Key skills

Key skills are the skills that are commonly needed for success in a range of activities in education and training, work and life in general; they build on basic skills/skills for life. The key skills at levels 1 to 4 are:

• application of number
• communication
• improving own learning and performance
• ICT
• problem solving, and
• working with others.

At level 5, there is a single key skills unit in personal skills development.

At levels 1 and 2, the adult literacy and adult numeracy tests form the externally assessed component of the communication and application of number key skills. The tests cover knowledge and understanding of the skills required at each level. In addition to the tests, key skills candidates complete an internally assessed portfolio of evidence showing practical application of the skills. Because it is possible to cover a wider range of skills through both the test and the portfolio, the key skills are suitable qualifications for adult learners who wish to have their achievement of the full range of communication or number skills recognised.

QCA and its partners are currently working on a three-year project looking at the convergence of the basic skills and key skills standards. For more information, visit the totally skilled website at http://www.totallyskilled.org.uk/ and link to Skills for Life.