How long will it take to pass my Functional Skills Course?

There is no straight answer to how long it will take to pass your Functional Skills Exam.  The reason is that everyone has a different level of existing knowledge. 

It might be the case that you dropped out of school early and struggle with the basics, or you might have been a Grade A student and had to leave school early for various reasons, and missed your exams.

This question is the number one most asked question we receive. To start answering the question, we need to know your current knowledge level.

Here’s the usual process a learner would take, so they can complete their exam successfully.  The answer to the question is found in steps one and two, alongside a conversation with a professional tutor.

1. Learner will sit an Initial Assessment – this will determine your current ability level.  From Pre-entry to Level 2.

2. Learner will sit a Diagnostic Assessment – this will identify the gaps in your knowledge and help a tutor produce an Individual Learning Plan.

3. Learning Resources – this is where you work through your individual learning plan to plug those gaps in your knowledge and refresh what you already know.

4. Progress Checks – at the end of each module, your progress is assessed to ensure you have enough knowledge surrounding that part of the course.

5. Exam Practice – your exam practice helps you prepare for the official exam by helping you apply the underpinning knowledge in various scenarios.

 

So, lets take all five steps into account.

1. If you need a Level 2 qualification, but your Initial Assessment/general ability is at Entry Level 3, then you might be studying for a while.

2. If your Diagnostic Assessment shows you need to practice everything contained within the qualification, then you may be studying longer than someone who only has to practice 25% of the content.

3. Something else to remember though are the Learning Resources. The person who only has to practice 25% of the content may only study one day per week.  The person who needs to practice 100% of the syllabus might commit 8 hours a day.

4. Progress Checks are just that – to ensure you know enough to pass that part of the exam.

5. Then there is Exam Practice – some people are great in stressful situations, and others turn into a bag of nerves. It’s not just the questions when it comes to exam practice, you need to make it as real as possible (no distractions, time limit, marked by someone etc).