Skills Levels Comparisons

Why might it be of interest?
Our young people will be moving through their education via a variety of routes and those routes will include a variety of qualifications. It’s not always easy to understand how these qualifications, from academic through to vocational, compare to each other and what level they are at. But there are equivalencies between the more academic routes and other routes.

The table hasn’t quite translated so please do contact Sue Robson if you would like to be sent the original document.

Entry Level Learning levels:

• Entry level qualifications recognise basic knowledge and skills and the ability to apply learning in everyday situations under direct guidance or supervision
• Skills at this level are not usually geared towards specific occupations
• Entry level qualifications are about 2 steps below GCSE
• Level 1 qualifications are equivalent to the lower grades of GCSE
• Level 2 qualifications are equivalent to the higher GCSE grades

Entry level 1 maths:  usually the level for students with SLD

• Add and subtract numbers up to 20
• Recognise shapes like triangles and rectangles
• User terms like above, below, left and right

Entry level 1 english:

• Read an advert or an email that has about 60 words and then answer questions.
• Order letters of the alphabet
• Write a short note to a friend
• Choose the right spelling from a list (e.g. stope, stop or stopp)
• Use capital letters for names and to start sentences

Another way to get a feel for the level is:

• Year 1 is roughly equal to Entry Level 1
• Y2 & Y3 is roughly equal to Entry Level 2
• Y4 & Y5 is roughly equal to Entry Level 3