Adult Literacy, Functional English, and GCSE Resources

Displaying 11 - 20 of 523 resources:

An extract from Phoenix by SF Said with AQA exam-style questions (Q1-Q4) for GCSE English Language Paper One. 

Editor's notes

Another fab set of GCSE reading question from Matthew Ruddle with, as usual, a marvellous choice of text. Each question includes useful hints making this resource ideal for revision, practice or private study / homework. 

Phoenix is SF Said's third book.  All three books have been awarded or shortlisted for various children's literature awards.

Level
GCSE L1-5
English
GCSE Reading AO1a Identify/interpret explicit & implicit information & ideas
GCSE Reading AO1b Select & synthesise evidence from different texts
GCSE English Reading AO2 Explain & analyse language & structure
GCSE AO4 Evaluate texts critically & support with textual references

Read a sample leaflet about taking children to the dentist. Use it as a model for planning and writing your own leaflet about neighbourhood safety.
Suitable for Entry 3 through to Level 2 English Functional Skills.

Editor's note

I think it’s so important for learners to have realistic exemplar/model pieces of writing so they know what they’re aiming for. Also useful for ESOL. 

 

Level
Entry Level 3
Level 1
Level 2
English
FE E3.12 Understand organisational features & use them to locate relevant information
FE L1.14 Understand organisational / structural features use to locate relevant information
FE L2.16 Understand organisational features & use to locate relevant information in a range of sources
FE E3.20 Use appropriate format & structure inc. appropriate use of headings & bullet points
FE L1.24 Use format, structure & language appropriate for audience & purpose
FE L2.25 Organise writing for different purposes using appropriate format & structure e.g. standard templates, paragraphs, bullet points, tables
Context
Health, Social care, Early years
Health and safety

Read a speech about learning to swim. Then plan and write your own speech encouraging teens to have a positive body image and follow a healthy life style.

Editor's note

I'm so pleased to see this resource as we have very few (only one other - I think!) speech writing resources and this format can and does occur in writing assessment at Levels 1 and 2 Functional Skills English. 

Level
Level 1
Level 2
English
FE L1.24 Use format, structure & language appropriate for audience & purpose
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 L1.23 Write text of appropriate level of detail & length to meet needs of purpose & audience
FE L2.24 Write text of appropriate level of detail & length to meet needs of purpose & audience
GCSE English Spoken Language AO7 Formal presentation skills
Context
Sport and fitness

Read an example of written instructions that include several typical layout features of instructional texts. 
Followed by a choice of writing tasks to complete.

Suitable for Entry 3 through to Level 2 English Functional Skills.

Editor's note

Love the wide appeal of this resource: the sample instructions are those left for a babysitter but also include pets and cooking! The writing tasks cover preparing for a job interview or how to play a game (for example, online or board games).

 

Level
Entry Level 3
Level 1
Level 2
English
FE E3.12 Understand organisational features & use them to locate relevant information
FE L1.14 Understand organisational / structural features use to locate relevant information
FE L2.16 Understand organisational features & use to locate relevant information in a range of sources
FE E3.20 Use appropriate format & structure inc. appropriate use of headings & bullet points
FE L1.24 Use format, structure & language appropriate for audience & purpose
FE L2.25 Organise writing for different purposes using appropriate format & structure e.g. standard templates, paragraphs, bullet points, tables
Context
Catering Food Nutrition
Animals, animal care, farming & equine
Health, Social care, Early years
Employment skills & Public services
Leisure, Hobbies, Travel & Tourism

Read adapted texts about the felling of the Sycamore Gap tree.  Tasks cover vocabulary and dictionary work, informal language, idioms and language work.

Editor's notes

Two page text from two BBC News articles that has been cleverly  adapted to focus on recognising and understanding typical features of informal text such as slang, contractions, idioms and hyperbole. Further questions cover general comprehension and inference.

There's also a question that can be used as a discussion prompt or a short writing task.

 

Level
Level 1
Level 2
English
FS Eng L1.5 Express opinions and arguments and support them with evidence
FS Eng L2.6 Express opinions and arguments and support them with relevant and persuasive evidence
FE L1.9 Identify & understand the main points, ideas & details
FE L1.12 Recognise that language & other textual features can be varied to suit different audiences & purposes
FE L1.13 Use reference materials & appropriate strategies for a range of purposes, inc. to find word meanings
FE L1.16 Recognise vocabulary typically associated with specific types and purposes of texts (e.g. formal, informal, instructional, descriptive, explanatory and persuasive)
FE L2.11 Identify when main points are sufficient & when specific details are important
FE L2.13 Identify implicit & inferred meaning in texts
FE L2.17 Analyse texts, of different levels of complexity, recognising their use of vocabulary and identifying levels of formality and bias
FE L1.22 Communicate information, ideas & opinions clearly, coherently & accurately
FE L1.24 Use format, structure & language appropriate for audience & purpose
FE L2.23 Communicate information, ideas and opinions clearly, coherently and effectively
FE L2.27 Use language & register (e.g. persuasive techniques, supporting evidence, specialist words) to suit audience & purpose
Context
News, Politics & Government items
Science, Nature & Weather

Read a text about people being awarded Honours.

Answer exam style questions.

Editor's notes

Lovely new year resource that focuses on three everyday people that have given outstanding service to charities and their communities. 2 page text adapted from a Guardian article. The 20 reading questions cover general comprehension, language  and organisational devices, punctuation, vocabulary-dictionary work and more!

There's also a final question that could be used as a discussion prompt or a short writing task.

Level
Level 1
Level 2
English
FE L1.9 Identify & understand the main points, ideas & details
FE L2.11 Identify when main points are sufficient & when specific details are important
FE L1.14 Understand organisational / structural features use to locate relevant information
FE L2.16 Understand organisational features & use to locate relevant information in a range of sources
FE L1.13 Use reference materials & appropriate strategies for a range of purposes, inc. to find word meanings
FE L1.18 Use knowledge of punctuation to aid understanding of texts
FE L1.15 Infer from images meanings not explicit in the accompanying text
FE L1.11 Identify meanings in texts & distinguish between fact & opinion
FE L1.12 Recognise that language & other textual features can be varied to suit different audiences & purposes
FE L2.14 Understand how textual features/devices can shape meaning for different audiences/purposes
FE L2.19 Identify different styles of writing & writer’s voice
Context
News, Politics & Government items

AQA Paper 2-style exam questions and non-fiction extracts. One extract is taken from Sinead O'Connor's memoir "Rememberings" (2021) and the other is from Stephen Hough's memoir "Enough: scenes from Childhood" (2023). In the real exam, Source B is always a 19th Century text, but here I've used another contemporary text, so that learners can more easily practice the exam skills of comparing two pieces of writing. In these extracts, both writers reflect upon the first time they encountered a piano.

Level
GCSE L1-5
English
GCSE Reading AO1a Identify/interpret explicit & implicit information & ideas
GCSE Reading AO1b Select & synthesise evidence from different texts
GCSE English Reading AO2 Explain & analyse language & structure
GCSE Reading AO3 Compare writers’ ideas & perspectives across 2 or more texts
Context
Art Film Media Music Radio TV

A topical resource based on a news story. Reading comprehension at approx. L1 plus a writing task with planning and email response sheet.

Embedded maths through reading the table. This resource also offers opportunities as a discussion starter.

Similar to the resource found here https://www.skillsworkshop.org/resources/shocking_sugar_levels_in_high_street_hot_drinks but based on a more recent news story. 

Editor's note

Level
Level 1
English
FE L1.9 Identify & understand the main points, ideas & details
FE L1.12 Recognise that language & other textual features can be varied to suit different audiences & purposes
FE L1.13 Use reference materials & appropriate strategies for a range of purposes, inc. to find word meanings
FE L1.18 Use knowledge of punctuation to aid understanding of texts
FE L1.14 Understand organisational / structural features use to locate relevant information
FE L1.24 Use format, structure & language appropriate for audience & purpose
FE L1.25 Write consistently & accurately in complex sentences, using paragraphs where appropriate
Maths
FM E3.21 Extract information from lists, tables, diagrams, charts; create frequency tables
Context
News, Politics & Government items
Catering Food Nutrition
Sport and fitness

Read a narrative account and use it as model for planning and writing your own narrative about a memorable day.

Editor's note

Can be used at any time of year - not just Halloween!

 

 

Level
Level 1
English
FE L1.22 Communicate information, ideas & opinions clearly, coherently & accurately
FE L1.23 Write text of appropriate level of detail & length to meet needs of purpose & audience
FE L1.24 Use format, structure & language appropriate for audience & purpose
FE L1.25 Write consistently & accurately in complex sentences, using paragraphs where appropriate
ESOL
ESOL Reading (R)

Entry Level Reading paper with questions.  Can be used as practice for the Functional Skills Reading paper. The questions are based on that format. 

Editor's notes

A great choice of text that is bound to be of interest to many FS learners. Questions cover all of the E3 reading elements. Would also be useful for Level 1.

Level
Entry Level 3
English
FE E3.11 Use strategies to find meaning of words e.g. dictionary, context, word types
FE E3.9 Identify, understand & extract main points & ideas in/from texts
FE E3.12 Understand organisational features & use them to locate relevant information
FE E3.10 Identify different purposes of straightforward texts
Context
Catering Food Nutrition