Education policy in England requires full-time students aged 16–18 who have not achieved grade 4 or higher in GCSE Mathematics to continue studying maths.

Those who achieve grade 3 in GCSE Mathematics at age 16 are required to continue to study towards GCSE Mathematics post-16. Those who achieve GCSE grade 2 or below can either study towards resitting their GCSE or towards Functional Skills Maths level 2.

Key stage 5 mathematics

GCSE Mathematics Resit

Students are able to resit GCSE Mathematics following the same specifications as those taught in Years 10 and 11.

Pearson Edexcel has also created a specification for students studying GCSE maths post-16.

Pearson Edexcel GCSEs Mathematics (9–1) from 2015 – post-16

Functional Skills Maths

Functional Skills Maths for students who wish to achieve a level 1 or a level 2 in mathematics. Suitable for those who got a Grade 2 or lower at GCSE.

Level 1 – roughly equal to GCSE 2-3 in England and Wales, the old grade E-D in England and Wales, the current grade E-D in Northern Ireland or National 4 in Scotland.

Level 2 – roughly equal to GCSE grades 4 and above in England and Wales, the old grade C or above in England and Wales, the current grade C or above in Northern Ireland or above National 4 in Scotland.

Level 2 is offered as the following specifications:

City & Guilds Functional Skills Maths Level 2

AQA Functional Skills Mathematics

Future Quals Functional Skills Qualification in Mathematics (Reform)

Pearson Edexcel Functional Skills Mathematics (2019)

VTCT Skills Level 2 Functional Skills Qualification in Mathematic

Open Awards Level 2 Functional Skills Qualification in Mathematics

NOCN Functional Skills Qualification in Mathematics at Level 2

NCFE Level 2 Functional Skills Qualification in Mathematics

Highfield Functional Skills Qualification in Mathematics at Level 2 (Reformed)

Key Stage 4

Understand the qualifications available to students at Key Stage 4.

Post-16 Level 3

Understand the qualifications available to students at level 3 post-16.