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Our Essential Skills Wales qualifications are suitable for all learners from 14 to 19 year-olds, and older adult learners, and are available at Entry Levels 1 to 3 as well as Levels 1 to 3. They can be taken as stand-alone qualifications, or as a key component of other qualifications, including BTEC and apprenticeships.
For more information please select from the following options:
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Which subjects are available?
Pearson currently offers the below Essential Skills Wales qualifications. Please use the following links to see the individual subject pages on the Pearson Qualifications website:
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How are these qualifications assessed?
All assessments are externally set by Pearson, with the option for centres to write their own controlled tasks. In most cases candidates’ work is internally assessed by centres; the only exceptions to this are the confirmatory tests within Essential Application of Number Skills (Level 1 - 3) and Essential Communication Skills (Level 1 - 3) which are externally set and marked by Pearson.
Assessment arrangements for each of the Essential Skills qualifications are as follows:
| Level | Qualification | Assessment Model | Internal vs External | | Entry (Level 1 - 3) | Essential Application of Number Skills | Controlled task | Externally set, internally assessed | | Entry (Level 1 - 3) | Essential Communication Skills | Controlled task | Externally set, internally assessed | | Level 1 - 3 | Essential Application of Number Skills | Controlled task and confirmatory test | Task: externally set, internally assessed
Test: externally set, externally assessed | | Level 1 - 3 | Essential Communication Skills | Controlled task and confirmatory test | Task: externally set, internally assessed
Test: externally set, externally assessed | | Entry (Level 1 - 3), Level 1 - 3 | Essential Digital Literacy Skills | Controlled task and confirmatory structured discussion | Externally set, internally assessed | | Entry (Level 1 - 3), Level 1 - 3 | Essential Employability Skills | Controlled task and confirmatory structured discussion | Externally set, internally assessed |
Detailed information on qualification assessment can be found in section 4 of the below document:
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Where can I find Controlled Tasks?
To access the Essential Skills Wales controlled tasks please click here. You will only be able to access controlled task papers for the qualifications that your centre is approved to run.
You will need your Edexcel Online username and password to access the live assessment materials. If you are not currently set up to use Edexcel Online, then you will need to check with the Edexcel Online Administrator at your centre.
Guidance on conducting assessment of controlled tasks can be viewed in the document below:
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How do I access Confirmatory Tests?
The confirmatory tests are externally set and are externally marked. The test paper will be allocated to each test sitting or candidate, and unlike the controlled tasks, centres are unable to choose a particular test paper or range of topics for their learners.
For instruction on how to order/book confirmatory tests please see the following document:
The confirmatory tests require a more formal environment than the controlled tasks, detailed instructions on this can be found in the below document:
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Quality Assurance
The Centre Guide to Quality Assurance Pearson BTEC Qualifications for Essential Skills Wales (ESW) can be downloaded below:
This handbook is your guide to quality assurance processes for Essential Skills Wales (2015) suite of qualifications. We advise that all Examinations Officers, Programme Managers, Lead Internal Verifiers, Assessors, and Internal Verifiers in centres offering ESW familiarise themselves with the contents of this handbook. |
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