Functional Skills courses

You have up to six months to complete a functional skills course at level one or two or a bundle covering both. However, our students generally complete these courses in two-to-four months. As you can see, you are given plenty of time to get through whichever functional skills course you opt for.

No. If you already have some knowledge in your chosen area of study you are welcome to enrol straight onto a Level 2 Functional Skills course. You do not need to complete a Level 1 Functional Skills course before starting Level 2.

Most UK Universities accept level 2 functional skills qualifications in place of GCSEs, with a level 2 functional skills qualification recognised as a direct equivalent to a GCSE grade C and above.

It’s often course-dependent, so we advise that you check with your intended university or future provider that they are happy to accept Functional Skills courses, just to be sure.

All Level 1 Functional Skills courses are equivalent to a GCSE English grade 1 to 3 (previously D to G).

Level 2 Functional Skills are equivalent to a GCSE grade 4 (previously grade C).

As many times as required. While the structure of our courses and the support of our expert tutors means that most students pass first time, all functional skills courses can be taken and retaken as many times as needed.

Where courses have individually graded units, if just one unit is failed, you only need to retake that unit in order to gain your certification.

Yes, functional skills qualifications look good to employers. While GCSEs are the “standard” employers ask for, many will happily accept functional skills qualifications in their place.

This is due to the courses’ focus on teaching real-world problem-solving skills.

This is entirely up to you. If you already have some knowledge in your chosen area of study, you may wish to start with Level 2. If you’d prefer to begin with the basics, then you may choose to start with a Level 1 Functional Skills course.

You can study any of our functional skills courses online in the comfort of your own home, at your own pace, making it the perfect option if you have a full-time job or specific family commitments.

When you invest in a functional skills distance learning course, you’ll gain access to expert tutors who are on hand to help every step of the way. We take pride in the quality of our courses and have a fantastic student pass rate.

If you’re unsure which level you should take first, speak with one of our learning advisers. They’ll love to help.

Key skills and functional skills refer to the same set of qualifications. While they are often used interchangeably, today “key skills” are officially known as “functional skills”. Functional skills were first introduced in 2010 and formerly replaced key skills in 2012.

Functional skills courses cover either Maths, English or ICT. You can also invest in bundles such as maths and English combined. All subjects are separated into two levels, although you don’t have to take a level 1 course to progress onto level 2.

Functional skills teach students specific competencies that can be attributed to daily life. Although level 2 functional skills qualifications are given the same merit as a GCSE course, it can be argued that these are even more important, as they don’t operate on theoretical knowledge but on ways to navigate real-world situations.

To pass functional skills maths at level 2 you must revise appropriately and achieve a pass mark between 32-37.

You will typically receive your functional skills results within 6 working days of your final exam.

A functional skills course can normally be completed between 6 and 12 weeks (about 3 months).

Functional skills are designed to equip you with real-life skills, whilst GCSEs are designed to equip you with knowledge which you can build upon in future. 

The simple answer: No! Once you obtain your functional skills qualifications, you have them for life. 

You can study functional skills online and sit exams at a local college or independent assessment centre.

A functional skills qualification is the equivalent of a standard GCSE. Functional skills courses are usually undertaken by those who could not obtain an English or Maths GCSE.

Functional Skills Level 3 is the equivalent of a Maths GCSE Grade 1. 

No, functional skills are not a GCSE. However, they are a recognised equivalent.

Level 2 Functional Skills Maths is an alternative qualification for GCSE Maths.

Functional Skills are applied qualifications which enable students to demonstrate practical skills in English and Maths.

To pass functional skills English you must revise appropriately and achieve the required pass mark for whichever level you are studying at.

Yes. You can do functional skills online with Oxbridge. We offer maths and English bundles which are ideal for those looking to gain both qualifications.

Yes. Most universities will accept functional skills level 2 qualifications. 

Functional skills results will take a maximum of 20 working days to arrive. On average, students receive their results within 6 working days of completing their exams.

Please get in touch with your examination board or learning institution to find the results of your functional skills.

Functional skills assess the fundamental skills of English and Maths. The tests help prepare people with skills they may need in their working lives.