Functional Skills Qualifications (FSQ) outcomes



This interactive visualisation shows data on reformed Functional Skills Qualifications (FSQs) in English and maths at Level 1 and Level 2 taken by students in England. Use the tabs to show FSQ English or FSQ maths. Use the selections to show data for each qualification level and different student age groups.




FSQ English includes a third assessment not displayed here: Speaking, Listening and Communicating. No accurate data on this assessment is currently available. Please see the Questions & Answers tab for more information.








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For any feedback on these graphs, please contact [email protected].

Return to the Ofqual Analytics home page.

If you need an accessible version of this information to meet specific accessibility requirements, please email [email protected] with details of your request.

This visualisation shows the number of reformed Functional Skills Qualifications (FSQs) awarded and student outcomes in England from July 2021 (Q3 2021) onwards for FSQ English and FSQ maths at level 1 and level 2.

The first graph shows the number of qualifications awarded in each quarter and in each 12 months to quarter end period.

The second graph shows the number of students who have taken an FSQ assessment between July 2021 (Q3 2021) and the latest available quarter. Student outcomes are shown as the percentage of students who have achieved a pass result in any of their attempts at the assessment during that period.

You can use the dropdown menus to change the data shown in both charts. You can select qualification level (level 1 or level 2) and student age groups (all students, students aged up to 18, or students aged 19 and above). Using the tabs, you can switch between data for FSQ English and FSQ maths.

A quarter is a 3-month period. A year is split into four quarters:

Q1: 1 January to 31 March

Q2: 1 April to 30 June

Q3: 1 July to 30 September

Q4: 1 October to 31 December

A 12 months to quarter end period includes the current quarter and the three previous quarters.

Regulated qualifications are assigned a level from entry level through to level 8, broadly indicating the relative level of demand of the qualification. Levels are assigned by the qualification’s awarding organisation with reference to Ofqual’s published level descriptors.

This visualisation includes data on reformed Functional Skills Qualifications in English and maths at level 1 and level 2.

Reformed FSQs were introduced in September 2019. This visualisation covers data from July 2021 onwards, as FSQ assessments were disrupted during the COVID-19 pandemic, with some students receiving Centre Assessed Grades.

FSQs in English and maths are mostly taken on demand, and qualifications are awarded year-round. More details can be found in Ofqual’s requirements and guidance for Functional Skills qualifications and the review of the assessment of reformed Functional Skills Qualifications in English and maths.

Schools and colleges in England are included.

This visualisation includes students in England who took at least one FSQ English or FSQ maths assessment at level 1 or level 2 between July 2021 (Q3 2021) and the latest quarter shown.

FSQs are taken by a diverse cohort of students for a wide range of purposes. FSQs are taken by apprentices (both 16- to 18-year-olds and adults), students who did not achieve a grade 4 or above at GCSE, and adults improving workplace skills. They are also taken by students in prison and students with special educational needs and disabilities.

Reformed Functional Skills Qualifications (FSQs) for English and maths at level 1 and level 2 are included.

This visualisation shows the percentage of students who passed an FSQ assessment between July 2021 (Q3 2021) and the latest available quarter. Each student is counted once, regardless of how many attempts they had at the assessment.

For FSQ maths, results are shown at qualification level. For FSQ English, results are shown at component level (but not for the Speaking, Listening and Communicating component).

FSQ maths comprises a single component. Passing this component is equivalent to passing the qualification. For some awarding organisations, this component includes multiple assessments.

FSQ English comprises 3 components: Reading, Writing, and Speaking, Listening and Communicating. Assessments for the different components can be taken at different times and can individually be re-taken after a fail result. To pass the qualification, all components must be passed.

FSQ English results are shown for the Reading and Writing components and for students who took both.

No data is shown for the Speaking, Listening and Communicating component. This component is internally assessed, and centres may not record fail attempts. Accurate data on students attempting this component is currently not available.

To achieve an FSQ in English, students must pass all three components: Reading, Writing, and Speaking, Listening and Communicating. During the period covered by the data, students may have taken assessments in one, two, or all three components, and may have passed any number of them.

Data on FSQ outcomes is sent to Ofqual twice a year by awarding organisations.

To ensure confidentiality, the data in this report has been rounded in accordance with Ofqual's rounding policy. Numbers of students and qualifications awarded are rounded to the nearest 5. Due to rounding, the total number of qualifications awarded and numbers for the 12 months to quarter end may slightly differ from the sum of the rounded quarterly figures. Percentages of students are calculated from unrounded numbers and rounded to one decimal place.

We are publishing this data so that students, schools, policy makers and the public can easily access and explore information on qualifications and outcomes.

For any feedback on these graphs, please contact [email protected].

Return to the Ofqual Analytics home page.

If you need an accessible version of this information to meet specific accessibility requirements, please email [email protected] with details of your request.