Going to fail my maths functional skills.

[Bikergal90]

Hi all,
I have been doing a level 3 early years education diploma since April last year and I have nearly completed it.
I have completed ALL my subjects/units with no problem. For those I have been marked with distinctions, merits and passes, I have also recently passed my English exams.
However... I know I will not pass my maths. Ever since I was a kid I have really struggled with complicated maths (I'm more than capable of everyday basics) and I find the functional skills extremely difficult.
Basically I'm just wondering what happens if I fail maths? Does that mean all the hard work I put into my job and the actual diploma has been for nothing? And I just get an automatic fail?
Im also concerned if the nursery i work at will also dismiss me. To add to my worries I am also on sick leave for antenatal depression and I am almost 12 weeks pregnant.
No one can really give me a straight answer so I'm just wondering if anyone had any advice or has gone through a similar experience? Very worried atm 😢

I don't know the answer, but my sympathies. My DD is currently working towards FS L2 English, and then hopefully maths afterwards.

Have you had a tutor? You can resit and resit at your leisure, so you could resit once a fortnight if you wanted to.

I teach Functional Skills. If you can do the everyday basics you are most of the way there. Are you having proper lessons as part of your course? Have you attempted the exam yet or done a mock? If so what was your score. If you have managed your L3 you have the intelligence you just need some proper support.

What sort of topics do you struggle with? Functional skills is everyday basics so you must be almost there really. Can you afford a tutor?

FS maths is pretty wordy from the quick look I have had of it.
Is it deciphering the question you struggle with?

Do you
. draw pictures to help and/or imagine yourself doing the task
. simplify numbers until the answer is common sense and then work out which operation you did
. highlight key words and put the operand above them (eg 'share' normally would mean there is a division)

Are you doing an apprenticeship?

I don't have any lessons, we have math challenges every week that are 'mandatory' but that's about it. I also did mock but I've no idea how I did. These aren't 'everyday' maths skills. I find the questions very difficult and more like something that would be in an A level exam.

They really aren't A level. What kind of question?

Provided you are 19+ on 1st Sept 2023 you should be able to get free maths tuition evening classes at a local college.
It seems to me you need a tutor! What did you get for your GCSE and how long ago, and if a 3/D how far off a 4/C were you?

It’s not A Level, when they were developed the level of maths within it was no higher than anything taught at level 6 of the NC which was expected attainment for year 8/9 at the time.

My view when I looked was it is a reduced content Foundation tier GCSE level.

Which is why I'd love to see an example question the OP is struggling with, and why.

You can definitely pass this OP but you need a tutor or something similar! Who are you doing the level 3 qualification with? Sounds like they should be providing some teaching.

I agree with previous posters that it's nowhere near A Level standard. They're written to be closer to foundation GCSE level, so a grade E-C as a maximum.

What do you consider to be everyday maths? Functional skills is "everyday maths" really. I second the need for a tutor but if you want to post some of the questions here it may be that someone can explain the theories in a much easier way.

They really aren't A level.

The OP didn't say it was 'A Level'. She said it was a 'level 3 early years education diploma'.

18:41 The OP says These aren't 'everyday' maths skills. I find the questions very difficult and more like something that would be in an A level exam.

Oh sorry - I see she said it was like something that might be in an A Level exam.

Cross-posted!

...the OP said the questions are difficult and like what she'd expect to see in an A Level...

Also cross posted!

If you struggle with maths going it alone simply isn't going to work. You need a tutor of some sort.
Functional skills was designed for those that struggle and don't achieve a GCSE in Maths so it definitely won't be A Level and if that is the type of questions you are getting I would be concerned about these challenges.

If you have always struggled with maths have you ever been screened for dyscalculia, basically dyslexia with numbers

I think if you’ve done a mock you need to look at what worked for you and what didn’t.

You mean you're not actually being taught?

You're not going to learn any of it if you don't study anything to learn it.

Try this. Bite size explanations.

www.khanacademy.org/math

FS is very wordy so totally understand the struggle but try to get some teaching from where your doing the qual as they should offer some tutorial. Re your level 3 if you don't get the maths it shouldn't affect you completing the qual unless you're doing an apprenticeship. If it's an apprenticeship you have to have the maths before they will complete the level 3. Good luck I'm sure with some tutoring you'll do great xx

Score put all the bits of information you don't need. These questions tend to be wordy to throw you off.

I did the Early Years diploma and had to do the functional skills maths as I failed my maths at school. I’ve always struggled with maths all my life it was terrifying doing the functional skills! I bought the book and exam questions and practiced every day for months before taking the exam. I practiced relentlessly. On the day I was nearly sick I was so scared. I passed.

You can do this. If you fail, you do it again. Get a tutor and practice, practice, practice.

How long do you have before your exam? There are sites that help with revision https://passfunctionalskills.co.uk/functional-skills-maths-level-2/. You can also buy books to help you study/ practice
You tube is also good to show you how to work out maths questions