Functional Skills Criteria for ICT

Entry 1, Entry 2, Entry 3, Level 1 and Level 2


September 2011

Ofqual/11/4952
 Functional Skills Criteria for ICT

Contents
The criteria.................................................................................................................. 2

Introduction ............................................................................................................. 2

Skill standards and assessment weightings ............................................................ 3

Entry 1 ................................................................................................................. 3

Entry 2 ................................................................................................................. 4

Entry 3 ................................................................................................................. 5

Level 1 ................................................................................................................. 7

Level 2 ................................................................................................................. 9

Scheme of assessment ......................................................................................... 11

Ofqual 2011 1
 Functional Skills Criteria for ICT

The criteria
Introduction
1. Functional skills qualifications in information and communication technology
(ICT) assess three interrelated skill areas:

 using ICT systems

 finding and selecting information

 developing, presenting and communicating information.

2. Functional skills qualifications in ICT are available at Entry 1, Entry 2, Entry 3,

level 1 and level 2. The criteria for these qualifications specify the requirements
in terms of skill standards, coverage and range at each level. At each level of
the qualification these subsume the previous level’s skill standards, coverage
and range, supporting a progression-based suite of skills qualifications.

3. These criteria should be used in conjunction with the Functional Skills

Qualifications Criteria publication which includes the criteria common to all
functional skills qualifications, and the controlled assessment regulations for the
qualifications: Controlled Assessment Regulations for Functional Skills: Entry 1,
Entry 2, Entry 3 in English, Mathematics and ICT; English Speaking, Listening
and Communication at Entry 1, Entry 2, Entry 3, Level 1 and Level 2.

4. In completing assessment leading to a functional skills qualification in ICT,

candidates can have access to all forms of equipment and software that
constitute their normal independent way of working, provided that these do not
affect the reliability or validity of assessment outcomes or give the learner an
assessment advantage over other learners undertaking the same or similar
assessments.

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 Functional Skills Criteria for ICT

Skill standards and assessment weightings

5. Functional skills qualifications in ICT must require candidates to demonstrate
their ability in relation to:

Entry 1
Assessment
Skill standards Coverage and range
weighting
Using ICT
a) Recognise and use interface
1. Interact with ICT for a given features.
purpose.

Using ICT 20–30%

a) Minimise the physical stress
2. Follow recommended safe of seating, lighting and
practices. hazards;

b) Keep access information

secure by using password.

Finding and selecting

information a) Use text message, voicemail
and on-screen information. 10–20%
3. Find given information from
an ICT-based source.

Developing, presenting and

communicating information a) Identify and correct simple
errors;
4. Enter and edit single items of
information. b) Label an image.
50–70%
Developing, presenting and
communicating information a) Receive and open electronic
messages.
5. Use ICT-based
communication.

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 Functional Skills Criteria for ICT

Entry 2
Assessment
Skill standards Coverage and range
weighting
Using ICT
a) Use computer hardware;
1. Interact with ICT for a
purpose. b) Use software applications for
a purpose;

c) Recognise and use interface

features.
20–30%
Using ICT
a) Minimise physical stress;
2. Follow recommended safe
practices. b) Keep access information
secure by using password;

c) Understand the need to stay

safe.

Finding and selecting

information

3. Use ICT-based sources of a) Use simple search facilities.

information. 10–20%

4. Find specified information

from ICT-based sources.

Developing, presenting and

communicating information a) Use simple editing and
formatting techniques.
5. Enter and edit information for
a simple given purpose.

Developing, presenting and

communicating information a) Print and view on screen; 50–70%
b) Identify and correct simple
6. Bring together two given
errors.
types of information.

Developing, presenting and

communicating information a) Read, send and receive

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 Functional Skills Criteria for ICT

electronic messages.
7. Use ICT-based
communication.

Entry 3
Assessment
Skill standards Coverage and range
weighting
Using ICT
a) Use correct procedures to
1. Interact with and use an ICT start and shut down an ICT
system to meet given needs. system;

b) Use input and output devices;

c) Use software applications to

meet needs and solve given
problems;

d) Recognise and use interface

features;
20–30%
e) Change simple software
settings.

Using ICT
a) Open and save files;
2. Store information.
b) Know how to insert and
remove media.

Using ICT
a) Use and change passwords;
3. Follow safety and security
practices. b) Minimise physical stress.

Finding and selecting

information a) Search stored information;

4. Use simple searches to find b) Search web-based sources of

information. information. 10–20%

Finding and selecting

information

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 Functional Skills Criteria for ICT

5. Select relevant information

that matches requirements of
given task.

Developing, presenting and

communicating information a) Enter, edit and format
information, including text,
graphics, numbers or other
6. Enter and develop different
digital content, to achieve the
types of information to meet
required outcome;
given needs.
b) Insert and position graphics
or other digital content to
achieve a purpose;

c) Process numbers to meet

needs.

Developing, presenting and

communicating information a) For print and for viewing on
screen;
50–70%
7. Bring together different types
b) Check for accuracy and
of information for a given
meaning;
purpose.
c) Check suitability of
information.

Developing, presenting and

communicating information a) Read, send and receive
electronic messages;
8. Use ICT-based
b) Use contacts;
communication.
c) Understand the need to stay
safe and to respect others
when using ICT-based
communication.

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 Functional Skills Criteria for ICT

Level 1
Assessment
Skill standards Coverage and range
weighting
Using ICT
a) Use ICT to plan and organise
1. Identify the ICT requirements work.
of a straightforward task.

Using ICT
a) Select and use software
2. Interact with and use ICT applications to meet needs
systems to meet requirements and solve straightforward
of a straightforward task in a problems;
familiar context.
b) Select and use interface
features effectively to meet
needs;

c) Adjust system settings as

20–30%
appropriate to individual
needs.

Using ICT
a) Work with files, folders and
3. Manage information storage. other media to access,
organise, store, label and
retrieve information.

Using ICT
a) Demonstrate how to create,
4. Follow and demonstrate use and maintain secure
understanding of the need for passwords;
safety and security practices.
b) Demonstrate how to minimise
the risk of computer viruses.

Finding and selecting

information a) Use of search engines to
(answer) queries.
5. Use search techniques to
locate and select relevant
information. 10–20%

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 Functional Skills Criteria for ICT

Finding and selecting

information a) Recognise and take account
of currency, relevance, bias
and copyright when selecting
6. Select information from a
and using information.
variety of ICT sources for a
straightforward task.

Developing, presenting and

communicating information a) Apply editing, formatting and
layout techniques to meet
needs, including text, tables,
7. Enter, develop and refine
graphics, records, numbers,
information using appropriate
charts, graphs or other digital
software to meet the
content.
requirements of
straightforward tasks.

Developing, presenting and

communicating information a) Process numerical data;

b) Display numerical data in a

8. Use appropriate software to
graphical format;
meet requirements of
straightforward data-handling
c) Use field names and data
tasks.
types to organise information;

d) Enter, search, sort and edit

records.
50–70%
Developing, presenting and
communicating information a) Read, send and receive
electronic messages with
attachments;
9. Use communications software
to meet requirements of a
b) Demonstrate understanding
straightforward task.
of the need to stay safe and
to respect others when using
ICT-based communication.

Developing, presenting and

communicating information a) Print and view on screen;

b) Check for accuracy and

10. Combine information within a
meaning.
publication for a familiar
audience and purpose.

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 Functional Skills Criteria for ICT

Developing, presenting and

communicating information
a) At each stage of a task and at
the task’s completion.
11. Evaluate own use of ICT
tools.

Level 2
Assessment
Skill standards Coverage and range
weighting
Using ICT
a) Use ICT to plan and analyse
complex or multi-step tasks
1. Plan solutions to complex
and activities and to make
tasks by analysing the decisions about suitable
necessary stages. approaches.

Using ICT
a) Select and use software
applications to meet needs
2. Select, interact with and use
and solve complex problems;
ICT systems safely and
securely for a complex task in b) Select and use a range of
non-routine and unfamiliar interface features and system
contexts. facilities effectively to meet
needs;

c) Select and adjust system

settings as appropriate to 20–30%
individual needs;

d) Respond to ICT problems and

take appropriate action;

e) Understand the danger of

computer viruses and how to
minimise risk.

Using ICT
a) Manage files, folders and
other media storage to enable
3. Manage information storage
efficient information retrieval.
to enable efficient retrieval.

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 Functional Skills Criteria for ICT

Finding and selecting

information a) Search engines, queries and
AND/ NOT/OR, >,<,>=,<=,
contains, begins with, use of
4. Use appropriate search wild cards.
techniques to locate and
select relevant information.

10–20%
Finding and selecting
information a) Recognise and take account
of copyright and other
constraints on the use of
5. Select information from a information;
variety of sources to meet
requirements of a complex b) Evaluate fitness for purpose
task. of information.

Developing, presenting and

communicating information a) Apply a range of editing,
formatting and layout
techniques to meet needs,
6. Enter, develop and refine including text, tables,
information using appropriate graphics, records, numerical
software to meet data, charts, graphs or other
requirements of a complex digital content.
task.

Developing, presenting and

communicating information a) Process and analyse
numerical data;
7. Use appropriate software to b) Display numerical data in
meet the requirements of a appropriate graphical format; 50–70%
complex data-handling task.
c) Use appropriate field names
and data types to organise
information;

d) Analyse and draw

conclusions from a data set
by searching, sorting and
editing records.

Developing, presenting and

communicating information a) Organise electronic
messages, attachments and
contacts;
8. Use communications software
to meet requirements of a b) Use collaborative tools

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 Functional Skills Criteria for ICT

complex task. appropriately;

c) Understand the need to stay

safe and to respect others
when using ICT-based
communication.

Developing, presenting and

communicating information a) Organise and integrate
information of different types
to achieve a purpose, using
9. Combine and present accepted layouts and
information in ways that are fit conventions as appropriate;
for purpose and audience.
b) Work accurately and check
accuracy, using software
facilities where appropriate.

Developing, presenting and

communicating information
a) At each stage of a task and at
the task’s completion
10. Evaluate the selection, use
and effectiveness of ICT tools
and facilities used to present .
information.

Scheme of assessment
6. Functional skills qualifications in ICT must be single component qualifications
with assessment that focuses on the three interrelated skill areas identified in
the skill standards.

7. Assessment must focus on functionality and the effective application of the

three interrelated ICT skill areas in purposeful contexts and scenarios that
reflect real-life situations.

8. Assessment must assess all of the skill standards and sample the coverage and
range.

9. Specifications must reflect the assessment weightings outlined in the skill

standards.

10. Assessment of functional skills qualifications in ICT must include a minimum of

80 per cent open-response assessment.

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 Functional Skills Criteria for ICT

11. The duration of the assessment leading to a functional skills qualification in ICT
at levels 1 and 2 must be a minimum of two hours and a maximum of three
hours. At Entry 1, 2 and 3 the duration of the assessment should be a minimum
of one hour and must not exceed two hours.

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First published by the Office of Qualifications and Examinations Regulation in 2011

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