Functional Skills admin overview

Whether you're new to OCR, or already offer our qualifications, you might find our admin overview useful. This outlines the main administration processes for our Functional Skills qualifications, and will guide you to the relevant, detailed information on our website.

Our Functional Skills qualifications in English, Maths and ICT are designed to give students the skills they need for work, education and everyday life. Suitable for young people and mature students, these qualifications are available from Entry Level to Level 2, with a choice of paper-based tests or on-screen assessment.

1. Get approved

The first step to offering Functional Skills is to become an approved centre. For this, you'll need to complete the vocational centre approval form.

A visit to your centre may be required – but we will let you know when we receive your application.

If you want to run on-screen tests, you must sign up to get access to Surpass, the on-screen test system.
2. Apply for access arrangements

You may need to apply for access arrangements to enable students with special educational needs, disabilities or temporary injuries to access the assessments.

See the access arrangements page for more information.

3. Make entries

You need to make individual entries for each unit of the qualifications your candidates wish to take:
- Paper-based tests – Make entries via Interchange or A2C. You'll receive your question papers within five working days.
- Internally assessed units – Make entries via Interchange or A2C so we can allocate a moderator to your centre and you can make claims.
- On-screen tests – Make entries within the on-screen test system, Surpass.
More information is available in the Entries section and the Functional Skills entry codes booklet.
4. Internal assessment arrangements

Levels 1 and 2 English Speaking, Listening and Communication and all Entry Level assessments

The assessments can take place at any time, with information and guidance in the centre handbooks on the qualification pages.

Once the assessment has been conducted, and the work marked, you should make a claim via Interchange and send candidate work by post to be moderated (see the remote moderation section).

5. Conduct paper-based tests

ICT Level 1 and 2, Mathematics Level 1 and 2, English Reading and English Writing Level 1 and 2

You must deliver the tests in line with the regulations specified in the OCR Instructions.

You can arrange paper-based tests on demand at any time. You will receive question papers within 5 working days of making entries, and you must complete all tests and return all question papers within 15 working days. Use the dates calculator to help work out testing windows.

Once you have conducted the tests you must complete and submit your attendance list via Interchange and then package and return the completed scripts.

See the paper-based tests section for more details.
6. Conduct on-screen tests

ICT Level 1 and 2, Mathematics Level 1 and 2, English Reading and English Writing Level 1 and 2

You must deliver the tests in line with the regulations specified in the OCR Instructions.

If you’re using on-screen tests, they can be run at any time. You’ll need to use the on-screen test system, Surpass, to schedule and run the on-screen tests.

See the on-screen test section for more details.

7. Receive results and certificates

We'll issue results electronically via Interchange, as follows:
- Internally assessed units and paper-based tests – Within 21 days of submitting the work.
- On-screen tests – within 12 days of the test.
Once a learner has achieved the number of units required for the qualification they are entered for, the overall results will be automatically issued.

We'll issue certificates five working days after the results are published.
8. Query results

If you have questions about results, including missing results, use one of our post-results services.

If you're still unhappy with the post-results decision then you may be able to appeal.

Check the fees for each service.

1. Get approved

2. Apply for access arrangements

3. Make entries

4. Internal assessment arrangements

5. Conduct paper-based tests

6. Conduct on-screen tests

7. Receive results and certificates

8. Query results