BKSB
Functional Skills & GCSE
We provide organisations with the tools to significantly improve their learners’ English and maths achievement with user-friendly assessments and resources.

bksb is a global leader in creating EdTech products which improve English, maths and digital skills.
Our solutions are designed to meet the GCSE and Functional Skills criteria, but they are also suitable for almost any other skills improvement programme. bksb have been established for over 20 years, and their skills solutions are used by thousands of education providers and millions of learners around the world.
We understand and solve your key issues
We build products which are designed to solve our customers key challenges
- Learners' abilities unclear
If a learner does not have a recent qualification, it can be hard to ascertain their current level for English and maths.
- Breakdown of a learner’s skill
Not knowing your learners' individual ability profiles can make structuring and planning their learning difficult.
- Lack of interest from learners
Learners often don't see the point of English and maths, especially if they have signed up for a more practical vocational course.
- Difficult-to-manage learning
Tutors and managers struggle to manage learning which is suitable for a range of learners at different levels.
- Proof of progression
Organisations need to provide progression data for all of their learners for funding and inspection purposes.
Key capabilities
Initial Assessment
Diagnostic Assessment
Learning Resources
Progress Checks
Exam Practice
CAPABILITIES
More than just functional skills software
Learn more about the powerful features that sit within bksb
How our gcse & functional skills can help you
FEATURES & BENEFITS
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Functional Skills
Explore how bksb can improve your learner's Functional Skills
Functional Skills are the fundamental English, maths and ICT skills that people need for their working and personal lives. The platform is divided into five core areas designed to support the student through all key elements of their English and maths exams.
Initial Assessment
An intelligent online assessment that accurately identifies a learner’s current working level for English and maths. The Initial Assessment uses complex algorithms to select the most suitable questions for each learner.
Benefits
Written for the reformed functional skills standards
Identifies from Pre-Entry to Level 2
All learners have a bespoke set of questions
Accessible from the bksbLIVE 2 learning platform
Diagnostic assessment
When a learner completes the Diagnostic Assessments, designed to be taken after the Initial Assessment, in English and maths, it provides them with an accurate level for the elements of:
Accurate levels for
Reading, SPAG and writing
Number and Measure
Shape and space
Statistics and data
Additional benefits
Written for the reformed functional skills standards
Identifies from Pre-Entry to Level 2
All learners have a bespoke set of questions
Accessible from the bksbLIVE 2 learning platform
Learning Resources
After initial and diagnostic assessments, learners are sign-posted to relevant resources from their individual learning plan to work on skill gaps. This includes engaging content and exercises which can be accessed on any device.
Features & Benefits
Fully interactive and self marking
Provide the essential underpinning knowledge base for Functional English and maths
Suitable for tutor-led and independent learning – ideal for classroom, workshop, work-based and distance learning
In-depth tracking and reporting
Progress checks
Progress Checks evaluates a learner’s advancement at the end of a learning module. The results then link to the learner’s learning plan and reports. The checks are fully interactive and self-marking, giving learners immediate feedback.
Features & Benefits
Written for the reformed functional skills standards
Identifies from Pre-Entry to Level 2
All learners have a bespoke set of questions
Accessible from the bksbLIVE 2 learning platform
Exam practice
The final step in the process learners are given exam style practice questions to work through at their own pace, which can be accessed from the prepare section of the Functional Skills Reform course.
Features & Benefits
Interactive and self marking with rigorous assessment for learners
Two sets of exam practice at each level
Calculator and non-calculator practice for Maths
Review-answer feature for learners with guidance on timing in line with awarding body assessments
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GCSE
GCSE English and Maths
bksb’s online GCSE English Language and GCSE Maths courses have been created to support learners taking GCSE resits. These streamlined courses are designed to drive learner success and help providers to meet their targets for English and maths achievement.
GCSE Maths
Our GCSE solution for maths features a Diagnostic Assessment, engaging Learning Resources and Progress Checks to evidence progression.
Features & Benefits
Graded assessment: Pre-GCSE, 1-3, 4-5 or 6-9 (Higher Tier only)
3 levels of resources increasing in difficulty
5 modules: Number, Ratio, Geometry, Algebra, Probability and Statistics
Test your Knowledge Skill Checks: can be used at the beginning or end of the course
GCSE English Language
Our English Language course material is structured to the official exam style, explaining exactly what skills are needed, demonstrating how to apply them, and providing exam-style questions, tiered by difficulty.
Features & Benefits
Exam-focussed spelling, punctuation and grammar resources
The course is split into two different courses: one version suitable for students working towards AQA
The second version will be suitable for students working towards the new Pearson Lift GCSE English Language
Regardless of which board a student is studying with, bksb’s streamlined materials will help them to develop the skills they need.
GCSE English Literature
The bksb GCSE English Literature course provides a comprehensive review of the most popular texts. Tailored towards AQA’s requirements, yet meeting the needs of students using any exam board
Topics included in course
Author and Context
Plot summaries
Main characters
Main themes
Texts covered in course
(19th century) Frankenstein, A Christmas Carol, Jekyll and Hyde, The Sign of Four
(Post-1914) An Inspector Calls, Blood Brothers, Animal Farm, Lord of the Flies
(Shakespeare) Macbeth, Romeo and Juliet, Much Ado About Nothing, The Merchant of Venice
(Poetry) Love and Relationships, Power and Conflict
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Digital Skills
Our digital skills course introduces students to the digital world, from using everyday devices to solving technical issues.
Following a report from the DfE, it is estimated that 1 in 5 adults lack basic digital skills. Our two digital skills courses aim to improve this, with Essential Digital Skills helping adult learners improve their everyday skills, and Digital Functional Skills covering the skills needed for work and further study.
*NEW* Find out more about our Digital Functional Skills course.
Using devices and handling information
The rapid change in technology can be a daunting proposition for some people, our course teaches learners how to use all the latest devices as well as useful applications.
The course covers:
Hardware, software, operations systems and applications
Finding and evaluating information
Managing and storing information
Identifying and solving technical problems
Creating and editing
Creating and editing documents is a crucial skill to have in working life. Our course teaches the creation of key documents such as word documents, powerpoints, excel spreadsheets and more.
The course covers:
Creating and editing documents
Creating and editing digital media
Processing numerical data (L1 only)
Communicating
Effective communication online is growing in importance year on year so it is crucial that learners can do this with ease.
The course covers:
Communicating and sharing
Managing traceable online activities
Transacting
More and more shopping is done every single year online with this trend expected to increase. This course shows users how to purchase online safely and easily.
The course covers:
Buying online services
Buying securely online
Being safe and responsible online
Online safety is paramount to protecting all your personal information. This course will educate your learners about the importance of staying safe online.
The course covers:
Protecting privacy
Protecting data
Being responsible online
Digital wellbeing
CUSTOMERS
Who succeeds with us








IMPLEMENTATION
Welcoming you onboard

Step 1
Challenge
We get a better understanding of you and your business to drive your onboarding experience towards success.

Step 2
Planning
We build a plan of action for your journey to go-live with due dates and owners.

Step 3
Journey
Working through the action plan, we execute the plan with you and get you ready to adopt bksb.

Destination
Congratulations you’re live! This is where our Customer Success program really kick in to provide you more value and make sure you are maximising your chances of reaching your goals.
RESOURCES
Education resources that help you transform
Featured resources for you
WEBINAR
Connecting data through the learner journey
37 minutes
Following the 2021 acquisition of Smart Apprentices and bksb by Advanced, we are excited to share with you news of the first phase of integration between our class-leading education software solutions.
WEBINAR
How bksb could turbo-charge your English and Maths provision
50 minutes
A webinar discussing the various benefits that bksb can offer to improve your Organisation’s English and Maths provision.
WEBINAR
Utilising the power of bksb for a successful academic year
50 minutes
A webinar discussing how bksb can help your learner’s transform the way they learn English, Maths, functional and digital skills.
Book a demo today to find out how bksb can help you
Unleash the potential of your learners through the significant improvement of their functional skills!