What is it all About?

If you want to improve your reading, writing or numeracy skills, or want to show the skills you already have, a Skills for Life qualification could be for you. Skills for Life qualifications are designed to help you develop the skills you use in everyday life, such as reading, writing or maths. They can also help you boost your CV or move on to further study.

You can take a Skills for Life qualification if you:

• are over 16 years of age
  
• have left compulsory full-time education
  
• do not have an up to date English or maths qualification at level 2 on the National Qualifications Framework (such as a GCSE)
  

As well as 'Skills for Life', you may have also heard people talking about 'Basic Skills'. The two terms mean the same thing, and refer to the same types of qualifications.

You can use your Skills for Life course to help you achieve a nationally recognised Certificate in Adult Literacy or Numeracy. They measure skills at an equivalent level to other national qualifications.

Skills for Life qualifications are offered on a regular basis, so you can take one whenever you are ready.

Study at a level to suit you. Skills for Life Certificates are available at a level of learning to suit you. The levels are:

• entry level
  
• level 1
  
• level 2
  

The different levels refer to the National Qualifications Framework. The framework shows how different types of qualifications compare, in terms of the demands they place on learners.

To get a Certificate, you need to take and pass a short test. It's multiple choice, only 40 questions long and most people take it on a computer so they can answer the questions at the touch of a button. You can take the test in the relaxed atmosphere of our Ryde learndirect centre or one of our outreach locations.

What's more, taking any Certificate test is FREE!

If you don't pass?
If you don't pass, you can take the test again. In fact, you can take it as many times as you like until you do pass. However, each time you take it you'll be asked a different set of questions.

Where can it lead?
Skills for Life qualifications are based on national standards, so everyone, including potential employers, can see what you're capable of. They can:

• give you more confidence in your own abilities
  
• show what you have achieved in your learning programme
  
• boost your CV
  
• help you get onto other courses such as NVQs
  

If you wish to study towards this qualification, you should discuss it with your our Centre satff before you start learning. You can then agree how and where assessment for your qualification will take place.

Why?
Seven million people have poor literacy and numeracy skills, including around half a million or more who struggle with English because it is not their first language. This has disastrous consequences for the individuals concerned, weakens the country's ability to compete in the global economy and places a huge burden on society. People with poor literacy, numeracy and language skills tend to be on lower incomes or unemployed, and they are more prone to ill health and social exclusion.

Skills for Life, the Government's strategy for improving adult literacy and numeracy skills, sets out how we plan to tackle this problem. Our priority is to improve the skills of those groups where literacy and numeracy needs are greatest and where we can make most impact, particularly:

• Unemployed people and benefit claimants;
  
• prisoners and those supervised in the community;
  
• public sector employees;
  
• low-skilled people in employment; and
  
• other groups at risk of exclusion