National Tests

Certificates in Adult Literacy and Numeracy

The national tests are the result of the government’s national strategy to improve adult literacy & numeracy skills

  • They provide adult learners with a clear and reliable measure of their achievement and skills
  • They are available at Level 1 and Level 2 of the national qualifications framework

National Tests cover the essential skills of reading, writing and number. They offer a passport to progression at work and accessing further learning opportunities. They are designed to:

  • Help you show your skills and learning
  • Give you the opportunity to get recognition at work and lead to a qualification
  • Offer a useful grounding for moving on to other courses and to get qualified

What do the course levels mean?

Courses begin at entry level then progress to level 1
Level 1 is the equivalent of NVQ level 1 and a GCSE grades D to G
Level 2 is the equivalent of NVQ level 1 and a GCSE grades A* to C

Who can get a qualification?

  • You can if you are over the age of 16 and do not have an up to date English or Maths qualification such as a GCSE
  • The courses are completely free to adult learners. There may be a small accreditation fee of approximately £9.00

What skills will I develop?

  • The literacy questions test your reading and understanding skills as well as some features of writing such as spelling, punctuation & grammar.
  • The numeracy questions test your understanding and interpretation of numerical information and your calculating & measuring skills.

How Long Will It Take Me?

The tests can be done fairly quickly compared to studying for a GCSE at school or in evening classes and plenty of support is given on the course. Length of study can be as short as nine hours for those who just need to brush up existing skills or may be longer depending on individual starting points and rate of progress.

An assessment will be carried out at the beginning of the course to determine your level and discover what skills you need to develop. An individual learning plan will help to keep track of your progress and your learning goals.

What format do the tests take?

  • The tests consist of 40 multiple-choice questions
  • The literacy test lasts one hour
  • The numeracy test last one and a quarter hour
  • The tests can be either paper based or carried out on-screen using a PC or laptop

What if I don’t pass?

You can take the test again!
But you should do some more learning before re-taking it to make sure you get the questions right next time.

What are the Benefits of Getting Qualified?

Literacy and Numeracy really are ESSENTIAL SKILLS and will provide you with the necessary tools for:

  • accessing learning
  • getting a job and gaining promotion
  • supporting the family
  • contributing to the community

Furthermore, you need literacy and numeracy skills in order to participate fully in everyday life.

  • They are everywhere and impact on everyone
  • There is a strong link to self-esteem and self-confidence
  • They can offer you personal fulfilment

Many employers and higher education courses now recognise the National Tests in Literacy and Numeracy as an alternative to a GCSE in Maths and English.

Where can I get more information?

Contact the WEA Regional Office on 0151 243 5340 to find out about courses in your area.

The following websites provide more information to support education & learning: