Adult Numeracy, Functional Maths, and GCSE Resources

A set of questions created by a small group of Performing Arts students studying Level 1 Maths.
The questions were made up during their pre-exam revision sessions.
Some questions are not quite what you’d expect to find in the real exam!
Many topics are covered include ratios, metric measures, area & perimeter, time, percentages and money.
The overall emphasis is on showing all working out and checking answers with reverse operations.

A short topical reading comprehension at two levels (L1/L2) and Entry 3 on the 29th February. The higher level text requires learners to write a short paragraph in a specific context. Some embedded maths is included. I have also added a short fact sheet about when Leap Years occur, for when someone asks those technical questions!

Editor’s note
With detailed curriculum mapping and answer sheet.

Topical resource based on a news story. Reading comprehension at 2 levels (E3 and L1/L2) plus two writing extension activities with writing frames. Some embedded maths (including a chart in the L1/L2 exercise) and the opportunity to discuss healthy eating. The higher level comprehension aims to get learners to understand in depth what they are reading, rather than just answer the questions from the text.

Based on two recent articles / surveys on Black Friday shopping, the main focus of this resource is Functional Mathematics but there is also an introductory page of English questions that check vocabulary, purpose of text and the ability to extract meaning from graphical material and captions.

This is followed by three pages of challenging differentiated questions for E3-L2 Functional Maths – all are based on the infographics within the text. Topics include large numbers, percentages, fractions and the four operations.

This is an adaptation of Murder at the Grange, which my students have always enjoyed.

I wanted to extend the work on calculating with time, so learners have to use and extend timetables and calculate multi-stage journey times. I also thought it would be good to have some female characters!

A set of questions about an advertisement for motorbikes. Students are asked to find information about the store, as well as comparing the prices of motorbikes for sale. Provides practice in scanning, skimming, comparing numbers, etc.
Answer key included.

This resource was created for Adult Literacy Entry 3 Learners but can be used with mixed ability groups from E2 – L1. It includes reading comprehension and related exercises covering many curriculum areas, based on the Guy Fawkes Night theme.

The first section is a comprehension based on the history of Guy Fawkes and Bonfire Night. The text is suitable for E3-L2. Questions cover general comprehension, punctuation, homophones/spellings, proper nouns, alphabetical order and dictionary work. Some questions are also suitable for E2.

I have found that many numeracy students get scared when you mention terms like percentages or fractions. I therefore developed this introductory activity for my new level 1 numeracy students. They are mostly young parents who were disengaged at school and have no mathematics qualifications.

They are usually nervous when they attend the first session so I try to boost their confidence and reassure them that the course will not be like school.

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.

A really unusual reading comprehension exercise that also tests a range of maths skills (dates, large numbers, distance, etc.). Although the general reading level is around Level1 it is based on an Australian news article about a lottery winner and contains a lot of unfamiliar Australian vocabulary. Thus it also stretches Level 2 learners. An optional glossary is provided; this includes words such as swag, Slikpik, shire and half a dozen more.