FE L1.12 Recognise that language & other textual features can be varied to suit different audiences & purposes

 L1.12 Recognise that language and other textual features can be varied to suit different audiences and purposes.

Subject content [reformed] functional skills: English (DfE, Feb 2018): 

https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/functional-skills-subject-content-english

Corrections  (Apr 15, 2025 8.32pm) Apostrophe error in title fixed on all 6 pages.  (Apr 4 2.30pm) Bonus question 25 part c: the answer has 7 letters - not 8. Apologies!

Level
Level 1
Level 2
English
FE L1.13 Use reference materials & appropriate strategies for a range of purposes, inc. to find word meanings
FE L1.17 Read & understand a range of specialist words in context
FE L2.15 Use a range of reference materials & resources (e.g. glossaries, legends/keys) for different purposes
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 L1.18 Use knowledge of punctuation to aid understanding of texts
Functional English reading
FE L1.15 Infer from images meanings not explicit in the accompanying text
FE L1.12 Recognise that language & other textual features can be varied to suit different audiences & purposes
FE L1.16 Recognise vocabulary typically associated with specific types and purposes of texts (e.g. formal, informal, instructional, descriptive, explanatory and persuasive)
FE L2.13 Identify implicit & inferred meaning in texts
FE L2.14 Understand how textual features/devices can shape meaning for different audiences/purposes
FE L2.17 Analyse texts, of different levels of complexity, recognising their use of vocabulary and identifying levels of formality and bias
FE L2.19 Identify different styles of writing & writer’s voice
Context
History, culture, museums, libraries
Leisure, Hobbies, Travel & Tourism

A substantial comprehension resource about recycling and general waste in the UK. It includes sections relating to general recycling, fly tipping and dog fouling. There is also information about the new regulations coming into force next year.

It is suitable for Functional Skills English, general comprehension and ESOL at higher levels. There are a number of activities and SPaG questions and a writing task. 

Editor's notes:

Level
Level 1
Level 2
T Levels - embedded maths or English
English
FS Eng SL&C Discussion
FS Eng SL&C Speaking - Clearly communicate information, ideas & opinions
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 L1.14 Understand organisational / structural features use to locate relevant information
FE WRITING Spelling, punctuation and grammar (SPaG)
FE Writing composition
T Levels - General English Competencies (GEC)
ESOL
ESOL Engage in discussion (Sd)
ESOL Present information
ESOL: Reading text focus - comprehension (Rt)
ESOL: Writing - text focus (composition)
ESOL: Writing sentence focus - punctuation and grammar (Ws)
Context
Recycling, the environment and sustainability

Read a formal letter (from a bank) and, in particular, take note of the layout. Then plan and write your own formal letter to the manager of a supermarket. 

Editor's notes

I've said this before about other writing resources from Angela but I reiterate here: it’s so important for learners to have realistic exemplar/model pieces of writing so they know what they’re aiming for (see Angela's page for resources in the same vein - articles, reports, speeches and leaflets). Also useful for ESOL.

Level
Level 1
Level 2
English
FE L1.12 Recognise that language & other textual features can be varied to suit different audiences & purposes
FE L1.14 Understand organisational / structural features use to locate relevant information
FE L2.14 Understand how textual features/devices can shape meaning for different audiences/purposes
FE L2.16 Understand organisational features & use to locate relevant information in a range of sources
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 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
FE READING analyse texts
ESOL
ESOL Wt/L1.2a Select how much to write and the level of detail to include
ESOL Wt/L1.4a Choose language suitable for genre, purpose and audience
ESOL Wt/L1.5a Select format and appropriate structure for different purposes and genres
ESOL: Writing - text focus (composition)
Context
Retail Hospitality Customer service

Reading pratice using an article from The Guardian https://www.theguardian.com/music/article/2024/may/22/phone-kids-losing-their-love-for-music with questions that will aid L1 and L2 learners to develop their reading skills. 

Editor's note

Level
Level 1
Level 2
English
FE L1.18 Use knowledge of punctuation to aid understanding of texts
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 L2.16 Understand organisational features & use to locate relevant information in a range of sources
FE L1.11 Identify meanings in texts & distinguish between fact & opinion
FE L1.16 Recognise vocabulary typically associated with specific types and purposes of texts (e.g. formal, informal, instructional, descriptive, explanatory and persuasive)
FE L2.15 Use a range of reference materials & resources (e.g. glossaries, legends/keys) for different purposes
FE L2.18 Follow an argument, identifying different points of view & distinguishing fact from opinion
Context
Art Film Media Music Radio TV
Family and relationships

Article from the BBC about the Northern Lights being visible in the UK during a solar storm, and 6 questions modelled on the L1 and L2 reading paper from Edexcel as a reading revision activity. 

Editor's notes

You can't get more topical than this!  Questions cover fact/opinion, vocabulary, language features, inference and more! There is also a short writing prompt. Great for last minute summer revision. 

Level
Level 1
Level 2
English
FE L1.9 Identify & understand the main points, ideas & details
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 L1.13 Use reference materials & appropriate strategies for a range of purposes, inc. to find word meanings
FE L1.14 Understand organisational / structural features use to locate relevant information
FE L2.11 Identify when main points are sufficient & when specific details are important
FE L2.13 Identify implicit & inferred meaning in texts
FE L2.14 Understand how textual features/devices can shape meaning for different audiences/purposes
FE L2.16 Understand organisational features & use to locate relevant information in a range of sources
Context
Science, Nature & Weather

I used this in L2 only and mixed L1-2 classes. I gave the learners the poster to read, along with the learner starter activity sheet to write in their answers. Once everyone had filled in as much as they could (some learners had support workers so answers were discussed as they were written down), the whole class discussed the answers and I shared the answers on a screen. 

Level
Level 1
Level 2
English
FE L1.12 Recognise that language & other textual features can be varied to suit different audiences & purposes
FE L1.14 Understand organisational / structural features use to locate relevant information
FE L1.16 Recognise vocabulary typically associated with specific types and purposes of texts (e.g. formal, informal, instructional, descriptive, explanatory and persuasive)
FE L2.14 Understand how textual features/devices can shape meaning for different audiences/purposes
FE L2.16 Understand organisational features & use to locate relevant information in a range of sources
Context
Social Media

An updated version of Imogen Stewart's ever-popular PPT and PDF resource of the same name. The original focused on Vicki Pollard in Little Britain. This adapted version has updated graphics (the original is now 18 years old!) and continues to uses the idea of different dress codes and situations to cleverly introduce the idea of formality/informality (which the teacher can apply to reading, writing or speaking as required). The last slide is a fill in table where learners can add examples from their own vocabularies.

Level
Level 1
Level 2
English
FE E3.2 Make requests & ask concise questions using appropriate language in different contexts
FE L1.7 Use appropriate phrases / registers & adapt contributions to take account of audience / purpose / medium
FE L1.8 Respect turn-taking rights of others during discussions, using appropriate language for interjection
FS Eng L2.7 Use language that is effective, accurate and appropriate to context and situation
FE L2.9 Adapt contributions to discussions to suit audience, purpose & medium
FE L2.10 Interject & redirect discussion using appropriate language & register
FE L1.12 Recognise that language & other textual features can be varied to suit different audiences & purposes
FE L1.16 Recognise vocabulary typically associated with specific types and purposes of texts (e.g. formal, informal, instructional, descriptive, explanatory and persuasive)
FE L2.14 Understand how textual features/devices can shape meaning for different audiences/purposes
FE L2.17 Analyse texts, of different levels of complexity, recognising their use of vocabulary and identifying levels of formality and bias
FE L2.19 Identify different styles of writing & writer’s voice
FE L1.24 Use format, structure & language appropriate for audience & purpose
FE L2.27 Use language & register (e.g. persuasive techniques, supporting evidence, specialist words) to suit audience & purpose
Context
Art Film Media Music Radio TV

A double lesson Power Point with Level 1 and Level 2 reading and writing questions. The lesson explores the controversy around violent music and the relationship between music and behaviour. You Tube links  add detail and context to the debate in an engaging and thought provoking way. Lesson 1 focuses on the Reading exam with Level 1 and Level 2 questions that can be displayed on the board to reduce printing. Texts A and B explore the two sides of Drill music and its influence on young people.

Level
Level 1
Level 2
English
FS Eng L1.4 Communicate information / ideas / opinions clearly & accurately on range of topics
FS Eng L1.5 Express opinions and arguments and support them with evidence
FS Eng E2.5 Clearly express straightforward information & communicate feelings / opinions
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 L1.10 Compare information, ideas & opinions in different texts
FE L2.12 Compare information, ideas & opinions in different texts, inc. how they are conveyed
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 L2.13 Identify implicit & inferred meaning in texts
FE L2.14 Understand how textual features/devices can shape meaning for different audiences/purposes
FE L2.18 Follow an argument, identifying different points of view & distinguishing fact from opinion
FE L2.19 Identify different styles of writing & writer’s voice
FE L1.19 Use a range of punctuation correctly (e.g. full stops, question marks, exclamation marks, commas, possessive apostrophes)
FE L2.20 Punctuate writing correctly using a wide range of punctuation markers e.g. colons, commas, inverted commas, apostrophes, quotation marks
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
Context
Art Film Media Music Radio TV

March 23 2024 - please note this is a new upload with different contributor details to the earlier version of this resource. With sincere apologies to the correct contributor Claire. Discussion, reading and writing tasks for Level 1-2 Functional Skills English. Very topical as lots of people have tattoos now. 

Level
Level 1
Level 2
English
FS Eng SL&C Discussion
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 L2.13 Identify implicit & inferred meaning in texts
FE L2.14 Understand how textual features/devices can shape meaning for different audiences/purposes
FE L2.18 Follow an argument, identifying different points of view & distinguishing fact from opinion
FE L2.19 Identify different styles of writing & writer’s voice
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
Context
Mental health, awareness & psychology