Functional Skills Maths
The 14 topic areas of Functional Skills Maths — Entry through Level 2, with worked examples in everyday UK contexts.
Functional Skills Maths (FSM) is the post-16 alternative to GCSE. Available at Entry Level 1-3 (below GCSE 1), Level 1 (≈ GCSE 1-3) and Level 2 (≈ GCSE 4 standard pass). Required by many apprenticeships and employer training programmes.
- Functional Skills overviewWhat FSM is, who it's for, how it compares to GCSE.
- Entry Level 1, 2, 3Pre-Level 1 progression: counting, basic arithmetic.
- Level 1 topicsEquivalent to KS3-low GCSE; everyday maths.
- Level 2 topicsEquivalent to GCSE grade 4 / standard pass.
- Money and budgetingIncome, expenditure, percentage of bills, VAT.
- Time and timetablesReading bus/train timetables; durations across days.
- Measures and conversionsMetric / imperial conversions: km / miles, kg / lb.
- Percentages (FS)Discount, increase, VAT, interest in everyday context.
- Fractions (FS)Equivalent fractions, of-amounts, in everyday situations.
- Ratio and proportion (FS)Recipe scaling, sharing, currency conversion.
- Statistics interpretation (FS)Mean / median / mode / range; reading charts.
- Simple probability (FS)Likelihood, simple combined events.
- Exam-board comparisonPearson, City & Guilds, NCFE, Open Awards differences.
- Common exam question patternsTypical FS question styles and worked examples.