A Guide to the National Tests in Adult Literacy and Numeracy 
Giving adults the opportunity to prove their skills and gain a national qualification in literacy and numeracy

 Your students have put in all the hard work to improve their skills – so why not reward them?

 In the past there were no nationally agreed definitions to describe levels of literacy, numeracy and spoken language among adults. This created inconsistencies in the delivery and assessment of basic skills.  To address these problems, Skills for Life, the government’s national strategy to improve adult literacy and numeracy skills, has supported the development of national standards and core curricula for adult literacy, numeracy and ESOL.

Qualifications and tests are an essential and integral part of the new teaching and learning infrastructure.  The new national tests in literacy and numeracy provide adult learners with a clear and reliable measure of their achievement and skills.  The National Numeracy Tests and the National Literacy Tests are available at Level 1 and Level 2 of the national qualifications framework.  

The benefits to learners of taking and passing a test can be immense.  They include personal benefits such as increased confidence as well as the motivation to go on to bigger and better things.  A qualification in maths or English could fill a gap in their CV or be a stepping stone to further qualifications. It also gives learners a qualification which employers will value and could lead to promotion at work.

 Your questions answered… 

What format do the tests take?

The tests consist of 40 multiple-choice questions worth one mark each – similar to those used in the driving test.  The literacy test lasts one hour and the numeracy test one and a quarter hours.  The tests are currently paper-based although on-screen testing is now being piloted.

Which skills are assessed in the tests?

The tests assess a sample of the requirements described in the national standards for adult literacy and numeracy.  The literacy tests cover the skills of reading, comprehension, understanding writing techniques and spelling, punctuation and grammar. The numeracy tests cover the skills of interpreting and calculating mathematical information. 

Like many other qualifications, the current tests do not test the full range of skills at each level but ICT may enable some aspects of listening and writing to be assessed in the future.  Where assessment of additional skills is required, it should be done as part of the continuous assessment process associated with the individual learning plan.

What level are the tests? 

The tests are available at two levels and are designed to measure skills at an equivalent level to other national qualifications:

What is the relationship of the national tests to key skills?

The national literacy and numeracy tests are the same as the external tests for the key skills of Communication and Application of Number at Level 1 and Level 2.  Adults could take the national test first and then build a portfolio to achieve a Key Skills qualification.

Is there a cost involved in taking the test?

The test is completely free for adult learners. Providers are charged normal certification fees by awarding bodies.

Do learners have to get every question right?

No.  The intended pass mark is around 75%.  The pass mark may vary slightly to ensure consistent standards from test to test.  This is normal test procedure. 

How do candidates receive their results?

Tests are machine-marked, enabling candidates to receive their results as quickly as possible.  Candidates are awarded a pass or fail grade and those who are successful receive the appropriate Certificate. The Qualifications and Curriculum Authority (QCA) has piloted schemes for giving detailed individual feedback on candidate performance. The means of doing this will be offered to all awarding bodies soon.

Which awarding bodies offer the tests?

National certificates in literacy and numeracy at Levels 1 and 2 are currently available through City and Guilds, Edexcel, OCR, AQA, NCFE and LCCIEB.  For the most up-to-date list of accredited awarding bodies, visit the QCA’s website at www.qca.org.uk/nq/bs/adultlit_numqual.asp 

Where can learners take the test?

Tests are held at test centres approved by the awarding bodies. To become a test centre, contact one of the awarding bodies for details on how to gain approval. The Learning and Skills Council  will now provide funding for test centres to take external candidates.

How often are the tests held?

Most awarding bodies offer monthly test dates and some centres are participating in pilots which give access to tests once a week. Pilots are also taking place to provide tests on-screen and on demand making it even easier for learners to take the test when they feel ready.

Are practice tests available?

Sample tests for practice purposes are available on the QCA’s website at www.qca.org.uk/nq/ks/  On-line practice tests can also be found at www.dfes.gov.uk/readwriteplus and hard copies are available from accredited awarding bodies. 

Will the qualifications be valued by employers?

Employers can be confident that individuals who hold literacy and numeracy qualifications at both levels are competent to apply the skills covered in a variety of contexts.

The Adult Basic Skills Strategy Unit is working to raise awareness and ensure that the qualifications are recognised by employers.  For example, the Unit is currently working with the Sector Skills Councils to ensure that certificates are accepted by employers within their sectors.  This is an on-going process and one that will be achieved over time.

Will the certificates provide entry to Higher Education?

The certificates should be seen as a stepping stone to other broader qualifications such as Key Skills and GCSEs which provide access to Higher Education.

What about ESOL learners?

ESOL candidates are encouraged to take the literacy and numeracy tests.  Also available are newly accredited ESOL qualifications, aligned to the National Qualifications Framework, which assess listening, speaking, reading and writing. 

Won’t learners be reluctant to put themselves forward to do a test?

To the surprise of many teachers who were concerned about the introduction of external testing of adult basic skills, all our evidence shows that learners have been overwhelmingly positive about the tests. Experience to date has confounded many critics who had predicted that students would ‘run a mile rather than get tested’.

“I’ve never been anti-test, it’s just that I thought these would be too off putting to the students – but I was wrong”.(Tutor)

 And students’ own experiences of taking the test only reinforce this:

“It made me think – I wouldn’t mind doing another one”

“I quite enjoyed it, it wasn’t the sort of things they forced you to do at school”

“Give it a go – you’ve got nothing to lose.  It’s broadened my horizons and given me more self-confidence.  I know now that I’m as good as anybody and I can do anything I want.  It’s for everybody”.

Hard copies of ‘A Guide to the National Tests in Adult Literacy and Numeracy’ are available from DfES Publications, Tel: 0845 60 222 60, E-mail: dfes@prolog.uk.com Please quote ref: DSFL/NT