Best online Functional Skills Level 1 courses in the UK (2026 comparison)

What to compare in an online Functional Skills Level 1 course

• Is the exam included? The courses we checked sell the course and leave the exam to be booked or paid for separately. At Lift College, exam entry and one sitting are included; a resit fee applies only if you need another attempt.
• Can you sit it from home? Lift College's maths exam is one 120-minute on-screen exam, 30 minutes without a calculator and 90 minutes with one, sat from home with remote invigilation or at a TQUK approved centre. English reading and writing are on screen, and speaking, listening and communicating is assessed online by Lift College.
• Tutor support. A named tutor who marks your practice papers and sets a timed mock before your exam is booked.
• How long it takes. Lift College learners typically take 8 to 16 weeks for one subject at 6 to 12 hours a week, or 4 to 8 months for English and maths together.
• Results. TQUK results come in about six working days.
• How you pay. A one-off course fee, or a monthly price you can stop. Every Lift College plan starts with a 7-day free trial.

Is Level 1 the right level?

Functional Skills Level 1 is at Level 1 on GOV.UK's list of qualification levels, the same level as GCSE grades 3 to 1 (D to G). Many entry roles, Level 2 apprenticeships and college courses ask for Level 1 maths or English. It does not meet a request for a GCSE grade 4 or Level 2: for that, take Functional Skills Maths Level 2 or Functional Skills English Level 2. You do not have to pass Level 1 first. See what Functional Skills Level 1 is equivalent to.

Online Functional Skills Level 1 courses compared (2026)

Lift College is listed first. Competitor fees are from each provider's own page, checked 1 November 2026.

Prices change, so check each provider before you buy.

Who each option suits

• You want the exam booked and included, sat from home: Lift College, from £359.99 a year or £39.99 a month when you pay today, or £44.99 a month after a 7-day free trial.
• You need both subjects: Functional Skills English and Maths Level 1, typically 4 to 8 months.
• You prefer one payment for the course and will arrange the exam yourself: the course-only options from Open Study College or Pass Functional Skills.
• You already work at Level 2 standard, or the route you are applying for asks for Level 2 or a GCSE grade 4: go straight to Level 2.

What you get with Lift College

• TQUK Functional Skills Qualification in Maths at Level 1 (610/2623/2) and in English at Level 1 (610/2626/8), 55 guided learning hours each.
• A named UK tutor who marks your work in 5 to 7 working days and sets a timed mock before your exam.
• Exam entry and one sitting included, booked when your tutor confirms you are ready, with results in about six working days.
• 7-day free trial, 14-day money back on every payment, no contract and no credit check.
• Designed for learners aged 16 and over; most learners are adults.

Ready to start? Take Functional Skills Maths Level 1 online or Functional Skills English Level 1 online with Lift College, or see every course in the Functional Skills hub.