Adult Numeracy, Functional Maths, and GCSE Resources

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

A short workbook I created to 'test the maths water' before teaching maths to a group of adult and young ESOL learners. It covers almost everything in the Entry Level 1 curriculum with exam style tasks/ questions  linked to C&G Functional Skills Maths assessments.

I usually use it with groups as a gentle introduction to the idea of maths and it forms a good diagnostic for the things they need to learn. It also lets me see how motivated they are to study maths!

Editor's notes

An Australian version (i.e. uses A$, Australian vocabulary and minimum wage details, etc.) of the popular Stash the Cash written by Andy Morrell in 2010. In addition to currency changes this version also includes an extra version of the calculations table and other changes. For example,  the table on page 3 has extra columns to make the mathematical operations explicit and to allow students to practise writing mathematical “sentences”.

Reading and related activities focusing on a simplified version of a BBC news article reporting the results of the 2021 Australian Census. Ideal for practising reading strategies including:  relating images to text, using headings, skimming, scanning and using context to predict. My (Australian) students found it challenging but were engaged in the content. Lots of possible ways it could lead into other written and oral activities. Numbers and a graph involved so can also be used to revise numeracy concepts such as percentages and extracting information from graphs.

A revision task for Entry 1 and Entry 2 Functional Maths, based on the City and Guilds assessments. Includes comparing weight and prices, calculations with money, and 3D shapes. 

There is a 'running' version and a worksheet.  The running version is designed to be cut into strips. Students work in pairs or small groups on question 1 and one person 'runs' to the teacher when they have written the answer on their strip. If the answer is correct, the teacher gives the next question to take back to their partner.  This can get competitive! 

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.  

This document has been created to support learners who work with handling and using pesticides within the framework of current legislation. The material supports the following outcomes:

Best buy and proportion questions - loosely based on setting up a nursery.

I have used this with my Functional Skills Maths and Employability group. We carried out a few examples as a group, left them on the board and I then gave them this worksheet to complete. I sat with the lower attainers and hand wrote in scaffolded examples whilst talking to them about it. 

I have also used the same lesson plan for my GCSE resits as a revision task.

Editor's note

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.

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).