Functional Skills Level 2 entry requirements and exam: who can enrol and how the exam works

There are no formal entry requirements for Functional Skills Level 2: you do not need previous qualifications, a Level 1 certificate or an employer, only to be 16 or over and able to study in English. Lift College's Functional Skills Level 2 courses in maths (TQUK, qualification number 610/2624/4), English (610/2625/6) and both subjects together are open to anyone aged 16 and over, cost from £39.99 a month with the on-screen exam included, and the exam is sat at home under remote invigilation or at a TQUK-approved centre, booked for you when your tutor confirms you are ready. A 7-day free trial means nothing is charged until day 8. Here is what you need before you enrol, and exactly how the exam works.

Entry requirements

Age. You must be 16 or over. Lift College's Functional Skills courses are designed for learners aged 16 and over; most learners are adults.

Prior qualifications. None required. You do not need GCSEs, Level 1 Functional Skills or any other certificate. A Level 1 standard is recommended before starting Level 2, because Level 2 assumes you can already handle Level 1 skills such as basic fractions, percentages and reading for detail. If you are unsure which level you are at, ask your tutor during the free trial.

Location. The qualification is regulated by Ofqual. You can study online from anywhere and sit the exam wherever you can meet the remote invigilation requirements below, or at a TQUK-approved centre.

Equipment. For online study you need a device with a browser. For the remote exam you need a computer with a webcam and a quiet room.

Credit check or contract. None. Lift College runs a monthly subscription with no contract, cancel any time, and no credit check.

What is included in the price

Each course is sold as the full course with all fees included:

• Maths Level 2: £39.99 a month or £407.99 a year, 55 guided learning hours, typical study 8 to 16 weeks.
• English Level 2: £39.99 a month or £407.99 a year, 55 guided learning hours, typical study 8 to 16 weeks.
• English and Maths Level 2 combined: £59.99 a month or £611.99 a year, 110 guided learning hours, typical study 4 to 8 months, two separate TQUK qualifications.

All three include a named UK tutor, marking in 5 to 7 working days, AI Study Support, exam entry and one exam sitting per qualification. Annual billing saves 15%, and choosing "start now" without the trial gives 15% off for life. Every payment is covered by a 14-day money-back guarantee.

What is not included: a resit. If you do not pass at the first sitting, a resit fee applies for each further attempt. Your tutor will work through what you missed before you book again.

How the exam is booked

1. You work through the course units with your tutor marking your submitted work.
2. You complete a timed mock under exam conditions.
3. When your tutor confirms you are ready, Lift College books your exam on the TQUK platform. You do not book or pay the awarding body yourself.
4. You choose remote invigilation from home or a sitting at a TQUK-approved centre.
5. Results come back from TQUK in around six working days, and your certificate follows.

Because the exam is on demand rather than tied to a national exam series, there is no waiting for a June or November window.

Sitting the exam from home (remote invigilation)

Remote invigilation means an invigilator monitors you through your webcam while you sit the on-screen exam. To sit from home you need:

• a computer with a working webcam;
• a stable internet connection;
• a quiet, private room where you will not be interrupted for the length of the exam;
• for maths Section B, a calculator.

Expect the usual remote exam conditions: you confirm your identity at the start, stay in view of the camera throughout, and do not use notes, other devices or help from anyone else. Breaking the rules can void the sitting, so set the room up carefully and tell the household you are not to be disturbed.

Sitting the exam at a centre

If your home set-up does not meet the requirements, or you simply prefer an exam room, you can sit at a TQUK-approved centre. The exam is the same on-screen assessment; the only difference is that the invigilator is in the room with you. Lift College arranges the booking. Paper-based sittings are available with ten working days' notice.

What the exams look like

Maths Level 2 is a single on-screen exam in two sections: Section A without a calculator (30 minutes) and Section B with a calculator (90 minutes). It is pass or fail. For what is tested and how to prepare, read is Functional Skills Maths Level 2 hard.

English Level 2 has three components, all of which must be passed: a 60-minute reading assessment, a 60-minute writing assessment (both on screen, externally marked), and a speaking, listening and communicating assessment of two activities run online by Lift College and quality assured by TQUK. Entry and one sitting of each component is included.

English and Maths combined means sitting both sets of assessments, each booked when your tutor confirms you are ready for that subject. The two qualifications are certificated separately.

Before you enrol: a quick checklist

• You are 16 or over.
• You can commit a few hours a week for 8 to 16 weeks per subject.
• You have a computer with a webcam, or can get to a TQUK-approved centre.
• You know which subject or subjects your destination needs. The Functional Skills Maths Level 2, English Level 2 and combined course pages set out each option.