FM Straightforward problem(s) with more than 1 step

A straightforward problem requires students to either work through one step or process OR to work through more than one connected step or process. Individual problems are based on the knowledge and/or skills in the mathematical content areas (MCA). At Level 1 it is expected that the student will be able to address individual problems, some of which draw upon a combination of any two of the MCA (number, measures, data) and require students to make connections between those content areas. The context of individual problems at L1 will require some comprehension in order for the student to be able independently to identify and carry out an appropriate mathematical approach.

Costings for one pan pasta

This exercise can be used in several different ways.  The cost of living crisis has hit everyone and this one pot pasta dish can save on gas/electric by making everything in one pan.  The main idea is to cost the ingredients as it is, but then think of alternatives to the original recipe. Then if you double the recipe up, how much are you saving by buying 500g of mince?  How much are you saving by buying a 4 pack tin of tomatoes?  Look at the different prices of dried pasta.  Look at how much frozen mince is.  This is about converting g - kg too.

Level
Entry Level 3
Level 1
Level 2
Maths
FM Simple one step problem(s)
FM Straightforward problem(s) with more than 1 step
FM E3.10 Calculate with money using decimal notation & express money correctly in writing in pounds and pence
FM E3.16 Compare measures of weight including grams & kilograms
FM L1.4 Use multiplication facts and make connections with division facts
FM L1.11 Add, subtract, multiply & divide decimals up to 2 decimal places
FM L1.12 Approximate by rounding to a whole number or to one or two decimal places
FM L1.17 Work with simple ratio & direct proportions
FM L1.20 Convert between units of length, weight, capacity, money and time, in the same system
FM L2.13 Calculate amounts of money, compound interest, percentage increases, decreases & discounts inc. tax & budgeting
Context
Independent living
Catering Food Nutrition
Business & Money management

Using Formulae 2 - Australian version

An Australian version (i.e. uses A$, Australian vocabulary, etc.) of the popular Using Formulae v2 written by Gordon Noblett in 2007. Useful, realistic practice – questions cover mobiles, cooking, printing photos, plumbing rates, etc. Each multi-part question is cleverly staggered so that learners build up a set of answers and then find a 'rule'. Includes 'formulae expressed in words' so some questions also suitable for Level 1 (in addition to Level 2).

Level
Level 1
Level 2
Maths
FM Straightforward problem(s) with more than 1 step
FM L1.5 Use simple formulae expressed in words for one or two-step operations
FM L2.3 Evaluate expressions & make substitutions in given formulae in words & symbols
Context
Business & Money management
Construction Carpentry Plumbing

Using Formulae - Australian version

An Australian version (i.e. uses A$, Australian vocabulary, curriculum details, etc.) of the popular Using Formulae written by Jean Thomas in 2006. Covers substituting into formulae, percentages and working with large numbers.

Editor's notes

Level
Level 2
Maths
FM Straightforward problem(s) with more than 1 step
FM Complex multi-step problem(s)
FM L2.2 Carry out calculations with numbers up to 1 million inc. strategies to check answers e.g. estimation & approximation
FM L2.3 Evaluate expressions & make substitutions in given formulae in words & symbols
FM L2.5 Work out percentages of amounts & express one amount as a percentage of another
FM L2.12 Follow the order of precedence of operators, including indices
Context
Business & Money management

London Marathon - E1, E2, E3, L1 & L2 Functional Maths

London Marathon is a multi-level graduated Functional Maths workbook for Entry Level 1 to Level 2. A front page overview allows the teacher or learner to decide which levels and topics to work on.  The emphasis throughout is on problem solving and showing working out. The workbook uses information from the 2022 London Marathon web page and event guide.  

Level
Entry Level 1
Entry Level 2
Entry Level 3
Level 1
Level 2
Maths
FM Simple one step problem(s)
FM Straightforward problem(s) with more than 1 step
FM E1.2 Use whole numbers to count up to 20 items including zero
FM E1.6 Read 12 hour digital & analogue clocks in hours
FM E1.7 Know the number of days in a week, months, & seasons in a year. Name & sequence them.
FM E1.11 Read numerical information from lists
FM E2.5 Add & subtract 2-digit numbers
FM E2.13 Read & record time in common date formats, & read time displayed on analogue clocks in hours, half hours & quarter hours, & understand hours from a 24-hour digital clock
FM E2.22 Extract information from lists, tables, diagrams, bar charts
FM E3.13 Read time from analogue & 24 hour digital clocks in hours & minutes
FM E3.20 Use appropriate positional vocabulary to describe position & direction inc.luding eight compass points and including full/half/quarter turns
FM L1.17 Work with simple ratio & direct proportions
FM L1.26 Use angles when describing position & direction, & measure angles in degrees
FM L2.14 Convert between metric & imperial units of length, weight & capacity using a) a conversion factor & b) a conversion graph
Context
Sport and fitness

Pancake day in Exdale - E1, E2, E3, L1 & L2 Functional Maths

Pancake Day in Exdale is a multi-level graduated Functional Maths workbook for Entry Level 1 to Level 2. A front page overview allows the teacher or learner to decide which levels and topics to work on. All questions are based on one or other of two texts (pancake meals at the local pub and special offers in the Exdale Cook Shop). The emphasis throughout is on problem solving and showing working out.

At Entry Levels the main coverage is time, dates and money. Levels 1 and 2 include questions on time, converting between measures, circumference, percentage discount and mean.

Level
Entry Level 1
Entry Level 2
Entry Level 3
Level 1
Level 2
Maths
FM Simple one step problem(s)
FM Straightforward problem(s) with more than 1 step
FM Complex multi-step problem(s)
FM E1.6 Read 12 hour digital & analogue clocks in hours
FM E1.7 Know the number of days in a week, months, & seasons in a year. Name & sequence them.
FM E2.5 Add & subtract 2-digit numbers
FM E2.12 Calculate money with pence up to £1 & in whole £s of multiple items, use correct symbols (£ or p)
FM E2.13 Read & record time in common date formats, & read time displayed on analogue clocks in hours, half hours & quarter hours, & understand hours from a 24-hour digital clock
FM E3.10 Calculate with money using decimal notation & express money correctly in writing in pounds and pence
FM E3.13 Read time from analogue & 24 hour digital clocks in hours & minutes
FM E3.14 Use & compare measures of length, capacity, weight & temperature using metric or imperial units to the nearest labelled or unlabelled division
FM L1.12 Approximate by rounding to a whole number or to one or two decimal places
FM L1.14 Calculate percentages of quantities, inc. simple percentage increase / decrease by 5% & multiples of
FM L1.20 Convert between units of length, weight, capacity, money and time, in the same system
FM L1.29 Find the mean & range of a set of quantities
FM L2.14 Convert between metric & imperial units of length, weight & capacity using a) a conversion factor & b) a conversion graph
FM L2.16 Calculate perimeters & areas of 2-D shapes inc. triangles & circles and composite shapes including non-rectangular shapes (formulae given except for triangles & circles)
Context
Retail Hospitality Customer service

Valentine Meal Deal - E3, L1 & L2 Functional Maths

NEW 24/2/22  answer sheet now also  available - visit our ANSWER SHEETS page for more information.

A follow-on Valentine's Day resource from the E1-E3 worksheet of the same name. It continues the general problem solving of finding suitable meal deals for various couples and calculating how much they save by purchasing a Valentine's meal deal. For L2 learners it also delves into compound measures with challenging multiple questions on on unit prices (e.g. £/kg, £/litre).

Level
Entry Level 3
Level 1
Level 2
Maths
FM Straightforward problem(s) with more than 1 step
FM Complex multi-step problem(s)
FM E3.10 Calculate with money using decimal notation & express money correctly in writing in pounds and pence
FM E3.21 Extract information from lists, tables, diagrams, charts; create frequency tables
FM E3.23 Organise & represent information in appropriate ways inc. tables, diagrams, simple line graphs & bar charts
FM L1.20 Convert between units of length, weight, capacity, money and time, in the same system
FM L2.15 Calculate using compound measures inc. speed, density & rates of pay
Context
Retail Hospitality Customer service
Catering Food Nutrition

Posting parcels, letters and cards E3-L1 maths

17/1/22 Minor update - page number signposting at top of pages 5&6 corrected.
 highly functional, carefully graduated set of questions based on current (Dec 2021) Royal Mail information  about parcel and letter sizes, and first and second class mail prices. Written just before Christmas but can be used all year round. Main topics are: extracting information from tables, converting metric measures, formulae expressed as words, and working with money and decimals.

Author's note

Level
Entry Level 3
Level 1
Maths
FM Simple one step problem(s)
FM Straightforward problem(s) with more than 1 step
FM Contextualised underpinning
FM E3.1 Count, read, write, order & compare numbers up to 1000
FM L1.5 Use simple formulae expressed in words for one or two-step operations
FM L1.11 Add, subtract, multiply & divide decimals up to 2 decimal places
FM E3.10 Calculate with money using decimal notation & express money correctly in writing in pounds and pence
FM E3.15 Compare metric measures of length including millimetres, centimetres, metres & kilometres
FM E3.16 Compare measures of weight including grams & kilograms
FM L1.20 Convert between units of length, weight, capacity, money and time, in the same system
FM E3.21 Extract information from lists, tables, diagrams, charts; create frequency tables
Context
Independent living

E3-L1 How to check your answers with reverse calculations

A good way for learners to understand the importance of using reverse calculations to check an answer to a previous question.  These check questions are appearing more and more in functional skills exams. I hope you find it as useful as I and my learners do.

Editor's note

Level
Entry Level 3
Level 1
Maths
FM Simple one step problem(s)
FM Straightforward problem(s) with more than 1 step
FM E3.2 Add & subtract 3-digit whole numbers
FM E3.3 Divide 3-digit numbers by 1- & 2-digit numbers, express remainders
FM E3.4 Multiply 2-digit numbers by 1- & 2-digit numbers
FM E3.10 Calculate with money using decimal notation & express money correctly in writing in pounds and pence
FM E3.21 Extract information from lists, tables, diagrams, charts; create frequency tables
FM L1.2 Recognise and use positive and negative numbers
FM L1.4 Use multiplication facts and make connections with division facts
FM L1.11 Add, subtract, multiply & divide decimals up to 2 decimal places

E2-E3 How to check your answers with reverse calculations

A good way for learners to understand the importance of using reverse calculations to check an answer to a previous question.  These check questions are appearing more and more in functional skills exams. I hope you find it as useful as  I and my learners do.

Editor's note

Level
Entry Level 2
Entry Level 3
Maths
FM Simple one step problem(s)
FM Straightforward problem(s) with more than 1 step
FM E2.5 Add & subtract 2-digit numbers
FM E3.2 Add & subtract 3-digit whole numbers
FM E2.6 Times tables 0x0 to 12x12
FM E2.8 Divide 2-digit numbers by 1-digit numbers, express remainders
FM E3.3 Divide 3-digit numbers by 1- & 2-digit numbers, express remainders
FM E3.4 Multiply 2-digit numbers by 1- & 2-digit numbers
FM E2.12 Calculate money with pence up to £1 & in whole £s of multiple items, use correct symbols (£ or p)
FM E3.10 Calculate with money using decimal notation & express money correctly in writing in pounds and pence
FM E2.22 Extract information from lists, tables, diagrams, bar charts
FM E3.21 Extract information from lists, tables, diagrams, charts; create frequency tables

Skillscheck for L1 Functional Skills Maths

A resource I designed to help my L1 Functional Maths learners revise and check on areas they needed to work on. Covers ratio, mean, percentages, problem solving, fractions, area , volume and more!  

Editor's note

Fabulous practice and revision! Fully mapped to the Reformed Functional Maths criteria. If you are a resource contributor, an answer sheet is available :)  
See our Answer Sheets page for more details.

Level
Level 1
Maths
FM Straightforward problem(s) with more than 1 step
FM L1.9 Find fractions of whole number quantities or measurements
FM L1.11 Add, subtract, multiply & divide decimals up to 2 decimal places
FM L1.14 Calculate percentages of quantities, inc. simple percentage increase / decrease by 5% & multiples of
FM L1.18 Calculate simple interest in multiples of 5%
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 L1.21 Recognise & make use of simple scales on maps & drawings
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 L1.29 Find the mean & range of a set of quantities
Subscribe to FM Straightforward problem(s) with more than 1 step