Assessment material

Initial, diagnostic, formative, summative or self-assessment materials.

Update - apologies, when I added this resource on April 1st I forgot to upload the Word document. It is now available below. Maggie 10/4/20

Functional Skills Level 2 (and T Level General English Competencies) writing tasks consisting of writing a report and a letter to apply for a job (both based on the current Covid-19 crisis).

Level
Level 2
T Levels - embedded maths or English
English
FE L2.25 Organise writing for different purposes using appropriate format & structure e.g. standard templates, paragraphs, bullet points, tables
FE L2.27 Use language & register (e.g. persuasive techniques, supporting evidence, specialist words) to suit audience & purpose
FE L2.23 Communicate information, ideas and opinions clearly, coherently and effectively
FE L2.26 Convey clear meaning & establish cohesion using organisational markers effectively
FE WRITING Spelling, punctuation and grammar (SPaG)
T Levels - General English Competencies (GEC)
TL - Create texts for different purposes and audiences
TL - Convey technical information to different audiences
Context
News, Politics & Government items
Health, Social care, Early years

This is a speaking and listening activity written in the style of the NCFE reformed Functional Skills assessment.  It is based on the 'Happy News: It's not all bad' reading resource previously published on skillsworkshop. Three task are covered: presentation (talk), Q&A session and a formal discussion. 

Editor's notes

Level
Level 1
English
FE SL&C Speaking
FE SL&C Active listening
FE SL&C Discussion
Context
News, Politics & Government items

I saw this guide on the BBC website and thought it would be suitable for my Level 1 learners.  This text clearly has a limited shelf-life but is very topical and gives us a chance to discuss democracy as part of British values.  It is quite a detailed comprehension and I have included some Level 1 Reformed Functional Skills Reading questions e.g. explaining apostrophe use.  Whilst not expressly a Level 2 text, it does give a chance to discuss issues of fact, opinion and bias.

Editor's note

Level
Level 1
English
FE L1.9 Identify & understand the main points, ideas & details
FE L1.14 Understand organisational / structural features use to locate relevant information
Context
News, Politics & Government items

I wrote this resource to familiarise myself with the new Reformed Entry Level 3 reading and spelling content. As a revision or assessment tool it would be particularly useful around October half term time (i.e. just before Bonfire Night). It can also be used as a springboard for general discussion about fireworks and Bonfire Night.

Level
Entry Level 3
English
FE E3.8 Read correctly words designated for Entry Level 3
FE E3.9 Identify, understand & extract main points & ideas in/from texts
FE E3.10 Identify different purposes of straightforward texts
FE E3.11 Use strategies to find meaning of words e.g. dictionary, context, word types
FE E3.12 Understand organisational features & use them to locate relevant information
FE E3.14 Form irregular plurals
FE E3.16 Use 1st, 2nd & 3rd letters to sequence words alphabetically
FE E3.17 Spell correctly words designated for Entry Level 3
Context
Health and safety
News, Politics & Government items

Written to look at the reformed Entry Level 2 ‘Measures, shape and space’ content, the main focus of this resource is positional vocabulary, 3D shapes and time. It also covers aspects of Number and Data. It is not recommended for the initial teaching of skills (underpinning). If used for this, ensure all the ‘maths words’ (p1) are covered in advance and supply learners with real-life materials such as counters (I use pasta or dried beans) and 3D shapes where needed.

Level
Entry Level 2
Maths
FM Simple one step problem(s)
FM E2.2 Read, write, order & compare numbers up to 200
FM E2.19 Recognise & name 2-D & 3-D shapes including pentagons, hexagons, cylinders, cuboids, pyramids, spheres
FM E2.20 Describe properties of common 2-D & 3-D shapes including nos. of sides, corners, edges, faces, angles & base
FM E1.10 Use everyday positional vocabulary to describe position & direction including left, right, in front, behind, under & above
FM E2.21 Use appropriate positional vocabulary to describe position & direction including between, inside, outside, middle, below, on top, forwards & backwards

Specifically written to focus on the reformed Entry Level 1 ‘Number’ content, these worksheets follow Sam and Dot at their workplaces during the Halloween period. The resource draws on the different question styles used by the major awarding organisations and can be used for diagnostic assessment and revision.

Level
Entry Level 1
Maths
FM Simple one step problem(s)
FM E1.1 Read, write, order, compare numbers to 20
FM E1.2 Use whole numbers to count up to 20 items including zero
FM E1.3 Add numbers which total up to 20, & subtract numbers from numbers up to 20
FM E1.4 Recognise & interpret the symbols +, – and = appropriately

Large set of questions inspired by the recent (2019) 75th anniversary of the D Day Landings.  Covers many aspects of the Reformed FS 2018 content such as bearings, nets, underpinning questions and non-calculator tasks.

Editor's notes

Level
Level 1
Level 2
Maths
FM Context free underpinning
FM Straightforward problem(s) with more than 1 step
FM L1.1 Read, write, order & compare large numbers (up to one million)
FM L1.15 Estimate answers to calculations using fractions and decimals
FM L2.2 Carry out calculations with numbers up to 1 million inc. strategies to check answers e.g. estimation & approximation
FM L1.14 Calculate percentages of quantities, inc. simple percentage increase / decrease by 5% & multiples of
FM L2.8 Express one number as a fraction of another
FM L1.19 Calculate discounts in multiples of 5% on amounts of money
FM L1.20 Convert between units of length, weight, capacity, money and time, in the same system
FM L1.22 Calculate area & perimeter of simple shapes inc. those made up of combination of rectangles
FM L1.23 Calculate the volumes of cubes & cuboids
FM L1.24 Draw 2-D shapes & demonstrate an understanding of line symmetry & knowledge of the relative size of angles
FM L1.26 Use angles when describing position & direction, & measure angles in degrees
FM L1.25 Interpret plans, elevations & nets of simple 3-D shapes
FM L1.27 Represent discrete data in tables, diagrams & charts inc. pie charts, bar charts, line graphs
Context
History, culture, museums, libraries
Employment skills & Public services

This resource is based on the DfES ESOL Skills for Life recording 'Buying a ticket'. It gives exam practice questions (C&G style) in the first section and in the second section an activity to enable learners to tune in to the sounds of English. The first section can be completed in class and the second at home or the whole sheet can be given for homework. Listening development at home enables learners to listen as often as they wish and tune in until they hear the text more clearly.

Level
Entry Level 1
English
FE E1.2 Identify & extract the main information from short statements & explanations
FE E1.4 Make requests & ask straightforward questions using appropriate terms & registers
FE E1.7 Understand & participate in simple discussions or exchanges with another person about a straightforward topic
ESOL
ESOL Lr/E1.2a Listen for detail
ESOL Lr/E1.2b Listen for detail & respond, in a face-to-face situation
ESOL Lr/E1.1d Listen for gist & respond
ESOL Lr/E1.2e Listen & extract key information
Context
Leisure, Hobbies, Travel & Tourism
Motor vehicles & Transport

This is a resource I've designed to be a homework/classwork support for L1 Functional Skills maths (reform).

Editor's notes

A wonderful 104-page compilation of resources covering almost every aspect of Level 1 Reformed Functional Maths. With curriculum mapping and links to further resources. Note this project includes resources from many excellent free web sites - please read the notes on the front cover sheet and page 104 for further information. 

Level
Level 1
Maths
FM Context free underpinning
FM Contextualised underpinning
Functional Maths - problem solving
Functional Maths - numbers and the number system
Functional Maths - measures, shape & space
Functional Maths - handling information and data
Context
Leisure, Hobbies, Travel & Tourism

Originally written as a mock E2 ESOL reading paper with a Halloween theme. Now amended with extra tasks to reflect the reformed Entry Level 2 Functional English content. Covers alphabetical order / dictionary work, general comprehension, purpose of text (E3) and some writing elements (see below). 

Entry 2 Halloween reading tasks

Level
Entry Level 2
English
FE E2.7 Read correctly words designated for Entry Level 2
FE E2.8 Understand the main points in texts
FE E2.10 Use effective strategies to find words meanings & check spelling e.g. simple dictionary, spell-checker
FE E2.15 Use 1st & 2nd letters to sequence words alphabetically
FE E2.18 Complete a form asking for personal information (e.g. first name, surname, address, postcode, age, date of birth)
ESOL
ESOL: Reading text focus - comprehension (Rt)
ESOL Rs/E2.1d Use punctuation and capitalisation to aid understanding
ESOL Rw/E2.4a Use simplified dictionary to find word meanings
ESOL Rw/E2.5a Sequence words using basic alphabetical ordering skills
Context
Leisure, Hobbies, Travel & Tourism