Overview
If you're planning to start an apprenticeship in the UK, you'll need to show that you have Level 2 qualifications in English and Maths. This is a government requirement that is necessary for participating in these programmes. This guide is designed to help you, an apprentice with Multiverse, understand how to submit the correct qualifications and make your apprenticeship journey as smooth as possible.
My evidence was rejected, does this mean I can't complete an apprenticeship?
Not necessarily! We'll support you to meet the government Functional Skills requirements if you've been accepted onto an apprenticeship programme and haven't been able to provide acceptable evidence. Review the guide below to see if there is an alternative form of evidence you could provide. If not, we'll support you to achieve these qualifications alongside your apprenticeship programme.
Types of Acceptable Evidence
Below is an overview of acceptable evidence of Level 2 Maths and English requirements. More detailed information can be found in the government guidance here.
Acceptable Evidence:
Full certificates or certified statements of results from the awarding organisation (exam board): Clear and detailed showing your qualification info.
Provisional results slips: These must include written confirmation that:
You did not undertake a resit.
You did not request any of the exam papers to be remarked.
Neither the school/college nor parent(s) requested a remark.
Official school reports pulled directly from a School Information Management System or Candidate Information Management System: These must be authenticated with a stamp and signed by the school's examination officer. The report must include your full name, full qualification name, the awarding organization name and/or qualification number, the awarded grade, and the date of achievement.
PLR - Personal Learning Records: Should comprehensively detail the qualification name, awarding organization, grade, and date of achievement.
Documents Not Accepted:
Certificates or results from exam boards not listed on the ESFA's acceptable evidence list (e.g., IELTS, ESOL, Level 2 Entry qualifications).
Cropped certificates.
Certificates that don't display grades.
Result slips from schools, unless they are stamped and signed SIMS/CMIS reports specifying the exam board and award date.
Any unclear or illegible certificates
Evidence of Name Change
If there is a mismatch between the name on your qualification documents and your current registered name, additional evidence is required. Acceptable documents include marriage certificates, deed polls, or legal declarations of name change.
UK Qualifications
Specific UK Qualifications We Accept:
GCSE: Any GCSE with ‘Maths’ or ‘English’ in the title (excluding English as a second language), minimum grade C or 4. Note: GCSE Equivalency qualifications are not accepted.
International GCSE: Same criteria as regular GCSE.
Functional Skills Level 2: Must include both English and Maths, with a passing grade.
Key Skills Level 2: Titles should include ‘Communication’ for literacy and ‘Application of Number’ for numeracy, with a passing grade.
A Levels and AS Levels: Must strictly have ‘English’ or ‘Maths’ in the title, with a minimum grade of E.
O Level: Needs ‘English’ or ‘Maths’ in the title, minimum grade C.
CSE: Only grade 1 is acceptable for English or Maths titles.
Degrees: Only those specifically named ‘English’ or ‘Mathematics’, not just containing those subjects as units.
International Baccalaureate: Only English A or A1; no other variants like A2 or B forms, with a minimum acceptable grade of 3.
International Qualifications
Got qualifications from outside the UK? We can usually accept international secondary school Maths qualifications. However, for English, the requirement is that it is studied as a first language. We check international qualifications against ECCTIS standards to ensure they're equivalent to UK standards.
Certificates with transcripts need to be translated and certified if from the following countries:
Greece
Ukraine
China
Russian
Bulgaria
Saudi Arabia
Frequently Asked Questions
What should I do if I have lost my maths or English certificate or cannot remember my exam board?
Check out this article which provides detailed guidance for locating lost certificates or evidence.
Why is university/degree/master's evidence rejected?
Government guidelines specify that only qualifications with Maths or English explicitly in the title are accepted. This is to meet government standards.
Why is my International evidence not recognised?
Verifying international qualifications can be tricky and depends on third-party evaluations such as ECCTIS. We’re here to help guide you through the verification process or towards completing any necessary exams.
What is a PLR?
A Personal Learning Record keeps track of any Maths and/or English qualifications you’ve obtained in the UK since 2012. It’s a handy way for us to verify your achievements digitally during or after your application.