Functional Skills Maths: You’ve Got This!

For many apprentices, the idea of studying maths again can feel worrying. Depending on your programme, age and prior qualifications, you may need to achieve Maths and English before you can complete your End Point Assessment (EPA). 🎓

It’s very common to hear learners say things like, “I’m terrible at maths,” “I just don’t get it,” or “When will I ever use this in my job?”. Many people feel nervous about maths, especially if school wasn’t a positive experience. These worries can affect confidence and make learning feel more challenging than it needs to be.

The good news is that maths is already part of your everyday life, even if you don’t always notice it. You use maths when telling the time, handling money, measuring, planning, problem-solving and making decisions at work and at home. Whether you work in Early Years, Customer Service, Administration or another sector, maths supports you to work more confidently and independently.

If you haven’t studied maths for a while, it’s completely normal to feel unsure at first. Everyone learns at a different pace, and confidence grows with practice and support. With the right guidance and a positive mindset, you can absolutely succeed.

Below are our top tips to help you feel more confident and supported while completing Functional Skills Maths alongside your apprenticeship. 👇

1️⃣ Don’t Be Afraid to Ask for Help

If something doesn’t make sense, speak up straight away. Your tutor is there to support you, and asking questions helps build understanding and confidence faster. Asking questions early can stop small gaps in understanding from becoming bigger problems later on.

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2️⃣ Practise Little and Often

Short, regular practice is much more effective than cramming the night before a test. Even 10–15 minutes a few times a week can help build confidence and keep skills fresh. Use practice questions, online resources, or workbook activities to reinforce what you’ve learned.

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3️⃣ Link Maths to Real Life

Try to spot where you use maths in everyday life and at work — handling money, measuring ingredients, reading timetables, checking stock, or working out time. Making these connections helps maths feel more relevant and easier to understand.

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4️⃣ Break Questions Down

If a question looks tricky, don’t panic. Read it carefully, highlight key information, and tackle it one step at a time. Breaking problems into smaller steps can make them much more manageable.

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5️⃣ Set Time Aside

Set time aside for Maths study each week. For each Functional Skill that you are completing, you will need to dedicate an additional hour of study time per week.

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6️⃣ Use the Support Available

Make full use of Century, it is a really good tool that helps support you! The more support you use, the more confident you’ll become.

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7️⃣ Believe in Yourself

Confidence makes a huge difference. Try to replace negative thoughts like “I can’t do maths” with “I’m improving with practice.” Progress may feel slow at times, but every step forward counts.

Gaining your maths qualification can open doors and help you feel more confident both at work and in everyday life. It supports your progression now and in the future. If you need any additional support with Functional Skills Maths or English, our team is always here to help. 🌟