Adult Numeracy, Functional Maths, and GCSE Resources

A set of posters / cards / checklists designed to prompt discussion, check learning and keep a record of student progression. Designed for Entry Level Functional Maths and English learners in an FE setting but suitable for all levels and subjects.
This resource was inspired by discussion on the NCETM (National Centre for Excellence in Teaching Mathematics) site about “understanding versus doing” and I would like to thank the forum members for their ideas and feedback.

This PDF is an amalgamation of methods and worked examples, sorted by topic, for both L1 and L2 Adult Numeracy/Functional Skills (some sections are also suitable for Entry 3). It is not intended as an exhaustive resource, but more of a selection of “hot topics” and exam-friendly examples (some of which are paraphrased from actual past papers).

Using a newspaper article to interpret numbers and use decimals, fractions and percentages. This resource introduces the learner to billions, but the majority of questions and process are aimed at Level 1 (with some suitable for Entry 3).

Questions cover writing numbers in words and figures, place value, equivalent fractions, dates, measures, rounding, etc. Makes useful revision material.

The Level 2 extension questions involve creating a chart and converting a currency – all with a Harry Potter theme.

20 revision questions written by a group of ESOL numeracy students. They are not multiple choice and there is plenty of space to show working out – thus making them equally suitable for underpinning many Functional Maths coverage and range statements. Questions cover averages, money, percentages, ratio, measures, bar charts and area.

A 40 question practice paper written to provide challenging extra practice after a group of learners participated in a very difficult L2 numeracy test (the levels of the national test certainly do seem to be erratic at times, and definitely harder than when it was first introduced).

Unlike the national test, the questions in this test are not multiple choice – making it equally suitable for initial assessment, homework or revision. All areas of the curriculum are covered (i.e. number, measures and data handling). An answer sheet is included.

Ideas for a revision class on the theme of making a cake. I have included a cake recipe by Delia Smith and some prices of cake ingredients and items for cake decorating.

A revision of E3 (and some E2) numeracy skills all themed around England. Written for St George’s Day but can be used any time of year. Great for equality and diversity.
Question themes include: street parties and English weather.
Topics covered include writing large numbers, calendars, time, symmetry, money, division, rounding, money, bar charts, temperature, fractions and tallies.

12 questions on telling the time (also covers extracting information from tables). Ideal practice for students doing E1 and E2 Edexcel (or similar) numeracy exams.

Easter themed L1 exam-style multiple choice fraction questions.
Very similar to, and adapted from, from Maria’s Valentine’s Party questions (see below).

A set of L1 multiple choice Valentine’s Day fraction questions.
There is also an Easter version with similar questions (see below).