About Key Skills
How do I do them ?
There are three stages in doing key skills:
- learning the underpinning techniques (for example English, ICT, or Problem Solving)
- practising and developing the skills
- using and applying the skills to get things done.
It's at the third stage that you are really doing key skills.
You will have learned many of the underpinning techniques by the time you start on key skills – but there will always be some to revise and more to learn. For example, you are probably reasonably good at written work (spelling, grammar and punctuation) but are you as confident about writing a report as you are about writing an essay? And have you learned how to give a talk, or to make the most of a discussion? That's what you have to do for the Communication key skill, because that's what employers and universities want you to be able to do. And you may have passed GCSE Maths, perhaps with a good grade, but are you sure you can use the right mathematical skills when you are doing an AS or BTEC National design project, or producing a budget for your employer, or working out which mobile phone tariff to go for? Key skills make sure you can use your skills to get things done.
How will my key skills work be assessed?
For the first three key skills, you have to do two things:
- complete a portfolio of evidence
- pass a test.
For the wider key skills, you have to complete the portfolio and you may have to answer some questions.
The portfolio is a file or folder of evidence that you can do what the key skills require you to do. This is spelled out in the key skills standards. If you haven't seen these, ask your tutor for a copy or have a look on the QCA website insert link to www.qca.org.uk/603.html . Your portfolio will usually be full of paper, but it can include photos, tapes, models, printouts, or anything else that shows what you can do. It is best if this evidence can come from your main programme of study or training but it can come from any area of your life, including leisure and part-time jobs. As long as it fits the key skill and has been passed by a tutor, it can go in the portfolio.
The test, which only applies to the first three key skills, is like a short exam. At levels 1 and 2, it consists of forty questions, each with four possible answers: you just have to choose the right one. The test lasts for an hour (plus 15 minutes for Application of Number). At Level 3, the test lasts for ninety minutes. For Communication and Application of Number, you have to write your answers to the questions. For ICT, you work on-screen with data that you have been given in advance of the test.
The questions for the wider key skills are there just to check that you really know and understand the skills that lie behind the evidence that you have produced in your portfolio. If there is no doubt about this, you may not be asked any questions at all. It is up to your assessor to decide.
Does everyone have to take the test?
No. For example:
If you already have GCSE: you don’t have to take the test for:
Maths A*– C Level 2 Application of Number
Maths D – G Level 1 Application of Number
English A*– C Level 2 Communication
English D – G Level 1 Communication
There are some other 'proxy qualifications' like this. Ask your tutor for details or have a look at the QCA website www.qca.org.uk/603.html . However, you still have to complete your portfolio. That is where you can show how good you are at using key skills, both in the context of your main subjects and in other areas of life and work.
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What are Key Skills?