Quick answer: On the prices we read on 22 October 2026, Lift College's Functional Skills Maths Level 2 online course is the cheapest route to an Ofqual regulated Level 2 maths certificate that includes a named tutor and the exam: £39.99 a month, typically 8 to 16 weeks, so most learners pay between £79.98 and £159.96 in total, or £407.99 for a full year. The cheapest course-only price we found was Distance Learning Centre at £165, but it has no direct tutor support and the exam voucher is £180 extra, so the certificate costs £345. Every course in this comparison leads to a regulated Level 2 qualification; the price gaps come from whether the exam, tutor and remote invigilation are included.
Adults searching for the cheapest Functional Skills Maths Level 2 usually need the certificate for a specific door: a Level 3 apprenticeship, a nursing or teaching assistant application, or a university course that asks for GCSE grade 4 or equivalent. The trap is a low headline price that leaves out the exam. This page prices the full route to a certificate, provider by provider, using each provider's own course page as read on 22 October 2026.
What "cheapest" has to include
A Functional Skills Maths Level 2 certificate only exists once you have sat and passed an exam set by an Ofqual regulated awarding organisation (TQUK, Pearson Edexcel, City & Guilds, NCFE, Open Awards and others). So the real price is:
- Course fee, including any registration or certification fee.
- One exam sitting, including remote invigilation if you want to sit it from home.
- Tutor support, because a self-study pack with no marking or feedback is a different product.
We also note the refund or trial terms, because a course you can leave in week one at no cost is cheaper in practice than a non-refundable licence.
Price comparison, read on 22 October 2026
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| Provider | Headline price | Exam included? | Tutor support | Awarding body | Total to certificate | Refund or trial |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Lift College | £39.99 a month or £407.99 a year | Yes, one on-screen sitting, remote invigilation, results in about 6 working days | Named UK tutor | TQUK, qualification number 610/2624/4 | £79.98 to £159.96 at 8 to 16 weeks | 7-day free trial, nothing charged until day 8, 14-day money back on every payment |
| learndirect | £479.99 shown as a sale price (£799.99 full), or from £37.75 a month after a £9.99 deposit | Yes, one online exam with remote invigilation | Message your tutor through the platform | TQUK | £479.99 | No trial shown on the page |
| Open Study College | £379 course only, £579 with exams, £799 with exams under remote invigilation; from £13.41 a month | Only on the £579 and £799 options | Unlimited for the course duration | Pearson Edexcel, 500/8907/9 | £579 at a centre or £799 from home | 14-day money-back guarantee |
| Pass Functional Skills | £284 course shown as a sale price (£355 full) | No, the Level 2 maths online exam is sold separately from £157.60 (£197 full) | Video tutorials and marked mock exams | Not named on the course page | £441.60 | Free sample of the course |
| Distance Learning Centre | £165 (£189 full), or 6 payments from £19.80 | No, an exam voucher is £180 for one sitting | None: self-study with narrated videos; tutor time bookable at extra cost | TQUK 610/2624/4 or Open Awards 603/4806/9 via a partner centre | £345 | No refund once course access is issued |
Prices are the figures shown on each provider's course page on 22 October 2026 and sale prices change; check the provider page before you enrol. The National Extension College is compared on our online Functional Skills Maths Level 2 courses page.
Why the regulated certificate is the same, and the price is not
Functional Skills maths at Level 2 follows subject content set by the Department for Education, and every awarding organisation is regulated by Ofqual against the same standard. A TQUK certificate, an Edexcel certificate and a City & Guilds certificate all sit at Level 2 on the Regulated Qualifications Framework and are read the same way by apprenticeship funding rules, colleges and employers. GOV.UK's list of qualification levels places Functional Skills Level 2 alongside GCSE grades 9 to 4.
What you are paying for, therefore, is the delivery: how much teaching and marking you get, whether the exam is booked and paid for you, whether you can sit it at home, and how fast you get a result. Lift College's course is the cheapest in this table because it is priced monthly for a qualification most people finish in two to four months, with the TQUK exam and remote invigilation already inside the fee.
Which course should you choose?
- You want the lowest total cost with a tutor and the exam included: Lift College's Functional Skills Maths Level 2 online at £39.99 a month. Start with the free 7-day trial; nothing is charged until day 8.
- You need English as well: the Functional Skills English and Maths Level 2 online course covers both subjects for £59.99 a month with both TQUK exams included, cheaper than two single courses.
- You only want an exam, not a course: Pass Functional Skills sells exam entry on its own, and Distance Learning Centre sells a £180 voucher; both suit confident learners who have already revised.
- You want a Pearson Edexcel certificate specifically: Open Study College, at £579 or £799 with exams.
- You want 12 months of access and instalments: learndirect or Open Study College; read the terms before signing.
Can you get Functional Skills Maths Level 2 free?
Yes, if you are 19 or over, live in England and do not already hold GCSE maths at grade 4 or above, you are usually entitled to free tuition and exam entry at a Further Education college through the Adult Skills Fund. Our guide to Functional Skills Level 2 funding eligibility explains the rules. The paid online route is for adults who cannot get a funded place, need to study around work, or want to sit the exam sooner than a college timetable allows.
Your next step
Start the Functional Skills Maths Level 2 course free for 7 days
Training Qualifications UK, Ofqual regulated · From £39.99/month · £0 today. Nothing is charged until day 8.
Frequently asked questions
How much does Functional Skills Maths Level 2 cost online?
What is the cheapest way to get Functional Skills Maths Level 2?
Does the cheapest course include the exam?
Is a cheaper Functional Skills certificate worth less?
Can I pay monthly for Functional Skills Maths Level 2?
How long does it take, and does that change the cost?
Sources checked
- Lift College, Functional Skills Maths Level 2
- learndirect, Functional Skills Maths Level 2 including exams
- Open Study College, Functional Skills Maths Level 2
- Pass Functional Skills, Maths Level 2 course and shop
- Distance Learning Centre, Maths Functional Skills Level 2
- GOV.UK, What qualification levels mean
- Ofqual Register, TQUK Functional Skills Qualification in Maths at Level 2, 610/2624/4