Maths qualifications for apprenticeships
Updated 31 July 2025
Applies to England
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This publication is available at https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/english-and-maths-requirements-in-apprenticeship-standards-at-level-2-and-above/maths-qualifications-for-apprenticeships
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 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 mathematics in the title | G or 1 |
| 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 number |
Pass |
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 mathematics (pilot) | Additional mathematics | C |
| 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.
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.