Question 1 of 6Where you live
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What English and maths unlock
Many Level 3 courses and entry-level roles ask for English and maths at Level 2. These are the routes people most often move on to.
Frequently asked questions
Who can get free GCSE English and maths as an adult?
In England, adults aged 19 or over on 31 August who live in the UK and have not already got a grade 4 or C (or a comparable qualification) in that subject. It covers GCSE, Functional Skills from Entry Level to Level 2, and approved stepping-stone qualifications. Source: ASF funding rules 2026-27, section 2.4.
I already have a grade C, but my maths is rusty. Can I still do it free?
Possibly. The rules allow full funding if a provider assesses your current skills as below grade 4, even if you passed before.
Can I just re-sit the GCSE exam for free?
No. The rules say the fund will not pay for someone to only re-sit the exam. You need to enrol on a course, or pay as a private candidate.
Are Functional Skills free too, and do they count like a GCSE?
Functional Skills English and maths from Entry Level to Level 2 are fully funded under the same entitlement. Level 2 is the same level as GCSE grade 4. Many employers and courses accept it, but universities and teacher training providers set their own rules, so check with them.
What if I live in London, a combined authority area, Scotland, Wales or Northern Ireland?
In London and other devolved areas of England, your authority runs adult education funding, but the free English and maths entitlement is set in law, so it still applies. In Northern Ireland, all Essential Skills courses are free. In Wales, Essential Skills Wales courses run through Adult Learning Wales and colleges, who can tell you about fees. In Scotland, literacy and numeracy support comes through your council's community learning service, and colleges can tell you whether you qualify for a fee waiver.