Foundation Mathematics and Numeracy
WJEC Entry Level/Level 1 Foundation Mathematics and Numeracy is a two year, 120 guided learning hour course for learners aged 14 to 16, graded from Entry 1 Pass to Level 1 Pass and designed as a broad basis for progression onto GCSE Mathematics and Numeracy. Numeracy is the whole qualification: money and personal finance, time and schedules in the Unit 1 portfolio, non-calculator number, algebra, geometry and probability in the Unit 2 topic tests, and data handling and measuring in the Unit 3 practical tasks. Literacy demand is lower but real: learners read bills, payslips, timetables and infographics, use mathematical vocabulary, and explain their choices and conclusions in Unit 3. Key Stage 3 should build secure mental and written calculation with money and measures in everyday contexts.
- Awarding body
- WJEC
- Level
- Entry Level and Level 1
- First taught
- September 2027
- Amount of literacy work
- Low
- Amount of numeracy work
- High
- Specification
- Open the specification
How this qualification is assessed
- Unit 1: Mathematics and Finance in Everyday Life: Portfolio (non-examination assessment) of six WJEC set tasks, 3 hours (6 x 30 minutes), 40%, 60 marks, set by WJEC, marked by the centre and moderated by WJEC, calculator allowed, foundation tier (Entry 1 to Entry 3) and higher tier (Entry 3 to Level 1) task sets
- Unit 2: Non-calculator Mathematics: Two topic tests, Test A Number and Probability and Test B Algebra and Geometry, 2 x 30 minutes, 30%, 40 marks (20 per test), set and marked by WJEC, on screen or on paper within a four week window, calculator not allowed, foundation and higher tiers
- Unit 3: Data Handling and Measures: Practical assessment (non-examination assessment) of two tasks, Data handling and Measures, up to 2 hours each, 30%, 40 marks, set by WJEC, marked by the centre and moderated by WJEC, calculator allowed, not tiered
Skills that use Measurement
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Using time, timetables and schedules
Learners read analogue and digital clocks and the 12 and 24 hour clock, use units of time, carry out calculations involving time within the same day, and use timetables to plan journeys. At Level 1 they create plans and schedules from visual data that may involve several steps.
Numeracy: Measurement
Getting pupils ready
- Year 7
- Pupils convert the times of their school day between the 12 and 24 hour clock and work out how long each lesson lasts.
- Year 8
- Pupils use a real bus timetable to choose a bus that arrives in town before 10:30 and calculate the journey time.
- Year 9
- Pupils plan a day trip using train and bus timetables, building a schedule with leaving times, journey times and waiting times that fits a given return time.
Show the specification wording and the LNF statements
Where it is in the specification: Unit 1, Section 1.3.1, pages 17 and 18; Unit 1, Section 1.4.1, page 19
“read, write and use time shown on a 12-hour and a 24-hour clock”
Progression step 3
I can read and use analogue and digital clocks.
I can use and interpret calendars, timetables and schedules to plan events and activities, and make calculations as part of the planning journey.
I can estimate how long a journey takes.
Progression step 4
I can use timetables and time zones to calculate travel time.
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Measuring, reading scales and converting metric units
In the Unit 3 measures task learners choose suitable units and instruments, measure length, mass and capacity, read scales with many intervals and decimals, convert between metric units such as 450 cm to metres, make sensible estimates and scale a recipe by small whole numbers. They must understand the effect of inaccurate measurement and recognise when results are reasonable, and Unit 1 adds reading temperature scales above and below zero.
Numeracy: Measurement, Calculation, Conceptual understanding
Getting pupils ready
- Year 7
- Pupils measure classroom objects with rulers and tape measures to the nearest millimetre and record each length in both centimetres and millimetres.
- Year 8
- Pupils weigh and measure ingredients with kitchen scales and measuring jugs, reading scales marked in 10 g and 50 ml intervals, and convert 1.5 kg and 750 ml into grams and litres.
- Year 9
- Pupils scale a recipe for 4 people up to 12, estimate then weigh the ingredients and explain how an inaccurate measurement would change the result.
Show the specification wording and the LNF statements
Where it is in the specification: Unit 3, Section 3.4, page 33; Appendix B, Section 3.4.1, pages 50 and 51; Unit 1, Section 1.3.2, page 18
“convert between metric units of length, mass and capacity”
Progression step 3
I can read and interpret scales or divisions on a range of measuring instruments.
I can convert metric units of length to smaller units, e.g. cm to mm, m to cm, km to m.
I can measure and record temperatures involving positive and negative readings.
I can use ratio and proportion to calculate quantities.
Progression step 4
I can read and interpret scales on a range of measuring instruments.
I can use the common units of measure, convert between related units of the metric system and carry out calculations.
I can interpret answers within the context of the problem and consider whether answers, including calculator, analogue and digital displays, are sensible.
Good to know
- Calculators are allowed in Unit 1 and Unit 3 but Unit 2 is non-calculator: "A calculator will not be allowed in this assessment." (Summary of assessment, page 5).
- Units 1 and 2 are tiered and Unit 3 is not: foundation tier covers Entry 1 to Entry 3 and higher tier covers Entry 3 to Level 1, and "Learners may be entered at different tiers across units." (page 6).
- The Unit 2 tests mix "multiple choice questions (MCQ), objective test questions (OTQ) and short answer questions" and "will include mostly context-free mathematical questions" (Section 3.2, page 36), so written explanation is light there.
- The Unit 1 portfolio tasks are set in real-life contexts: "Each task will explore a range of mathematical skills set in a real-life context." (Section 3.2, page 36). The tasks change every year and are released in June.
- Appendix A (page 44) ticks Listening, Reading, Speaking and Writing for all three units, and the numeracy strands for all units except statistics and probability for Unit 2 (page 45). No marks for spelling, punctuation and grammar are mentioned.
- The grade is reported on "a 4 point scale: Entry 1 Pass, Entry 2 Pass, Entry 3 Pass and Level 1 Pass" (Section 5.3, page 42), and the model is compensatory, so strength in one area can offset weakness in another.
Links with other qualifications
The qualification "provides a broad basis for progression onto GCSE Mathematics and Numeracy" (page 8) and mirrors its structure: a finance unit, a non-calculator unit and data handling and measures. The GCSE steps up the same skills, adding VAT, interest and exchange rates to personal finance, ratio and percentage change to percentages, and a full statistical enquiry with grouped data, and it awards marks for explaining working in writing, which the Foundation does not. Money, time and measures also appear in Foundation Hospitality and Catering, and data handling supports The Sciences and Humanities.
Source: WJEC Entry Level/Level 1 Foundation Mathematics and Numeracy specification, approved by Qualifications Wales, teaching from September 2027, for award from 2029 (© WJEC CBAC Ltd 2026).