Essential Skills (Northern Ireland) (4800)

Last Updated: 04 Jun 2024
Fundamental applied skills in Application of Number, Communication and ICT help learners in Northern Ireland function effectively and progress in work, further learning and general life.

Essential Skills qualifications are intended for learners in Northern Ireland wanting to improve their numeracy, literacy or ICT skills.
Available to deliver in the following:
  • Northern Ireland

Interested in delivering this qualification?

Find out more about how to become an approved City & Guilds centre or fill out our online customer application form. 

General Information

What Is Involved In Studying This Course?

Essential Skills (NI) will help you to improve your: 

  • working with numbers
  • reading, writing, speaking and listening
  • using technology.

You'll learn how to use these skills in real-life situations and undergo a supervised assessment at the end of your course.

What Careers Can This Lead To?
Essential Skills qualifications can help you in all jobs, as well as in learning and day-to-day life.
What Is Involved With Delivering This Course?
Essential Skills qualifications can be completed in a range of settings, often alongside other qualifications.

At Entry Level (Adult Literacy and Adult Numeracy), learners complete an approved assessment task.  As well as a range of live Entry level task titles, a set of sample Entry level tasks is also available.

At Level 1 and Level 2 (Application of Number and Communication), learners complete an end assessment that is externally set and marked by City & Guilds. To access sample assessments, please click on the 'Documents' tab, above, and select the relevant level.

For ICT at Level 1 and Level 2, learners complete a portfolio of evidence; details of the standards and evidence requirements can be found in the Essential Skills qualifications' handbook.

All internal assessments within this suite of qualifications are subject to a process of internal and external quality assurance.

Further guidance on the teaching and learning requirements for Essential Skills can also be found on the NI Department for the Economy (DfE) website.

Entry 1

Qualifications are available in
  • Adult Literacy
  • Adult Numeracy
What Careers Can This Lead To?
Essential Skills qualifications can help you in all jobs, as well as in learning and day-to-day life.
Essential Skills qualifications in Communication and Literacy (4800-40)
Last Registration Date: 31 Aug 2026

Entry Level Certificate in Essential Skills - Adult Literacy (Entry 1)

  • Accreditation No: 600/7131/X This is a reference number related to UK accreditation framework
  • Type: General Education This is categorisation to help define qualification attributes e.g. type of assessment
  • Credits: Data unavailable Credits are a measure of the size of the qualification
  • Guided Learning Hours: 40 - 40 This is the average contact time a centre would typically commit
  • Total Qualification Time: 60 The total time for the qualification
  • Key Stage: Data unavailable This shows the equivalent Key Stage level.
  • Last Certification: 31/08/2028 This is the last date that a certificate can be issued
  • Qualification fees in the UK: £9.40 Our typical price is the one that is most often paid by a centre for a completed learner. Some prices are made up of multiple charging points so action like taking difference units or specialisms to complete and resitting assessments may mean the cost for some learners differs.
Essential Skills qualifications in Application of Number and Numeracy (4800-50)
Last Registration Date: 31 Aug 2026

Entry Level Certificate in Essential Skills - Adult Numeracy (Entry 1)

  • Accreditation No: 600/7132/1 This is a reference number related to UK accreditation framework
  • Type: General Education This is categorisation to help define qualification attributes e.g. type of assessment
  • Credits: Data unavailable Credits are a measure of the size of the qualification
  • Guided Learning Hours: 40 - 40 This is the average contact time a centre would typically commit
  • Total Qualification Time: 42 The total time for the qualification
  • Key Stage: Data unavailable This shows the equivalent Key Stage level.
  • Last Certification: 31/08/2028 This is the last date that a certificate can be issued
  • Qualification fees in the UK: £9.40 Our typical price is the one that is most often paid by a centre for a completed learner. Some prices are made up of multiple charging points so action like taking difference units or specialisms to complete and resitting assessments may mean the cost for some learners differs.

Entry 2

Qualifications are available in
  • Adult Literacy
  • Adult Numeracy
What Careers Can This Lead To?
Essential Skills qualifications can help you in all jobs, as well as in learning and day-to-day life.
Essential Skills qualifications in Communication and Literacy (4800-40)
Last Registration Date: 31 Aug 2026

Entry Level Certificate in Essential Skills - Adult Literacy (Entry 2)

  • Accreditation No: 600/7131/X This is a reference number related to UK accreditation framework
  • Type: General Education This is categorisation to help define qualification attributes e.g. type of assessment
  • Credits: Data unavailable Credits are a measure of the size of the qualification
  • Guided Learning Hours: 40 - 40 This is the average contact time a centre would typically commit
  • Total Qualification Time: 60 The total time for the qualification
  • Key Stage: Data unavailable This shows the equivalent Key Stage level.
  • Last Certification: 31/08/2028 This is the last date that a certificate can be issued
  • Qualification fees in the UK: £9.40 Our typical price is the one that is most often paid by a centre for a completed learner. Some prices are made up of multiple charging points so action like taking difference units or specialisms to complete and resitting assessments may mean the cost for some learners differs.
Essential Skills qualifications in Application of Number and Numeracy (4800-50)
Last Registration Date: 31 Aug 2026

Entry Level Certificate in Essential Skills - Adult Numeracy (Entry 2)

  • Accreditation No: 600/7132/1 This is a reference number related to UK accreditation framework
  • Type: General Education This is categorisation to help define qualification attributes e.g. type of assessment
  • Credits: Data unavailable Credits are a measure of the size of the qualification
  • Guided Learning Hours: 40 - 40 This is the average contact time a centre would typically commit
  • Total Qualification Time: 42 The total time for the qualification
  • Key Stage: Data unavailable This shows the equivalent Key Stage level.
  • Last Certification: 31/08/2028 This is the last date that a certificate can be issued
  • Qualification fees in the UK: £9.40 Our typical price is the one that is most often paid by a centre for a completed learner. Some prices are made up of multiple charging points so action like taking difference units or specialisms to complete and resitting assessments may mean the cost for some learners differs.

Entry 3

Qualifications are available in
  • Adult Literacy
  • Adult Numeracy
What Careers Can This Lead To?
Essential Skills qualifications can help you in all jobs, as well as in learning and day-to-day life.
Essential Skills qualifications in Communication and Literacy (4800-40)
Last Registration Date: 31 Aug 2026

Entry Level Certificate in Essential Skills - Adult Literacy (Entry 3)

  • Accreditation No: 600/7131/X This is a reference number related to UK accreditation framework
  • Type: General Education This is categorisation to help define qualification attributes e.g. type of assessment
  • Credits: Data unavailable Credits are a measure of the size of the qualification
  • Guided Learning Hours: 40 - 40 This is the average contact time a centre would typically commit
  • Total Qualification Time: 40 The total time for the qualification
  • Key Stage: Data unavailable This shows the equivalent Key Stage level.
  • Last Certification: 31/08/2028 This is the last date that a certificate can be issued
  • Qualification fees in the UK: £9.40 Our typical price is the one that is most often paid by a centre for a completed learner. Some prices are made up of multiple charging points so action like taking difference units or specialisms to complete and resitting assessments may mean the cost for some learners differs.
Essential Skills qualifications in Application of Number and Numeracy (4800-50)
Last Registration Date: 31 Aug 2026

Entry Level Certificate in Essential Skills - Adult Numeracy (Entry 3)

  • Accreditation No: 600/7132/1 This is a reference number related to UK accreditation framework
  • Type: General Education This is categorisation to help define qualification attributes e.g. type of assessment
  • Credits: Data unavailable Credits are a measure of the size of the qualification
  • Guided Learning Hours: 40 - 40 This is the average contact time a centre would typically commit
  • Total Qualification Time: 42 The total time for the qualification
  • Key Stage: Data unavailable This shows the equivalent Key Stage level.
  • Last Certification: 31/08/2028 This is the last date that a certificate can be issued
  • Qualification fees in the UK: £9.40 Our typical price is the one that is most often paid by a centre for a completed learner. Some prices are made up of multiple charging points so action like taking difference units or specialisms to complete and resitting assessments may mean the cost for some learners differs.

Level 1

Qualifications are available in
  • Communication
  • Application of Number
  • Information and Communication Technology (ICT)
What Careers Can This Lead To?
Essential Skills qualifications can help you in all jobs, as well as in learning and day-to-day life.
Essential Skills qualifications in Communication and Literacy (4800-40)
Last Registration Date: 31 Aug 2026

Level 1 Certificate in Essential Skills - Communication

  • Accreditation No: 603/0424/8 This is a reference number related to UK accreditation framework
  • Type: General Education This is categorisation to help define qualification attributes e.g. type of assessment
  • Credits: Data unavailable Credits are a measure of the size of the qualification
  • Guided Learning Hours: 45 - 45 This is the average contact time a centre would typically commit
  • Total Qualification Time: 60 The total time for the qualification
  • Key Stage: Data unavailable This shows the equivalent Key Stage level.
  • Last Certification: 31/08/2028 This is the last date that a certificate can be issued
  • Qualification fees in the UK: £18.70 Our typical price is the one that is most often paid by a centre for a completed learner. Some prices are made up of multiple charging points so action like taking difference units or specialisms to complete and resitting assessments may mean the cost for some learners differs.
Essential Skills qualifications in Application of Number and Numeracy (4800-50)
Last Registration Date: 31 Aug 2026

Level 1 Certificate in Essential Skills - Application of Number

  • Accreditation No: 603/0398/0 This is a reference number related to UK accreditation framework
  • Type: General Education This is categorisation to help define qualification attributes e.g. type of assessment
  • Credits: Data unavailable Credits are a measure of the size of the qualification
  • Guided Learning Hours: 45 - 45 This is the average contact time a centre would typically commit
  • Total Qualification Time: 60 The total time for the qualification
  • Key Stage: Data unavailable This shows the equivalent Key Stage level.
  • Last Certification: 31/08/2028 This is the last date that a certificate can be issued
  • Qualification fees in the UK: £18.70 Our typical price is the one that is most often paid by a centre for a completed learner. Some prices are made up of multiple charging points so action like taking difference units or specialisms to complete and resitting assessments may mean the cost for some learners differs.
Essential Skills qualifications in Information and Communication Technology (4800-60)
Last Registration Date: 31 Aug 2025

Level 1 Certificate in Essential Skills - Information and Communication Technology

  • Accreditation No: 500/5322/X This is a reference number related to UK accreditation framework
  • Type: General Education This is categorisation to help define qualification attributes e.g. type of assessment
  • Credits: Data unavailable Credits are a measure of the size of the qualification
  • Guided Learning Hours: 40 - 40 This is the average contact time a centre would typically commit
  • Total Qualification Time: 44 The total time for the qualification
  • Key Stage: Data unavailable This shows the equivalent Key Stage level.
  • Last Certification: 31/08/2027 This is the last date that a certificate can be issued
  • Qualification fees in the UK: £10.00 Our typical price is the one that is most often paid by a centre for a completed learner. Some prices are made up of multiple charging points so action like taking difference units or specialisms to complete and resitting assessments may mean the cost for some learners differs.

Level 2

Qualifications are available in
  • Communication
  • Application of Number
  • Information and Communication Technology (ICT)
What Careers Can This Lead To?
Essential Skills qualifications can help you in all jobs, as well as in learning and day-to-day life.
Essential Skills qualifications in Communication and Literacy (4800-40)
Last Registration Date: 31 Aug 2026

Level 2 Certificate in Essential Skills - Communication

  • Accreditation No: 603/0425/X This is a reference number related to UK accreditation framework
  • Type: General Education This is categorisation to help define qualification attributes e.g. type of assessment
  • Credits: Data unavailable Credits are a measure of the size of the qualification
  • Guided Learning Hours: 45 - 45 This is the average contact time a centre would typically commit
  • Total Qualification Time: 60 The total time for the qualification
  • Key Stage: Data unavailable This shows the equivalent Key Stage level.
  • Last Certification: 31/08/2028 This is the last date that a certificate can be issued
  • Qualification fees in the UK: £18.70 Our typical price is the one that is most often paid by a centre for a completed learner. Some prices are made up of multiple charging points so action like taking difference units or specialisms to complete and resitting assessments may mean the cost for some learners differs.
Essential Skills qualifications in Application of Number and Numeracy (4800-50)
Last Registration Date: 31 Aug 2026

Level 2 Certificate in Essential Skills - Application of Number

  • Accreditation No: 603/0397/9 This is a reference number related to UK accreditation framework
  • Type: General Education This is categorisation to help define qualification attributes e.g. type of assessment
  • Credits: Data unavailable Credits are a measure of the size of the qualification
  • Guided Learning Hours: 45 - 45 This is the average contact time a centre would typically commit
  • Total Qualification Time: 60 The total time for the qualification
  • Key Stage: Data unavailable This shows the equivalent Key Stage level.
  • Last Certification: 31/08/2028 This is the last date that a certificate can be issued
  • Qualification fees in the UK: £18.70 Our typical price is the one that is most often paid by a centre for a completed learner. Some prices are made up of multiple charging points so action like taking difference units or specialisms to complete and resitting assessments may mean the cost for some learners differs.
Essential Skills qualifications in Information and Communication Technology (4800-60)
Last Registration Date: 31 Aug 2025

Level 2 Certificate in Essential Skills - Information and Communication Technology

  • Accreditation No: 500/5201/9 This is a reference number related to UK accreditation framework
  • Type: General Education This is categorisation to help define qualification attributes e.g. type of assessment
  • Credits: Data unavailable Credits are a measure of the size of the qualification
  • Guided Learning Hours: 40 - 40 This is the average contact time a centre would typically commit
  • Total Qualification Time: 48 The total time for the qualification
  • Key Stage: Data unavailable This shows the equivalent Key Stage level.
  • Last Certification: 31/08/2027 This is the last date that a certificate can be issued
  • Qualification fees in the UK: £10.00 Our typical price is the one that is most often paid by a centre for a completed learner. Some prices are made up of multiple charging points so action like taking difference units or specialisms to complete and resitting assessments may mean the cost for some learners differs.

Here you can find all documents related to this suite of qualifications.

By clicking on the section headings below, you can access a variety of documents such as the qualification handbooks and assessment materials, Statements of Purpose, and recognition letters from industry and employers.

Some documents may be password protected. Passwords can be retrieved by logging in to Walled Garden and visiting the Administration section of the relevant qualification catalogue page.

Interested in delivering this qualification?

Find out more about how to become an approved City & Guilds centre or fill out our online customer application form. 

4800 Entry Level

Adult Literacy

Adult Numeracy

4800 Level 1

Assessment materials

Application of Number

Worked Examples AON Level 1

Communication

Examiner reports

Application of Number

Archive Chief Examiner reports

Communication

Archive Chief Examiner reports

4800 Level 2

Assessment materials

Application of Number

Worked examples AON Level 2

Communication

Examiner reports

Application of Number

Archive Chief Examiner reports

Communication

Archive Chief Examiner reports

Centre documents

Regulator documents

Covid-19 Adaptations

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