Adult Literacy, Functional English, and GCSE 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.

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. 

An extract from When I Was Ten (Fiona Cummins 2021) with questions 1, 2, 3 and 4. AQA Paper One-style exam practice. 

Editor's Note

Another wonderful text extract from Matthew Ruddle. If you haven't read the book, I highly recommend it. 
Ideal for exam practice and revision. 

GCSE English Language Paper Two AQA exam-style texts and questions 1-4. 
Based on a contemporary source from Jay Rayner (2023) and a Victorian article (Henry Mayhew 1865).

Editor's notes
Another excellent GCSE Practice resource from Matthew with, as usual, a super choice of texts.

AQA GCSE English Language Paper 2 style exam practice. Source A is from a contemporary memoir "Life As A Unicorn" by Amrou Al-Kadhi. Source B is adapted from a Victorian article about aquariums. The questions mimic AQA Paper 2; questions 1 to 5. Question 5 asks students to write an article about gender roles. The whole paper reflects the advance information given by AQA about the summer 2022 exams; a memoir paired with a Victorian essay and an article writing task. 

Editor's notes

Two part session, exploring Paper 2 Question 4 (GCSE English Language AQA).  Slides contain texts with guidance and prompts to upgrade responses.  Part 2 slides has voice over reading of text which can be played whilst in present mode.   Accompanying the slides are Text Sources for learner exploration, highlighting and annotation. 

Editor's notes

Useful resource which can be used as a little taster of GCSE for FS learners, or as a GCSE activity to challenge repetitive sentence starts, use of adverbs to begin sentences, to explore structure and language in their own writing. A way to get words onto paper and develop a narrative.

Editor's note

Lesson to develop creative writing skills - 'show me, don't tell me' explores how you can paint a picture with your words without explicitly telling the reader everything that happens.  Engaging slides using images and exploring physical behaviours for different emotions, ways of speaking and other adjectives to support learners in creating effective and believable characters. Slides also include 'Showing Versus Telling' examples for learners to demonstrate their understanding of the difference between them. 

A set of five texts about screen time, physical and sedentary activity, and sleep for Children under age 5. The texts can be used in various combinations for Functional Skills (FS) speaking, listening and communicating; reading and writing activities. Teachers can pick and choose their own texts and create related DARTs (directed activities related to text) and questions to suit. There will also be pre-prepared resources on skillsworkshop. See "See also" for links.

A challenging set of reading and writing (spelling and sentence structure only) tasks based on a WHO (World Health Organisation) report about sleep, screen and activity time for children under five.  This resource is not intended to emulate formal L1-2 summative assessment papers as it includes underpinning spelling and sentence structure tasks. In addition, some questions are deliberately challenging and beyond the Level 2 Functional English curriculum and, unlike formal assessment papers, questions are arranged by topic.