Short answer: yes.
If the idea of dragging your teen to a test centre makes your stomach drop, there’s good news. Several exam boards now offer Functional Skills exams that can be taken online from home.
Here’s how it works.
Which exams can be taken at home?
Pearson Edexcel offers online, on-demand Functional Skills exams in both Maths and English at Level 1 and Level 2. Some providers also offer Entry Level 3 remotely.
The exam is invigilated — someone watches via your teen’s webcam to make sure it’s legit. Same rules as an in-person exam, just from the kitchen table instead of a test centre.
What you need
A computer or laptop with a webcam and microphone. A stable internet connection. A quiet room where your teen won’t be interrupted.
That’s it. No special software to buy. The exam provider sends everything beforehand.
How to book
You don’t book directly with the exam board. You book through an approved test centre, even if the exam is taken at home. The test centre handles registration and invigilation.
Some centres to look at: English and Maths (englishandmaths.com), Pass Functional Skills (passfunctionalskills.co.uk), and local colleges that offer remote exam options.
Exam fees are usually £50-150 depending on the provider and level.
What if they prefer in-person?
Test centres are everywhere. Most run exams weekly or fortnightly. Your teen walks in, sits the exam, and walks out. Results come back within a few weeks.
No big deal either way. The qualification is identical regardless of where they sit the exam.
How to prepare
The exam tests practical skills — the kind of maths and English people use in real life. Reading a train timetable. Writing a formal email. Working out percentages on a bill.
Your teen needs practice with these specific question types. Generic revision doesn’t cut it — Functional Skills exams have their own format and style.
Our prep packs are built specifically for this. Each one includes 5 mock tests that mirror the real exam format, a 200-question workbook, and a study guide. The mock tests mark themselves, so your teen gets instant feedback without you having to teach them.
The bigger picture
The “at home” option removes one of the biggest barriers for NEET teens. No bus to catch. No unfamiliar building. No sitting in a room full of strangers.
They prepare at home. They take the exam at home. They get a nationally recognised qualification without leaving the house.
For a lot of teens, that’s the difference between doing it and not.