Functional Skills Maths · England

Functional Skills Maths Level 1

Level 1 is roughly the standard of a lower-grade GCSE pass and is a common step for adults returning to maths and for many apprenticeships. It is built around everyday problems with money, measures and information.

Audience
Adults & apprentices
Content areas
3
Topic pages
11
Format
Lessons + printable practice

Overview

How Level 1 is organised

The content is organised into three areas, which come up in a mixture of short and longer, real-life questions. You will meet some questions in the non-calculator section and others in the calculator section, so it pays to be comfortable with written methods as well as calculator use.

Use the topic pages below in order if you are starting from scratch, or jump to the areas you find hardest. Every page has a short lesson, worked examples, and a printable sheet with a Level 1 tab and a full worked answer key.

Using numbers and the number system

  • Read, write, order and compare large whole numbers, and use negative numbers in context such as temperatures.
  • Add, subtract, multiply and divide, using the correct order of operations.
  • Convert between common fractions, decimals and percentages, and find fractions and percentages of amounts.
  • Increase and decrease amounts by a percentage, and work out simple interest.
  • Use ratio and direct proportion, including scaling recipes and sharing amounts.
  • Use formulae written in words, such as a call-out fee plus an hourly rate.
Fractions, decimals and percentagesConvert, order, and find fractions and percentages of amounts.Percentage change, VAT and discountsIncreases, decreases, discounts, VAT and reverse percentages.Ratio and proportionSharing in a ratio, recipes, best buys and inverse proportion.Formulae and order of operationsWord formulae, BIDMAS and substitution into expressions.Money, interest and budgetingBudgets, simple and compound interest, and income tax.

Using common measures, shape and space

  • Work with money, budgets and best buys.
  • Convert between metric units of length, weight and capacity, and use time and the 24-hour clock.
  • Find the perimeter and area of rectangles and composite shapes, and the volume of cubes and cuboids.
  • Use map scales and scale drawings, and recognise plans and elevations of simple 3D shapes.
Money, interest and budgetingBudgets, simple and compound interest, and income tax.Units, time and conversionsMetric units, time, imperial conversions, speed and density.Area, perimeter and volumeRectangles, composite shapes, circles, cuboids and cylinders.Scale drawings, maps and coordinatesMap scales, plans and elevations, and coordinates.

Handling information and data

  • Read and draw tables, bar charts, pie charts and line graphs.
  • Find the mean and range of a set of data and use them to compare.
  • Describe likelihood on a 0 to 1 probability scale and work out simple probabilities.
Averages and rangeMean, median, mode, range and grouped data.Charts, graphs and probabilityTables, charts, pie charts, probability and scatter graphs.

The assessment

Check your awarding body

The assessment is usually one exam with a non-calculator section and a calculator section. The exact length, pass mark and formula sheet vary by awarding body (for example Pearson Edexcel, City & Guilds, NCFE, Highfield and Open Awards), so check your own provider's specification and sample papers.

Next steps

Level 2 overviewSee what comes next.Exam techniqueBoth sections, showing working, estimating and checking.Functional Skills Maths hubWhat it is, who takes it and the full learning path.

PaperKind Printables is an independent practice resource. It is not affiliated with or endorsed by any awarding body or the Department for Education.

Last reviewed: 9 October 2026