Skills specification reliably. Use current Entry Level 3 or Level 1 Digital Functional Skills materials from your awarding organisation.

Final advice

A practice test is most effective when it matches your qualification and leads to a specific revision action. Start with official materials, reproduce the stated assessment conditions, use the mark scheme carefully and record why each mark was lost. Your awarding organisation and approved assessment centre should remain your primary sources for current timing, booking, accessibility and delivery rules.

What to Read Next:

• How to Pass Functional Skills Exams: Maths, English and Digital Skills Tips
• Does Functional Skills Level 2 Count as a GCSE?
• Pearson Functional Skills Pass Rates 2024/25: Maths, English and Digital Skills
• Functional Skills English Level 2 Writing Sample Answers
• What Is Functional Skills: Types, Levels & Grades
• How to Become a Functional Skills Teacher in England
• What Is NVQ Level 3 Qualification Equivalent To? A Definitive Guide