Level 2 - Tutor's Toolkit - Communication: Introduction

Students must produce a portfolio of evidence and take a multiple-choice, externally marked written test. The test and portfolio enable candidates to demonstrate that they have met the national standards in adult literacy/communication.

The Test

At Levels 1 and 2, this is a supervised one-hour, 40-question, paper-based test. Each question is worth 1 point. At Level 3, the exam is a one and a half hour paper and includes questions requiring extended answers. The joint Awarding Bodies are responsible for setting the pass mark, which they pre-set for each paper.

The purpose of the test is to assess reading and those technical aspects of writing that can be assessed in a fixed-response test. It focuses on specific aspects of Part A, 'What you need to know'. It also draws on Part B, 'What you must do'. Candidates are tested on the purposeful and effective application of skills in reading, writing, speaking and listening.

There is no oral test. Components C2.1a and C2.1b will be tested only through the portfolio of evidence.

You can obtain a copy of the QCA Key Skills specifications and exemplar test paper by following the links:

OCR Materials: Communication Levels 1 - 4

Key Skills Support: Communication Level 2 Test Paper 2

QCA: Key Skills Communications Standards Levels 1 - 4

The Portfolio

An Awarding Body moderator assesses the portfolio internally and externally. The portfolio must contain evidence of the candidate's effective use of literacy/communication. It must meet the full requirements of Part B of the Key Skill unit specification. It should also include evidence of oral work (group discussion and a presentation).

Remember that this module will focus on the Level 2 test only. We hope to provide a portfolio module at a later date.