How to make functional skills revision work for every learner

Functional Skills exams are designed to be widely accessible to learners, but there can still be challenges along the way. These are some of the common challenges learners can face:

1. Low confidence from previous setbacks. Many of the learners pursuing functional skills qualifications will have found elements of school difficult and may not have coped well with traditional qualifications like GCSEs. This can cause low confidence going into a new learning experience.
2. Learning how to learn. Learning is a skill in itself, and it can be hard to get back into it after a break, or when it’s approached in different formats and styles. Functional skills will provide more opportunities to gain real-world knowledge with practical applications, but it can take some adjustment after the learning styles students experience in school. And there will still be elements of theory to tackle, which some learners can find daunting.
3. Skill gaps. Functional Skills can be taught online and there are lots of digital materials to support learning, but a good level of computer literacy will be needed for this, which not everyone will have to begin with. Learners may also find courses more difficult if they have gaps in their everyday literacy and numeracy knowledge, which is common if they faced challenges during GCSE courses and they are transitioning back into studying.
4. Mixed-ability classes and different entry levels. Functional Skills qualifications offer various levels to accommodate different learners, but there can still be mixed abilities within classes. This can make it hard for teachers to pitch the content at the right level, so that everyone is challenged but not overwhelmed.
5. Difficulties with revision and self-study. Revision is a skill that learners need to practice. Initially, they may need some guidance and structured revision tasks to complete, helping them build positive habits. Engaging, accessible, learner-centred tools should be the focal point of any revision strategy, but these are not always easy to source.  

Revision strategies that support practical real-world learning can be a useful stepping stone towards success in Functional Skills exams. Strategies are made much easier with the right functional skills resources on hand to help. This is what effective revision can look like for learners:

Practicing skills in everyday contexts: Life presents many opportunities to learn and revise. Shopping, online banking, sending emails, budgeting, cooking and more can present good opportunities to practice practical maths, English and ICT skills.

Bitesize learning that’s revisited regularly: Information should be easy to absorb, ensuring students don’t feel overwhelmed. This also makes it easier to revisit learning during revision, breaking content down into manageable sections. Distributed practice, where study is spread out over multiple sessions that are shorter in duration, was found to be a highly effective method of revision by Professor John Dunlosky.  

Drawing on digital tools: Platforms that use video and other digital mediums can increase engagement and offer different options to suit preferred learning styles. Digital learning also offers the benefit of regular assessment in fun and informal styles such as quizzes, helping to track attainment.

In a survey about digital assessment tools for adult learners, approximately 76% of respondents found digital tools more flexible and accommodating  to their learning  schedules. 68% appreciated the immediate feedback, as it helped them to quickly identify areas of improvement.

Working confidently and independently: Revision can be a way to remember previous learning as well as to build on it, and the right techniques can grow confidence to explore a topic further. Self-service digital tools and courses can help to build independence, and instant feedback can give learners the confidence to progress without the fear of making mistakes. 

Learning platforms to support Functional Skills revision

Finding the right learning platform can set students up for success with functional skills revision, making it feel much more manageable. Access GCSEPod is widely used for GCSE teaching and revision, and it’s ideal for supplementing functional skills courses as well thanks to its practical, engaging interface and learning formats. The platform delivers subject knowledge in the form of 2-5 minute videos known as pods, creating an immersive and tailored learning experience regardless of prior experience. GCSEPod offers:

• Short, clear video content that can be applied practically throughout functional skills courses.
• An accessible and flexible platform design with subtitles, variable playback and mobile access.
• Scaffolded assessment options with check and challenge, which goes beyond testing to ensure students continually build on their learning.
• Boost playlists that are created to fill knowledge gaps following in-platform assessment.
• Pre-built assignments that can be tailored by level or topic.

The platform’s design and features can meet the needs of Functional Skills learners very effectively, providing a practical approach and creating personalised learning journeys. Students using GCSEPod have been proven to achieve an average of one and a half grades higher than non-users — the platform can make a meaningful difference to exam results. 

Quick wins: Revision tips for tutors and trainers 

Functional Skills tutors and trainers can follow these practical revision tips to boost learning and improve outcomes for the people they teach:

Make use of multimedia content: Video can be an accessible, engaging medium for self-study and revision. If platforms offer the option to create video playlists, this can be one effective way to design more tailored learning and revision plans, especially if the platform can make recommendations based on individual attainment. Videos could also be used as starters at the beginning of a class, giving a refresher of a previous topic.

Use check-and-challenge tools: Learners gain feedback on their performance to ensure accuracy outside of class, and if trainers and tutors also have access to the platform, they can view progress and offer tailored support if their students need it. In John Dunlosky’s study of revision techniques, practice testing was also found to be a highly effective approach to use.

Offer scaffolded support: This is a way for tutors and trainers to offer temporary support in different formats while their students get to grips with new concepts — these might include worksheets, visual aids, sentence starters, worked examples and more to help kick-start revision. Different options for different students will help everyone progress, addressing skills gaps in numeracy, literacy and other areas. Additional support can then be removed to challenge students to work more independently once they’re ready.

Provide mobile-friendly learning options: Making learning more accessible makes students more likely to engage with it. Mobile-friendly platforms give students flexible access to revision materials on the go, and viewing them in this way can feel less intimidating than working through a large text book.

Encourage learners to revisit materials regularly: It’s better to revise over a longer period of time, fitting in multiple shorter sessions. Emphasise this to students and make it clear they should aim to approach learning in this way, rather than “cramming” ahead of exams. 

Functional skills success is about confidence as much as content

Good functional skills revision promotes independence, confidence and practical life readiness, teaching students much more than how to pass an exam. Learning is more effective with the right tools to provide support along the way. Explore how Access GCSEPod provides functional skills learners with clear, accessible and adaptable revision options.