Functional Skills: Update on external assessments

This message has been updated from the one originally published on 19 November 2019.

We are very sorry to confirm we will not be going ahead with on-demand external assessment tests (paper-based or on-screen) for Level 1 and Level 2 Functional Skills in the academic year, 2019/20.

Test Dynamic Content validate five more time

This is because we’ve not been able to set the pass mark in advance through pretesting. Please note this does not affect Speaking, Listening and Communicating assessments (all levels) or the Entry Level assessments for Entry Level 1, Entry Level 2 and Entry Level 3, as these are internally assessed. 

To support centres who need external assessments before Christmas and into the New Year, we have asked awarding body NCFE to help. NCFE is offering paper-based tests from Monday 9 December until Friday 13 December, as well as online tests which are available on demand. Please call NCFE on 0191 239 8000 to find out more. They have also provided more information.

There is a full list of providers of Functional Skills qualifications on the Ofqual website. The content for Functional Skills is set by the Department for Education and therefore is the same for all awarding bodies. 

We will keep you updated regularly about our Functional Skills qualifications and will provide further information in January 2020. We appreciate this is frustrating and we are sorry for the inconvenience we’ve caused.

If you have any queries, please call our Customer Support Centre on 02476 851509 or email us at vocational.qualifications@ocr.org.uk .