The Functional Skills qualifications in English assess three components:

• Speaking, Listening and Communicating (SLC)

• Reading (a single component assessment)

• Writing (a single component assessment).

SLC within Functional Skills qualifications in English is defined as non-written communication, normally conducted face-to-face. The term ‘speaking, listening and communicating’ as used by these standards is intended to be interpreted in a broadly inclusive way and is not intended to create any unnecessary barriers to Learners with speech and/or hearing impairment.

The needs of individual learners will vary, but as guidance the term should be interpreted as meaning communication, discussion and presentation that:

• can include the use of sign language (e.g. British Sign Language (BSL), sign-supported English) provided this is made accessible to all participants in the discussion. (It is recognised that BSL is a language in its own right and not a form of English. BSL is, however, permitted as an alternative to English for the assessment of speaking, listening and communicating where BSL is the learner’s normal way of communicating in the contexts described by the standards.) No other languages are permitted as alternatives to English

• can include access to augmentative speech equipment and such software as constitutes the Learner’s normal way of working

• does not depend solely on the use of written language or require the individual/s with whom the Learner is communicating to be able to read (as these skills are covered by the requirements for reading and writing).

‘Reading’ within Functional Skills qualifications in English is defined as the independent decoding and understanding of written language and text in a purposeful context.

‘Writing’ within Functional Skills qualifications in English is defined as the independent construction of written text to communicate in a purposeful context.

A learner must ‘Pass’ all three assessment components.

A Learner will only achieve the qualification at a Pass grade if all three assessment components are passed. If a Learner fails to achieve a Pass in all three assessment components, they will receive a ‘Fail’ grade.