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Guidance
Maths qualifications for
apprenticeships
Updated 4 August 2025
Applies to England
Apprentices aged 16 to 18 at the start of their training are required to achieve a
maths qualification to complete their apprenticeship, if they do not already hold a
suitable equivalent qualification. Apprentices who do not already hold a suitable
equivalent qualification in maths are funded to achieve up to an approved level 2
qualification in this subject.
Apprentices aged 19 and over at the start of their training can also be funded to
study up to an approved level 2 qualification in maths, if they do not already hold a
suitable equivalent qualification and their employer agrees that this should be part of
their training plan.
Further information is set out in the apprenticeship funding rules.
This guidance sets out which qualifications or evidence are accepted as a suitable
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Maths in level 2 apprenticeships
Maths in apprenticeships at level 3 to 7
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equivalent qualification. Apprentices who already hold  suitable equivalent
qualifications are not eligible for funding for maths qualifications under the
apprenticeship funding rules.  
Only the qualifications described are acceptable equivalents for maths in an
apprenticeship. This means if a qualification is not included in the published list,
apprentices aged 16 to 18 at the start of their apprenticeship will still need to meet
the minimum maths requirements set out in the funding rules.
Maths in level 2 apprenticeships
The UK qualifications listed in this section are acceptable equivalents for maths in a
level 2 apprenticeship, as long as the apprentice has met or exceeded the minimum
grade requirement for the qualification.
Qualifications from England
Qualification type Subject title for
maths
Minimum acceptable
grade
GCSE Any GCSE with
mathematics in the
title
1 if awarded from 2017
onwards, G if awarded
before 2017
Functional skills level 1 (must
be regulated by Ofqual)
Mathematics Pass
A level Any A level with
mathematics in the
title
E if awarded from 1986,
ordinary grade if awarded
before 1986
AS level Any AS level with
mathematics in the
title
E
International GCSE (iGCSE) Any international
GCSE with
G or 1
mathematics in the
title
Level 1 or 2 certificates Mathematics G or 1
Level 1 or 2 GCSE in
additional mathematics (pilot)
Additional
mathematics
G
Core maths level 3 (where
included in performance
tables)
Mathematical studies
Using and applying
mathematics 
Quantitative problem
solving 
Quantitative
reasoning 
Mathematics in
context 
Mathematics for
work and life
E
Pre-U certificate Mathematics 
Further mathematics
P3
IBO middle years programme
level 1 or 2 certificate
Mathematics 
Further mathematics
1
International baccalaureate
diploma
Standard, subsidiary
or higher
qualification in:
Mathematical studies
Mathematics 
Further mathematics 
Mathematical
methods 
Mathematics:
applications and
interpretation 
Mathematics:
analysis and
approaches
3
Free-standing mathematics
level 2
Foundations of
advanced
mathematics
E
Certificate of secondary
education (CSE)
Mathematics 
Arithmetic
2 or 3
Key skills level 1 (qualification
or units)
Application of
number (numeracy)
Pass
Basic skills certificates level 1 Certificate in adult
numeracy
Pass
Access to higher education
diploma (awarded up to the
end of July 2014)
Maths units Minimum of 12 credits for
maths at level 2
International certificate of
Christian education (general or
advanced)
Mathematics E
European baccalaureate Elementary (3
period) mathematics 
Standard (5-period)
mathematics 
Advanced
mathematics
5.00
O level Mathematics E (if achieved from 1975
onwards)
- - Pass (if achieved before
1975)
Qualifications from other UK nations
You can find more detailed information about Scottish qualifications in the English
and maths requirements in apprenticeships guidance.
Qualification type Subject title for
maths
Minimum acceptable grade
Essential skills (Northern
Ireland) level 1
Application of
number
Pass
Scottish advanced higher
(SCQF level 7)
Mathematics D
Scottish higher (SCQF level 6) Mathematics D
Scottish ordinary grade
(SCQF level 5)
Mathematics 
Arithmetic
D or 4 (where achieved
between 1962 and 1990)
Scottish national 5 (SCQF
level 5)
Mathematics 
Life skills
mathematics 
Application of
mathematics
D
Scottish national 4 (SCQF
level 4)
Mathematics 
Life skills
mathematics 
Application of
mathematics
Pass
Scottish intermediate 1
(SCQF level 4)
Mathematics D
Scottish standard grade
(general) (SCQF level 4)
Mathematics 4
Scottish core skill unit (SCQF
level 4)
Numeracy Pass
Scottish workplace core skills
unit (SCQF level 4)
Numeracy Pass
Scottish national unit (SCQF
level 4)
Numeracy 
Mathematics
Pass
Essential skills (Wales) Level
1
Application of
number skills 
Application of
Pass
Application of
number
Maths in apprenticeships at level 3 to 7
The UK qualifications listed below are acceptable equivalents for maths in an
apprenticeship at level 3 to 7, as long as the apprentice has met or exceeded the
minimum grade requirement for the qualification.
Qualifications from England
Qualification type Subject title for
maths
Minimum acceptable
grade
GCSE Any GCSE with
mathematics in the
title
4 if awarded from 2017
onwards, C if awarded
before 2017
Functional skills level 2 (must
be regulated by Ofqual)
Mathematics Pass
A level Any A level with
mathematics in the
title
E if awarded from 1986,
ordinary grade if awarded
before 1986
AS level Any AS level with
mathematics in the
title
E
International GCSE (iGCSE) Any international
GCSE with
mathematics in the
title
C or 4
Level 1 or 2 certificates Mathematics C or 4
Level 1 or 2 GCSE in Additional C
additional mathematics (pilot) mathematics
Core maths level 3 (where
included in performance
tables)
Mathematical studies
Using and applying
mathematics 
Quantitative problem
solving 
Quantitative
reasoning 
Mathematics in
context 
Mathematics for
work and life
E
Pre-U certificate Mathematics 
Further mathematics
P3
IBO middle years programme
level 1 or  2 certificate
Mathematics 
Further mathematics
3
International baccalaureate
diploma
Standard, subsidiary
or higher
qualification in:
Mathematical studies
Mathematics 
Further mathematics 
Mathematical
methods 
Mathematics:
applications and
interpretation 
Mathematics:
analysis and
approaches
3
Free-standing mathematics
level 2
Foundations of
advanced
mathematics
C
Certificate of secondary
education (CSE)
Mathematics 
Arithmetic
1
Key skills level 1 (qualification
or units)
Application of
number (numeracy)
Pass
Basic skills certificates level 1 Certificate in adult
numeracy
Pass
Access to higher education
diploma (awarded up to the
end of July 2014)
Maths units Minimum of 12 credits for
maths at level 2
International certificate of
Christian education (general or
advanced)
Mathematics E
European baccalaureate Elementary (3
period) mathematics 
Standard (5-period)
mathematics 
Advanced
mathematics
5.00
O level Mathematics C (if achieved from 1975
onwards)
- - Pass (if achieved before
1975)
Qualifications from other UK nations
You can find more detailed information about Scottish qualifications in the English
and maths requirements in apprenticeships guidance.
Qualification type Subject title for
maths
Minimum acceptable grade
Essential skills (Northern
Ireland) level 2
Application of
number
Pass
Scottish advanced higher
(SCQF level 7)
Mathematics C
Scottish higher (SCQF level 6) Mathematics C
Scottish ordinary grade (SCQF
level 5)
Mathematics 
Arithmetic
C (where achieved between
1962 and 1990)
Scottish national 5 (SCQF level
5)
Mathematics 
Life skills
mathematics 
Application of
mathematics
C
Scottish intermediate 2 (SCQF
level 5)
Mathematics C
Scottish standard grade (credit)
(SCQF level 5)
Mathematics 2
Scottish core skill unit (SCQF
level 5)
Numeracy Pass
Scottish workplace core skills
unit (SCQF level 5)
Numeracy Pass
Scottish national unit (SCQF
level 5)
Numeracy 
Mathematics
Pass
Essential skills (Wales) Level 2 Application of
number skills 
Application of
number
Pass
Help and support
You can find more information about the maths requirements in the apprenticeship
funding rules.
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We do not provide a service to check and validate if qualifications, certificates or
documents meet the requirements to be an acceptable equivalent for an
apprenticeship. Apprenticeship providers or end-point assessment organisations
are responsible for ensuring that an apprentice’s evidence of achieving maths
equivalent qualifications is valid and acceptable, using this guidance.
If you are an apprentice and you have a query about the maths requirements for your
apprenticeship, please discuss your situation with your apprenticeship training
provider in the first instance.  If they are unable to support you, you can email
nationalhelpdesk@apprenticeships.gov.uk or call 0800 0150 400.
If you are an employer, apprenticeship provider, or an apprenticeship endpoint
assessment organisation and you have queries about the maths requirements for
apprenticeships, contact our apprenticeship service support by email on
helpdesk@manage-apprenticeships.service.gov.uk or call on 0800 0150 600.
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