Functional Skills courses in English and maths build on your current knowledge and skills to boost your confidence and your career prospects.
Designed by experts our innovative interactive Functional Skills online courses will help you on your way to that career change, apprenticeship, university course, new job, or confidence boost that you are seeking.
Our online interactive Functional Skills courses follow TQUK specifications.
There are four courses available:
- Functional Skills English Level 2
- Functional Skills Maths Level 2
- Functional Skills English Level 1 and Level 2
- Functional Skills Maths Level 1 and Level 2
Each level takes a recommended 55 hours or learning. You’ll be able to work at your own pace and have 1-2-1 tutor support for up to 12 months.
Assessment is on-demand.
Find out more about the courses.
Functional Skills or GCSEs — which qualification is right for me?
Take a look at the information below to help you make your choice.
Alternatively, speak to our expert Course Advice Team.
Functional Skills vs GCSEs at a glance
Why should I choose?
- A practical route to developing maths and English skills, focused on developing and using these skills.
- A good choice if you plan a career in childcare or early years or to go on to an apprenticeship programme.
Level
- Level 1 (standalone qualification)
- Level 2 (standalone qualification)
Hours of study
- Approximately 55 hours per level
Assessment
- Assessments can be taken throughout the year.
- You will demonstrate your skills through a series of assessments in real-life scenarios.
- English has a speaking and listening assessment.
Grades
- Pass or fail.
- A pass at Level 2 can be seen as equivalent to GCSE Grade 4.
Why should I choose?
- A more academic route, offering a wider breadth of content than Functional Skills qualifications and more suited if you plan to go on to Level 3 qualifications like A levels and on to university.
Level
- Level 2
Hours of study
- Approximately 120-150 per subject
Assessment
- GCSE Maths – three exams
- GCSE English Language – two exams and a spoken language endorsement.
- Exams are taken in June.
Grades
- Maths Foundation – Grade 1 to 5
- Maths Higher – Grade 4-9
- English – Grade 1-9
Why should I choose?
- A practical route to developing maths and English skills, focused on developing and using these skills.
- A good choice if you plan a career in childcare or early years or to go on to an apprenticeship programme.
Level
- Level 1 (standalone qualification)
- Level 2 (standalone qualification)
Hours of study
- Approximately 55 hours per level
Assessment
- Assessments can be taken throughout the year.
- You will demonstrate your skills through a series of assessments in real-life scenarios.
- English has a speaking and listening assessment.
Grades
- Pass or fail.
- A pass at Level 2 can be seen as equivalent to GCSE Grade 4.
Why should I choose?
- A more academic route, offering a wider breadth of content than Functional Skills qualifications and more suited if you plan to go on to Level 3 qualifications like A levels and on to university.
Level
- Level 2
Hours of study
- Approximately 120-150 per subject
Assessment
- GCSE Maths – three exams
- GCSE English Language – two exams and a spoken language endorsement.
- Exams are taken in June.
Grades
- Maths Foundation – Grade 1 to 5
- Maths Higher – Grade 4-9
- English – Grade 1-9
Why should I choose?
- A practical route to developing maths and English skills, focused on developing and using these skills.
- A good choice if you plan a career in childcare or early years or to go on to an apprenticeship programme.
Level
- Level 1 (standalone qualification)
- Level 2 (standalone qualification)
Hours of study
- Approximately 55 hours per level
Assessment
- Assessments can be taken throughout the year.
- You will demonstrate your skills through a series of assessments in real-life scenarios.
- English has a speaking and listening assessment.
Grades
- Pass or fail.
- A pass at Level 2 can be seen as equivalent to GCSE Grade 4.
Why should I choose?
- A more academic route, offering a wider breadth of content than Functional Skills qualifications and more suited if you plan to go on to Level 3 qualifications like A levels and on to university.
Level
- Level 2
Hours of study
- Approximately 120-150 per subject
Assessment
- GCSE Maths – three exams
- GCSE English Language – two exams and a spoken language endorsement.
- Exams are taken in June.
Grades
- Maths Foundation – Grade 1 to 5
- Maths Higher – Grade 4-9
- English – Grade 1-9
YOUR CHOICE
Functional Skills Courses
Functional Skills English Level 2
Fill gaps in your qualifications and open doors to a wide range of job areas. Our Functional Skills courses are designed to give you the skills you need to succeed.
Functional Skills English Levels 1 and 2
Fill gaps in your qualifications and open doors to a wide range of job areas. Our Functional Skills courses are designed to give you the skills you need to succeed.
Functional Skills Maths Level 2
Fill gaps in your qualifications and open doors to a wide range of job areas. Our Functional Skills courses are designed to give you the skills you need to succeed.
Functional Skills Maths Levels 1 and 2
Fill gaps in your qualifications and open doors to a wide range of job areas. Our Functional Skills courses are designed to give you the skills you need to succeed.
Additional support for under 18s
We understand younger students often need an extra helping hand with their studies. NEC’s unique Progress Tracker makes it easy for parents and guardians to follow their child’s progress, access assignment grades and view tutor feedback to ensure effective learning.
Talk to one of our course advisors
Still unsure whether our Functional Skills courses are right for you?
Our friendly Course Advice Team are here to help answer your questions and take you through your options.
- Book a call and someone will get back to you at a convenient time.
- Or contact us today by phone or email.
We’re waiting to help you get ahead and achieve your goals, your way.
Experience you can trust
With a legacy spanning more than half a century, NEC has honed its craft in delivering exceptional online and distance learning experiences. Our extensive experience has equipped us with insights into the diverse needs of learners of all ages, allowing us to refine our approach to provide top-notch education that adapts to your individual pace and preferences.
Frequently asked questions
Your common questions and concerns answered. Read more FAQs.
NEC offers flexible, online courses that you can study anytime, anywhere. When you enrol, you’ll receive a welcome email with login details for learn@nec, our virtual learning platform.
Our expertly designed courses include engaging materials, interactive learning activities, and selected online resources — all created by experienced teachers, examiners, and learning designers.
Our courses are designed to let you study at your own pace — all within a clearly defined enrolment period to help keep you on track. Many courses let you study your way, with flexible assignment deadlines to suit your schedule.
Yes. You can enrol any time and begin studying when it suits you.
If you’re planning to apply to university, and doing this course as part of your preparation, please be aware of application deadlines.
Yes — NEC is ideal for international students.
Our team is happy to help you explore your options.
Yes. Most NEC courses, including all GCSEs and A levels, lead to qualifications awarded by major UK exam boards such as AQA, Edexcel, OCR and Cambridge International. You’ll earn exactly the same qualification as students in school or college.
We’re also approved to offer CMI qualifications for management, as well as TQUK-accredited courses and Functional Skills qualifications in English and Maths. These nationally recognised qualifications are designed to help learners build practical skills and are ideal for both personal development and career progression.
Some short courses, like those in the arts, are for personal development and enjoyment but don’t lead to formal accreditation.
