Pearson Edexcel Functional Skills Qualification in English at Level 1

The Pearson Edexcel Functional Skills Qualifications in English at Entry Levels 1, 2 and 3 are for learners to develop understanding and skills in English.

The qualifications give learners the opportunity to:

● demonstrate the ability at an appropriate level to read, write, speak, listen and communicate in English

● apply this knowledge and these skills in familiar situations.

● achieve a foundation for further study at Levels 1 and 2.

The Pearson Edexcel Functional Skills Qualification in English at Entry Level 1 consists of three components. Learners must pass the following assessments before the qualification can be awarded:

● a Speaking, Listening and Communicating assessment

● a Reading assessment

● a Writing assessment.

Speaking, Listening and Communicating - The Speaking, Listening and Communicating assessment is internally set, internally assessed and externally verified.

Reading - The Reading assessments are externally set, internally marked and externally verified. They are paper-based and can be downloaded from our website on demand. The texts in the Reading assessments will include a representative sample of the words and types of words given in Annexe B. Dictionaries are allowed.

Writing - The Writing assessments are externally set, internally marked and externally verified. They are paper-based and can be downloaded from our website on demand. 66.7 per cent of marks are for Spelling, Punctuation and Grammar (SPaG). Half of these are for a spelling task that assesses ten spellings. The spellings are sampled from the words and word types in Annexe B. No external aids, such as dictionaries, are allowed.

Internally set and assessed Speaking, Listening and Communicating assessments. Externally set, on-demand Reading and Writing assessments, internally marked and externally verified.

No prior knowledge, understanding, skills or qualifications are required before learners register for this qualification.

The qualifications give learners the opportunity to:

● listen, understand and respond to verbal communication in a range of familiar contexts

● acquire an understanding of everyday words and their uses and effects, and apply this understanding in different contexts

● read with accuracy straightforward texts encountered in everyday life and work, and develop confidence to read more widely

● write straightforward texts and documents with clarity and effectiveness, and demonstrate a sound grasp of spelling, punctuation and grammar.