Functional Skills English 4 th October 2013

Aims of the Session To increase candidates understanding of the requirements for successful completion of the Functional Skills English Level 2 assessment. To give candidates the opportunity to assess their own skills and development requirements.

Objectives Look at some topics that are known to cause problems Work through a sample Reading assessment Mark a Reading assessment using the mark scheme Work through a sample Writing assessment Mark a Writing assessment using the mark scheme

Apostrophe Missing Letters Forming the Possessive Greengrocer’s Apostrophe '

Panda Eats, shoots and leaves

Comma Interruption Joining clauses Lists The Oxford comma,

Formal Letter Layout Your Address The date Dear Mr Green, Recipient’s Address The content of your letter goes here. Yours sincerely, Your Name Yours faithfully if the letter is sent to an unspecified recipient i.e. Sir or Madam

Types of Text Information Instruction Persuasion Descriptive Entertainment

Fact or Opinion A fact is... An opinion is… Bias is…

Reading Assessment 1 hour Answer all questions No need to write in sentences Not assessed on spelling, punctuation or grammar Dictionaries are allowed There will be a scenario You will have a number of source documents to read You will have an assessment paper to write on Marks are shown on the paper Pass mark is about 66%

Reading Assessment Select, read, understand and compare texts and use them to gather information, ideas, arguments and opinions. Coverage and Range –Select and use different types of texts to obtain and utilise relevant information; –Read and summarise, succinctly, information/ideas from different sources; –Identify the purposes of texts and comment on how meaning is conveyed; –Detect point of view, implicit meaning and/or bias; –Analyse texts in relation to audience needs and consider suitable responses; –In three or more texts.

Writing Assessment 1 hour 15 minutes Answer all questions Must write in sentences and paragraphs Assessed on spelling, punctuation or grammar Dictionaries are allowed There will be a scenario You will have a number of source documents to read You will have an assessment paper to write on Marks are shown on the paper Pass mark is about 66%

Writing Assessment Write a range of texts, including extended written documents, communicating information, ideas and opinions effectively and persuasively. Coverage and Range –Present information/ideas concisely, logically and persuasively; –Present information on complex subjects clearly and concisely; –Use a range of writing styles for different purposes; –Use a range of sentence structures, including complex sentences, and paragraphs to organise written communication effectively. –Punctuate written text using commas, apostrophes and inverted commas accurately; –Ensuring written work is fit for purpose and audience, with accurate spelling and grammar that support clear meaning in a range of text types.