A range of questions that I have designed for my Functional Skills Maths learners.The focus is on the four operations (+ – x ÷) with wide coverage of measures and money.
There are two sets of similar, but differentiated, questions so that learners at both both levels can complete them in the same lesson. Each set of questions cover several themes (dog show and music festival) followed by a set of mixed questions and a final page of stretch and challenge tasks.
Editor’s note
With curriculum mapping.
No answer sheet.
Although many learners find patterns and sequences (including odd & even numbers) straightforward, there is a sizeable proportion that really struggle – particularly those with dyslexia and/or dyscalculia.
This resource grew from my frustration at the lack of practice material available for this topic at Entry Levels 2 and 3 in my one to one support sessions. There is generally only one question on this topic per FS assessment, and I found it difficult to come up with real life functional problems off the top of my head.
Level
Entry Level 2
Entry Level 3
Maths
AN N1/E3.1 place value <1000, odd / even, count in 10s /100s
AN N1/E2.2 Read, write, order & compare numbers to 100; odd even nos.
AN N1/E2.1 Count reliably to 100, count on in 2s and 10s
N1/E1.8
FM E2.3 Recognise & sequence odd & even numbers up to 100
FM E3.6 Recognise & continue linear sequences of numbers up to 100
5 questions, increasing in difficulty, to get learners to work out how many solar panels can fit on different size roofs. Involves metric conversions between mm, cm and m. Learners have to work with the panels being placed in 2 different orientations to work out the maximum number of panels that can fit.
Four challenging Functional Skills maths questions to encourage learners to use diagrams to cut shapes out of different materials. The questions are based on past Edexcel Functional skills exam questions that learners find difficult. Also involves metric conversions.
Editor’s note
Includes answer sheet and curriculum mapping. Excellent coverage of a topic that almost all learners find tricky.
Three challenging Functional skills questions to get learners to draw 2D representations of 3D objects using a given scale. The questions are based on an exam question from an Edexcel L2 paper last year that learners found difficult.
Editor’s note
With answers and curriculum mapping.
A simple but effective dice game to help students become familiar with, and practise, calculating percentages of amounts. You will need to customise 2 dice by writing amounts on one and percentages on the other.
I usually play this game with low ability students after teaching them a fail-safe calculator method for working out percentages of amounts, but it can be adapted for higher level learners.
It also helps to reinforce that 0% of a number is nothing and 100% of a number is all of it.
Level
Level 2
Level 1
Entry Level 3
Maths
AN N2/L2.8 Find percentage parts of quantities and measurements
Functional Maths - numbers and the number system
AN N2/L1.9 Find simple percentage parts of quantities and measurements
Revision of all 4 number functions (+,-,x,÷). Originally aimed at JobCentrePlus Upskill clients but suitable for all. Contexts include office, fast food restaurant, and care home The first page is adapted from Liverpool Community College Flexipacks. All other work is original.
Editor’s note
Includes Functional Maths mapping (E3-L2)
Level
Entry Level 3
Level 1
Level 2
Maths
N1/L1.5
AN MSS1/L1.1 Add, subtract, multiply & divide sums of money and record
AN N1/L1.3
MSS1/E3.2
N1/E3.6
AN MSS1/E3.1 Add & subtract money using decimal notation
This is a data handling activity aimed at L1/2 learners that involves calculating the mean and range, constructing a bar chart and then making sense of what the results mean in a functional context.
More observant learners may rename this activity ‘Sophie’s choice’!
