Foundation English
WJEC Entry Level/Level 1 Foundation English is a two year, 120 guided learning hour course for learners aged 14 to 16 working at entry level, graded Entry 1 to Level 1 Pass, with a route on to GCSE English Language and Literature. Literacy is the whole qualification. Unit 1 tests reading short texts and functional writing, Unit 2 asks for a reading response, a functional piece and a short creative piece under high control, and Unit 3 assesses a researched presentation and a group discussion of a literary extract. Accuracy in spelling, punctuation and grammar is marked throughout. Numeracy is light: learners read tables, charts, infographics, times and prices in everyday texts and may use statistics as evidence in their presentation.
- Awarding body
- WJEC
- Level
- Entry Level and Level 1
- First taught
- September 2027
- Amount of literacy work
- High
- Amount of numeracy work
- Low
- Specification
- Open the specification
How this qualification is assessed
- Unit 1: Reading and Writing for Practical Purposes: Two topic tests of 40 minutes each (plus 10 minutes reading time), 30%, 60 marks (2 x 30), set and marked by WJEC, taken on screen or on paper within a four week assessment window under invigilated examination conditions
- Unit 2: Reading and Writing for Real-World and Creative Contexts: Written assessment of two tasks of 40 minutes each (plus 10 minutes reading and planning time), 40%, 40 marks (2 x 20), outline set by WJEC and tailored by the centre, sat under high control conditions, marked by the centre and moderated by WJEC
- Unit 3: Speaking and Listening for Real-World and Literary Contexts: Speaking and listening assessment of approximately 12 minutes: an Individual Researched Presentation of 3 to 5 minutes and a group discussion of a literary extract of 5 to 7 minutes, 30%, 40 marks (2 x 20), WJEC set tasks, marked by the centre and moderated by WJEC
Skills that use Purpose
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Giving an individual researched presentation
Learners prepare and deliver a 3 to 5 minute presentation on a topic from one of four set themes. It must describe the topic, explain some advantages and disadvantages and give a view with reasons, using evidence and language adapted to the audience.
Literacy: Clarity and vocabulary, Purpose, Understanding, response and analysis, Questioning
Getting pupils ready
- Year 7
- Pupils give a one minute talk to a small group about a hobby, speaking clearly and looking at the audience.
- Year 8
- Pupils give a two minute talk on a local issue using cue cards, including one fact they researched and their own opinion with a reason.
- Year 9
- Pupils give a three minute researched talk on a sustainability topic, explaining advantages and disadvantages, justifying their view with evidence, and answering a question from the audience.
Show the specification wording and the LNF statements
Where it is in the specification: Unit 3, Sections 3.1 and 3.2, page 17; Section 3.2, page 21
“express and justify a personal viewpoint using evidence”
Progression step 3
I can speak clearly, recognising the appropriate language for different audiences and purposes, and varying my expression, vocabulary, tone and gestures to engage the audience.
I can organise talk so that different audiences in different contexts can follow what is being said, including using formal language.
I can make use of reference/digital sources to select, summarise and synthesise information, referencing as appropriate.
Progression step 4
I can speak clearly, selecting and adapting my language appropriately for a range of audiences and purposes, conveying meaning effectively to the audience.
I can sustain a convincing point of view, anticipating and responding to other perspectives.
I can research a wide range of reference and digital sources to develop a full understanding of a topic or issue.
Good to know
- Both kinds of text appear in the tests: continuous and non-continuous texts are defined and "Both types will be used in assessment." (Unit 1, page 11).
- Each Unit 1 test and Unit 2 task is 40 minutes "(plus 10 minutes reading time)" (Summary of assessment, page 5), so short timed reading practice matters.
- Unit 2 texts are chosen by the teacher: "Teachers must select short functional texts that reflect the real-world, learning and work in Wales" (Section 3.2, page 20).
- Accuracy is half the marks: AO2 includes "Write with general accuracy, including grammar, punctuation and spelling." and carries 50% of the overall weighting (Section 3.1, page 19).
- Notes are allowed for speaking: "Candidates are permitted to produce annotated texts and brief notes during the preparatory stages" (Section 3.2, page 21).
- Units 2 and 3 allow one resubmission: "teachers may allow a learner one opportunity to improve their evidence and resubmit it" (Section 3.4, page 22), but any feedback must "avoid directing learners on how to improve their mark" (page 23).
- Appendix A ticks Listening, Reading, Speaking and Writing for all three units, and maps the number system and statistics strands of Developing Mathematical Proficiency to Units 1 and 2 only (Appendix A, pages 28 and 29).
- The Unit 3 weighting is inconsistent: the summary gives "30% of qualification" (page 5) but the overview says "The two tasks contribute to 40% of the overall qualification grade." (page 20). The 30% figure matches the grading table on page 26. The Unit 3 content headings are also numbered 3.1, 3.2, 3.4 and 3.5 on page 17 while the amplification uses 3.1 to 3.4.
Links with other qualifications
Foundation English builds directly towards GCSE English Language and Literature, which the specification names as a progression route. The skills are the same in kind: reading for explicit and implicit meaning, analysing language and layout, writing for purpose and audience, creative writing, a researched individual presentation and group discussion of literature. The GCSE steps these up with longer and more complex texts, comparison of poems and whole literary texts, extended critical essays and more sustained, accurate writing. Reading functional texts about work and leisure in Wales also supports the vocational Foundation qualifications, and reading charts and infographics links with Mathematics and Numeracy.
Source: WJEC Entry Level/Level 1 Foundation English specification, approved by Qualifications Wales, teaching from September 2027, for award from 2029 (© WJEC CBAC Ltd 2026).