Essential Skills Wales

Essential Skills Wales qualifications are intended to support you to improve your numeracy and literacy skills.  Essential Skills qualifications help you to develop and demonstrate you can apply these vital skills to a range of situations.

We will support you in achieving these qualifications, which will increase your confidence and motivation.  The skills you gain will be valuable in further learning, work and life in general.

These qualifications are intended for learners over the age of 16 in a wide range of settings, including:

  • Apprenticeships
  • Traineeships
  • other work-based and community settings
  • secure estate
  • military
  • (in some cases) to support progression to GCSE English/Welsh or Mathematics.

Essential Application of Number Skills
Available at five levels (Entry 1, Entry 2, Entry 3, Level 1, Level 2). Includes:

  • understand numerical data
  • carry out calculations
  • interpret and present results and findings.

Essential Communication Skills
Available at five levels (Entry 1, Entry 2, Entry 3, Level 1, Level 2). Includes:

  • speaking and listening
  • reading
  • writing

These qualifications involve a summative ‘end’ assessment process.

Awarding body: