Functional Skills: Past paper with

commentary

Mathematics Level 2
April 2014
Introduction
This document has been created in order to support practitioners and students in their
preparation for Functional Skills Level 2 Mathematics assessments.

The questions contained in this document have been previously used in a live assessment.
The content, therefore, is of comparable demand to our current live assessments and meets
all of the Ofqual skills standards and criteria for Maths Level 2.

This document can be used on its own or in conjunction with the online version of this
assessment which is available on SQAs website:
https://www.sqa.org.uk/sqa/64681.4251.html

The aim of this document is to provide examples of the type of questions learners will be
presented with when they undertake Functional Skills Maths assessments. For each
question problem solving steps and candidate advice has been supplied in order to support
learners in their preparation for assessment.
Question 1

Problem solving steps

Work out the area of the walls and ceilings

Take away the area of the window and door
The result is the area to be painted
You need three coats of paint so multiply the area to be
painted by 3
1 litre will cover 13m2; divide area to be painted by 13
Paint is purchased in units of litres or litres
Adjust your answer (round it) remembering that you
need to buy more rather than less

Advice for candidates

There are four walls (two of which cannot be seen in the
drawing) and a ceiling to be painted
Area is worked out by multiplying the two dimensions
Marking scheme together

2(2.4x1.8)+2(1.9x1.8)+(2.4x1.9)
Analyse Work out area of walls and ceiling = 8.64+6.84+4.56=20.04 2 marks
1.6+1.5=3.1
Interpret Take away area of door and window 20.043.1=16.94 1 mark
2
Analyse Calculate the area painted (3 coats) 3x16.94=50.82(m ) 1 mark
2
Interpret Calculate paint (13m /litre) 50.8213=3.91 litres 1 mark
Interpret Conclusion Need to buy 4 litres of paint 1 mark Total 6 marks
Question 2 Problem solving steps

Work out area of carpet needed (it only comes in 4m

widths)
Calculate carpet cost (round answer if needed)
Work out area of underlay
Calculate underlay cost (round answer if needed)
Calculate length of gripper and how many packs
needed
Calculate cost of gripper

Advice for candidates

Carpet and underlay is sold by area
Area is worked out by multiplying the 2 dimensions
Marking scheme together
Carpet only comes in 4m widths
Gripper is sold by length, it goes around the edge of
the room
The answers to this question are money values,
Marking scheme make sure answer is rounded to nearest penny

2
1.9 x 4=7.6m
7.6x9.5=()72.88
Represent Work out carpet cost 2 marks
Represent Work out underlay cost 2.4x1.9x2.99=()13.63 1 mark
Length needed =
(2x2.4)+(2x1.9)=8.6(m)
8.6<12.21 so 1 pack =()6.99
Interpret Work out gripper cost 2 marks
Analyse Total cost 72.88+13.63+6.99=93.50 1 mark Total 6 marks
 Question 3
Problem solving steps

Find the original cost of everything you are buying, then

apply the sale offer
Look at your answer, as the discount is about 1/3. Your
answer should be around 2/3 of the original total
Work out what deposit you will need
Work out how much is left to pay after you have paid the
deposit and spread this over six months

Advice for candidates

This can be worked out in two different ways, both of
which reach the same result, i.e. you can calculate 70%
of the original price to get the sale price, or calculate
30% of the original price and subtract this from the
original price to get the sale price
Remember, if you buy a number of things together in a
shop they are most likely to add everything up before
doing any calculations
Make sure that your answers are shown with a sign
and decimal point (followed by two decimal places)
Marking scheme

Analyse Overall cost of items 340+289+85=()714 1 mark

714x0.7=()499.80

Represent Take off 30% or 714-(714x0.3)=()499.80 1 mark

Analyse Calculate deposit 499.8x0.15=74.97 1 mark
Interpret Calculate monthly payments (499.8-74.97)6=70.81 1 mark Total 4 marks
Question 4
Problem solving steps (4a)

Complete the Watt hours used / day column of the

table

Problem solving steps (4b)

Use the total of the Watt hours used / day column to

find out the number of KWh used each day
Calculate the total cost for one year (365 days)

Problem solving steps (4c)

Use the answer to Q4b and calculate saving (80%)

Advice for candidates

Remember to convert from Watt hours to KWh
Marking scheme Remember that some of the figures are in pence,
convert to if needed
4a) Energy saving bulbs would only use 20% of the energy
so they will save 80%
Represent Complete table
The answer to this question is a money value
You must have a sign and two figures after the
Watt hours used / decimal point (pence)
day
990
b)
180
60
138
1368 Total 1 mark
c)
Interpret Calculation 21.47x0.8 1 mark
Analyse Result of calculation 17.18 1 mark
Total 2 marks
Question 5
Problem solving steps (5a)

Add the four quarterly bills together

Apply the saving
Check your answer makes sense, the saving should be
around 1/3 of the original figure

Problem solving steps (5b)

Work out the saving for each quarter

Continually add the savings until you reach the cost of
insulation
Advice for candidates (5a)
Read the question and make sure you are using the
correct figures. This question refers to the saving (on
quarterly bills)
Make sure that your answer is shown with a sign and
Marking scheme 5a) decimal point (followed by two decimal places)

Analyse Cost without insulation 83+44+75+176=()378 1 mark Advice for candidates (5b)
Represent Calculate saving 378x0.3= 1 mark Remember that for your answer to make sense, you
Represent Saving 113.40 1 mark must include a quarter and year in your answer
Total 3 marks
b)

th
Interpret Pay back within 8 quarter / winter in year 2 1 mark

Total 1 mark
Question 6

Marking scheme

a)

Basicenergy Standardenergy Doubleenergy b)

1000 kWh 42.9 48(.00) 45.91

Interpret Basicenergy 1 mark
3000 kWh 128.7 114(.00) 115.91
Total 4 marks Total 1 mark
c)
All six values correct 4 marks (Represent)
or 5 values correct 3 marks (Represent) Interpret Standardenergy 1 mark
or 4 values correct 2 marks (Represent)
or 3 values correct 1 mark (Represent) Total 1 mark
 Question 7
Problem solving steps

Work out how many hours over a year

Work out how many kWh
Work out the cost

Advice for candidates

Think logically
Remember that the cost is in pence, convert to if
needed
Make sure that your answer is shown with a sign and
decimal point (followed by two decimal places)

Marking scheme

Represent Know how to multiply 1 mark

Analyse Calculation 3.25x4.29100x0.5x365 1 mark
Total 3 marks
Interpret Result 25.45 1 mark
Question 8

Problem solving steps

Work out how many round tables you could get in the
room
How many people will be able to sit at these tables?
Work out how many rectangle tables you could get in
the room. How many people could sit at these tables?
Identify best type of table to use and why

Advice for candidates

Remember to add the seating space to all sides of the
table, so the round tables will be 2.8m at their widest
point and the rectangular tables will be 1.95m by 3.0m
Make sure you give your answer fully by giving your
Marking scheme choice of table and a reason for your choice based on
your calculations

Marking scheme

Represent Add space at both ends 1 mark

Represent Round would fit 3x2=6 not enough 1 mark
Interpret Rectangle would fit 4x2=8 in one direction 1 mark
Rectangle would fit 3x3=9 in one direction
Analyse Make selection For cost choose 4x2 as only 8 tables needed 1 mark Total 4 marks
Question 9

Problem solving steps

Work out the minimum number of sandwiches, cakes

and crisps you will need
Sandwiches come on plates of 12, how many plates will
you need?
Using the ratio given, work out how many plates of each
sandwich are needed
Cakes come in trays of 24 and crisps in boxes of 48,
how many will you need?
Work out the total cost of everything you need
Work out the average cost per person of everything you
need

Advice for candidates

Marking scheme Remember you cannot buy part plates, trays or boxes,
and you cannot buy less than the minimum you need
All five correct Make sure that your answers are shown in and
e.g. 6x60+360 sandwiches, decimal point (followed by two decimal places)
divide by 12 = 30 plates
30 in ratio 3:2:1 = 15:10:5
Cost chicken = 15x1.6=24
Cost Ham = 10x1.50=15 15 Chicken 24(.00)
Cost Cheese = 5x1.40=36 10 Ham 15(.00)
Cost Cakes =4x9=36
5 Cheese 7(.00)
Interpret Correct list Cost Crisps =2x16=32 2 marks
4 Cakes 36(.00)
1 mark for four correct
2 Crisps 32(.00)
Analyse Correct amounts 24+15+7+36+32=114(.00) 1 mark
Represent Correct average 11460=1.90(per person) 1 mark

Total 4 marks
Question 10

Problem solving steps

Calculate the number of tickets that will be given out

How many tickets will Jim be given?
What is the probability that a ticket given to Jim will be
picked out of all the tickets given out?

Advice for candidates

Probability can be shown as a %, as a fraction (in its
simplest form) or as a decimal

Marking scheme

Interpret Know to use mean x number 1 mark

Analyse Work out tickets 21x60=1260 1 mark
Represent Chance for a 30 year old 30 1 mark
Represent Probability 301260=1/42 or 0.024 or 2.4% 1 mark
Total 4 marks
Question 11

Problem solving steps

Convert 3 hours into minutes

Calculate the average length of a track
Using average track length, calculate how many tracks
will be needed for party
Reach conclusion as asked with explanation

Advice for candidates

There are a number of ways you could work out this
question, make sure that the way you chose is
reasonable and shows common sense
Remember how many minutes there are in an hour
Make sure that you answer the question (yes or no) with
.
an explanation

Marking scheme

Analyse Any sensible explanation including correct 1 mark

calculations involving either minimum,
Interpret 1 mark
maximum or average track length. For
Interpret example: 1 mark
3 x 60 = 180 minutes Total 3 marks
2.5 x 70 = 175 minutes
70 tracks would be enough. You
would need at least 5 tracks of
3.5 mins and the rest 2.5mins to
make up the 3 hours.
Question 12

Problem solving steps

Add up the cost of the extras

Work out the maximum cost you can afford for a flight
Which dates (from 22nd May onwards) can you afford to fly?

Advice for candidates

Make sure you answer the question, although you will have
to do (and show) some calculations. The final answer
needed is a set of dates

Marking scheme

Represent Add extras 15+18+22+35=()90(.00) 1 mark

Analyse Calculate max flight 400-90=()310(.00) 1 mark
cost
Interpret Make choice 22nd to 31st May 1 mark Total 3 marks
 Question 13

Problem solving steps (13a)

Work out the total of the full holiday costs

Divide by 12 to find amount to be saved each month

Problem solving steps (13b)

You have 9 months left to make up the amount that you

have spent
Work out how much extra you will need to save for each of
the 9 months to make this up
Add to the original monthly figure (from 13a)
Round up to the nearest 50p

Advice for candidates (13a)

Marking scheme a) The answer to this question is a money value

You must have a sign and two figures after the decimal
Analyse Total costs 400+70+80+200=()750(.00) 1 mark point (pence)
Analyse Calculate monthly 75012=62.50 1 mark Advice for candidates (13b)
amount
Total 2 marks This can be worked out in two different ways, both of which
give the same answer
b) Do not forget to round the answer as you have been asked
The answer to this question is a money value
Analyse Monthly extra 80/9=()8.88 1 mark You must have a sign and two figures after the decimal
Represent Revised monthly figure 8.88+62.5=71.38 rounds to 1 mark point (pence)
Question 14 71.50 OR
62.50x3=187.50
750-187.50=562.50
562.50=80=642.50
642.50/9=71.39, round to
71.50

Total 2 marks
 Question 14
Problem solving steps (14a)

Take time breakfast will finish

What is the first available bus?
Allow time to walk to the bus stop

Problem solving steps (14b)

Dinner time
Allow time to get ready
Allow time to walk from bus stop at the resort
Allow time for bus journey
What is the latest available bus?

Problem solving steps (14c)

What time would the earliest bus get back to the

waterpark?
Marking scheme What time bus do you have to get to be back in time for
a) dinner?
How long is there between arriving at the waterpark and
Represent Earliest bus 8.00am + 30 minutes +18 minutes =8.48am getting back to the resort?
First available bus 9.00am (1 mark)
Total 1 mark
Candidate advice (14a)
b) Remember to show time as either am/pm (e.g. 9.02am) or
Represent Work back from dinner 8.00pm 20 minutes 65 minutes 18 minutes = using the 24hr system (09:02)
6.17(pm) (1 mark)
Analyse First available bus 6.15pm (1 mark) Candidate advice (14b)
Total 2 marks Remember how many minutes there are in an hour
c)
Candidate advice (14c)
Interpret Add travel time to answer(a) answer(b)
= 8hours 10 minutes The answer to this question should be in hours and
Allow follow through from incorrect answers at (a) and/or (b)
minutes

Total 1 mark