KEY SKILLS

Problem solving
Level 1
The key skills are the skills which are most commonly needed to succeed in
a range of activities – at work, in education and training and in everyday
life. In developing the key skill of problem solving, you will learn to use
and adapt your skills confidently and effectively in a range of settings and
contexts.

Progression
The key skills qualifications are designed to enable you to progress at your
own pace. Each level of the key skill above level 1 incorporates and builds
on the previous ones. The key skills qualifications not only recognise your
current capabilities, they also require you to identify how you can further
improve your skills to meet new demands at higher levels.

Part A Part B
YOU NEED TO YOU MUST
KNOW HOW TO
This section builds on Part A and
This section tells you about the describes the application of skills. It
techniques and knowledge associated describes the skills you must show. All
with each key skill. It tells you what you your work for this section will be
need to learn and practise to feel assessed. You must have evidence that
confident about applying these skills in you can do all the things listed in the
your studies, work or other aspects of bullet points.
your life.

To achieve Problem Solving at level 1 you must be able to apply

your skills to suit different purposes. You will show that you can:

쏋 understand the problem you have been given to solve

쏋 decide how you will try to solve the problem
쏋 check what you need to do to improve your problem solving skills.

Problem solving: level 1

Part

쏋
YOU NEED TO KNOW HOW TO:

ways to tackle it
A
Confirm you understand the given problem and identify

Work with an appropriate person, such as your tutor or supervisor, to:

쏋 check that you clearly understand the problem:
– ask questions about the problem and find out how it might affect you and other people
check how you will know the problem has been solved:
– ask your tutor or supervisor about the results expected from tackling the problem
come up with different ways of tackling the problem:
– learn about different methods for solving problems
– get ideas about what could be done by looking at similar problems
– decide what could work for your problem.

Confirm what you will do and follow your plan for solving
the problem
Work with an appropriate person, such as your tutor or supervisor, to:
쏋 help decide how you will try to solve the problem by saying what you think and taking your tutor or
supervisor’s advice
쏋 plan what you need to do:
– identify how long it should take and any materials, tools and equipment you will need
– list your methods and steps for working through the problem
– check the rules for health and safety and how to use materials, tools and equipment
– identify what to do if things go wrong
쏋 follow your plan, making sure you work safely
쏋 use support given by your supervisor, or others named by your supervisor, to help you tackle the problem.

Check if the problem has been solved and how to improve

problem solving
Work with an appropriate person, such as your tutor or supervisor, to:
쏋 make sure you understand how to use the methods you have been given for checking if the problem has
been solved
쏋 use these methods as instructed
쏋 identify clearly what went well and less well in tackling the problem:
– describe what happened, the order in which things happened, unexpected difficulties
쏋 check what you need to do to improve your problem solving skills for each stage of the process.

Problem solving: level 1

Part
You must:

Confirm with an appropriate

person that you understand
the given problem and
identify different ways of
tackling it.
B YOU MUST:

Provide at least two examples of meeting the standard for PS1.1, PS1.2 and PS1.3. (Each example should
cover a different problem and identify at least two different ways of tackling it (for PS1.1).)

PS1.1
Evidence must show you can:
1.1.1 check that you clearly understand the problem you
have been given

1.1.2 check how you will know it has been solved

1.1.3 come up with different ways of tackling the problem.

PS1.2

Confirm with an appropriate 1.2.1 help decide how you will try to solve the problem
person what you will do and 1.2.2 plan what you need to do
follow your plan for
1.2.3 follow your plan, working safely and using support
solving the problem. given by others to help tackle the problem.

PS1.3

Check with an appropriate 1.3.1 check if the problem has been solved using the
person if the problem has methods you have been given

been solved and how to 1.3.2 identify clearly what went well and less well in
improve your problem solving tackling the problem
skills. 1.3.3 check what you need to do to improve your problem-
solving skills.

Problem solving: level 1

 EXAMPLES AND GUIDANCE
The following gives further guidance and examples of the
techniques and knowledge in Part A.
CONFIRM YOU UNDERSTAND THE GIVEN PROBLEM AND IDENTIFY WAYS TO TACKLE IT
Check you understand the problem by asking questions about what happened, how the
problem affects other people in their work.
Come up with different ways of tackling the problem by looking at different parts of the
problem, asking others who may have solved similar problems.
CONFIRM WHAT YOU WILL DO AND FOLLOW YOUR PLAN FOR SOLVING THE PROBLEM
Plan what you need to do by writing a list of tasks in order, working out the time and
resources needed.
Follow your plan, and use support from others by obtaining information or resources from
them.

CHECK IF THE PROBLEM HAS BEEN SOLVED AND HOW TO IMPROVE PROBLEM SOLVING
Use identified methods for checking the problem has been solved by testing, observing,
asking others.
Check what you need to do to improve your problem solving skills when finding out about
the problem, following the plan, checking the problem has been solved.

For further examples and guidance on the key skills standards please refer to The Key Skills
Standards and Guidance (order ref: QCA/04/1272).

Help with producing evidence

If producing certain types of evidence is difficult for you because of a disability or for another reason, please
discuss this with your tutor or supervisor. It may be possible for you to produce evidence using alternative
methods. Depending on the skill and level, these may include use of a scribe (amanuensis); Braille, voice
activated software and British Sign Language. Detailed guidance is available in the document Basic and Key
Skills: Guidance for candidates with Particular Requirements published by the Joint Council for Qualifications.
This is available from your key skills awarding body.
Please ask your tutor or supervisor for further guidance.

This standard is for use in programmes starting from September 2004.

QCA/04/1272
Copyright © 2004 Qualifications and Curriculum Authority.
Reproduction, storage, adaption or translation, in any form or by any means, of this publication is prohibited without prior written permission of the
publisher, or within the terms of licences issued by the Copyright Licensing Agency. Excerpts may be reproduced for the purpose of research, private study,
criticism or review, or by educational institutions solely for educational purposes, without permission, providing full acknowledgement is given.
Printed in Great Britain.
The Qualifications and Curriculum Authority is an exempt charity under Schedule 2 of the Charities Act 1993.
Qualifications and Curriculum Authority, 83 Piccadilly, London W1J 8QA. www.qca.org.uk
Copies of this document may be obtained by contacting:
QCA Publications, PO Box 99, Sudbury, Suffolk, CO10 6SN.
Telephone: 01787 884444, Fax: 01787 312950.
When ordering, please quote title and reference number.

Problem solving: level 1

KEY SKILLS

Problem solving
Level 2
The key skills are the skills which are most commonly needed to succeed in
a range of activities – at work, in education and training and in everyday
life. In developing the key skill of problem solving, you will learn to use
and adapt your skills confidently and effectively in a range of settings and
contexts.

Progression
The key skills qualifications are designed to enable you to progress at your
own pace. Each level of the key skill above level 1 incorporates and builds
on the previous ones. The key skills qualifications not only recognise your
current capabilities, they also require you to identify how you can further
improve your skills to meet new demands at higher levels.

Part A Part B
YOU NEED TO YOU MUST
KNOW HOW TO
This section builds on Part A and
This section tells you about the describes the application of skills. It
techniques and knowledge associated describes the skills you must show. All
with each key skill. It tells you what you your work for this section will be
need to learn and practise to feel assessed. You must have evidence that
confident about applying these skills in you can do all the things listed in the
your studies, work or other aspects of bullet points.
your life.

To achieve Problem Solving at level 2 you must be able to apply

your skills to suit different purposes. You will show that you can:

쏋 accurately describe the problem

쏋 plan what you need to do to solve the problem
쏋 identify way of improving your problem solving skills.

Problem solving: level 2

Part
YOU NEED TO KNOW HOW TO:

쏋
A
Help identify a problem and identify different ways of
tackling it
work with an appropriate person, such as your tutor or supervisor, to help identify a problem, by providing
an accurate description of its main features:
– what is known and not known about the problem
– how it affects you and other people
identify how you will know the problem has been solved:
– find out the results people expect from tackling the problem
– find out about methods you could use to check it has been solved
come up with different ways of tackling the problem:
– learn about different methods for solving problems and how similar problems have been solved
– find out about the risks (the likelihood of things going wrong) and other factors that might affect the
way you tackle the problem (time and expertise needed, health and safety rules)
– decide what could help to solve your problem.

Plan and try out a way of solving the problem

쏋 confirm with an appropriate person, such as your tutor, supervisor or other person in authority, how you will
try to solve the problem, adapting your ideas if necessary to meet rules and regulations
쏋 plan what you need to do, identifying:
– resources you will use (materials, tools, equipment, information and support from others)
– the methods, steps and time-line for working through the problem, including ways of overcoming
difficulties
– health and safety procedures
쏋 use your plan effectively, taking responsibility, when needed, for:
– health and safety
– getting support from your supervisor or other person with relevant expertise
– keeping track of the steps taken in tackling the problem and revising your plan to deal with unexpected
events.

Check if the problem has been solved and identify ways to

improve problem solving
쏋 learn how to use the methods you have been given for checking if the problem has been solved and use
these accurately
쏋 describe clearly the results of your checking, including the strengths and weaknesses of how you tackled the
problem at each stage
쏋 identify ways of improving your problem solving skills.

Problem solving: level 2

Part

Identify a problem, with

help from an appropriate
person, and identify
different ways of tackling it.
B YOU MUST:

Provide at least two examples of meeting the standard for PS2.1, PS2.2 and PS2.3. Each example should cover
a different problem and identify at least two different ways of tackling it (for PS2.1).

PS2.1
Evidence must show you can:
2.1.1 provide information to help identify a problem,
accurately describing its main features

2.1.2 identify how you will know the problem has been
solved

2.1.3 come up with different ways of tackling the problem.

PS2.2

Plan and try out at least 2.2.1 confirm with an appropriate person how you will try
one way of solving the to solve the problem

problem. 2.2.2 plan what you need to do, identifying the methods
and resources you will use

2.2.3 use your plan effectively, getting support and revising

your plan when needed to help tackle the problem.

PS2.3

Check if the problem has 2.3.1 check if the problem has been solved by accurately
been solved and identify using the methods you have been given

ways to improve problem 2.3.2 describe clearly the results, including the strengths
solving skills. and weaknesses of how you tackled the problem

2.3.3 identify ways of improving your problem solving

skills.

Problem solving: level 2

 EXAMPLES AND GUIDANCE
The following gives further guidance and examples of the
techniques and knowledge in Part A.
HELP IDENTIFY A PROBLEM AND IDENTIFY DIFFERENT WAYS OF TACKLING IT
Help identify a problem by looking at different parts of the problem, if the problem
changes at different times or places.
Come up with different ways of tackling the problem by sharing ideas, using written
material, making a simple model.
PLAN AND TRY OUT A WAY OF SOLVING THE PROBLEM
Plan what you need to do and check with your supervisor or tutor.
Use your plan effectively, keeping track of the steps taken and sequence tasks, take
account of time and resources needed and plan ways round possible obstacles.
CHECK IF THE PROBLEM HAS BEEN SOLVED AND IDENTIFY WAYS TO IMPROVE
PROBLEM SOLVING
Describe your results including strengths and weaknesses of how you tackled the
problem, stating if you stayed within the limits of time and resources identified in
your plan.
Identify ways of improving your problem solving skills by asking others and reviewing
the level of success you had.

For further examples and guidance on the key skills standards please refer to The Key Skills
Standards and Guidance (order ref: QCA/04/1272).

Help with producing evidence

If producing certain types of evidence is difficult for you because of a disability or for another reason, please
discuss this with your tutor or supervisor. It may be possible for you to produce evidence using alternative
methods. Depending on the skill and level, these may include use of a scribe (amanuensis); Braille, voice
activated software and British Sign Language. Detailed guidance is available in the document Basic and Key
Skills: Guidance for candidates with Particular Requirements published by the Joint Council for Qualifications.
This is available from your key skills awarding body.
Please ask your tutor or supervisor for further guidance.

This standard is for use in programmes starting from September 2004.

QCA/04/1272
Copyright © 2004 Qualifications and Curriculum Authority.
Reproduction, storage, adaption or translation, in any form or by any means, of this publication is prohibited without prior written permission of the
publisher, or within the terms of licences issued by the Copyright Licensing Agency. Excerpts may be reproduced for the purpose of research, private study,
criticism or review, or by educational institutions solely for educational purposes, without permission, providing full acknowledgement is given.
Printed in Great Britain.
The Qualifications and Curriculum Authority is an exempt charity under Schedule 2 of the Charities Act 1993.
Qualifications and Curriculum Authority, 83 Piccadilly, London W1J 8QA. www.qca.org.uk
Copies of this document may be obtained by contacting:
QCA Publications, PO Box 99, Sudbury, Suffolk, CO10 6SN.
Telephone: 01787 884444, Fax: 01787 312950.
When ordering, please quote title and reference number.

Problem solving: level 2

KEY SKILLS

Problem solving
Level 3
The key skills are the skills which are most commonly needed to succeed in
a range of activities – at work, in education and training and in everyday
life. In developing the key skill of problem solving, you will learn to use and
adapt your skills confidently and effectively in a range of settings and
contexts.

Progression
The key skills qualifications are designed to enable you to progress at your
own pace. Each level of the key skill above level 1 incorporates and builds
on the previous ones. The key skills qualifications not only recognise your
current capabilities, they also require you to identify how you can further
improve your skills to meet new demands at higher levels.

Part A Part B
YOU NEED TO YOU MUST
KNOW HOW TO
This section builds on Part A and
This section tells you about the describes the application of skills. It
techniques and knowledge associated describes the skills you must show. All
with each key skill. It tells you what you your work for this section will be
need to learn and practise to feel assessed. You must have evidence that
confident about applying these skills in you can do all the things listed in the
your studies, work or other aspects of bullet points.
your life.

To achieve Problem Solving at level 3 you must be able to apply

your skills to suit different purposes. You will show that you can:

쏋 identify and analyse the problem

쏋 plan your chosen way of solving the problem
쏋 review your approach to problem solving.

Problem solving: level 3

Part
YOU NEED TO KNOW HOW TO:

쏋
A
Explore a problem and identify ways of tackling it
쏋 identify, analyse and accurately describe the problem:
– recognise when a problem exists
– use different methods to analyse the problem, including breaking it down into manageable sub-problems
(simplifying), investigating its effects on other people (broadening its focus), looking at the problem from
different viewpoints, checking if the problem changes from place-to-place or over time (reframing) and
comparing it with similar problems
– describe each sub-problem and the factors that affect these
agree with others (those affected by the problem, your line manager or specialist) how you will know the
problem has been solved
select and use a variety of methods, such as written, visual, numerical and physical techniques, your
imagination and creative ideas from working with others, to come up with different ways of tackling the
problem
compare the main features, including value (pay-off), and risks (likelihood and consequences of failure) of
each approach and use this information to justify the method you decide to use.

Plan and implement a way of solving the problem

쏋 plan your chosen way of solving the problem to include:
– resources, methods, the sequence of steps to be taken and time-line, including points for checking
progress
– the necessary action to meet health and safety procedures and other regulations, and ways to overcome
difficulties
쏋 get the go-ahead to implement your plan from a person who has expertise in your problem-solving area and
authority, such as your line manager or specialist
쏋 put your plan into action, make judgements about when support and feedback would be helpful from
others, such as those affected by the problem and specialists, and use this effectively to help tackle the
problem
쏋 look at your plan regularly to check progress and to decide on any necessary revisions to your approach.

Check if the problem has been solved and review approach

to problem solving
쏋 identify methods for checking the problem has been solved, such as testing, measuring, observing,
inspecting and sampling methods, and agree with a person who has expertise in your problem solving area
and authority, such as your line manager or specialist, the methods you will use
쏋 apply these methods systematically to check if the problem has been solved
쏋 describe fully the results and draw conclusions on how successful you were
쏋 review the strengths and weaknesses of each stage of your approach, including whether other approaches
might have proved more effective.

Problem solving: level 3

Part

and identify different ways

of tackling it.
B YOU MUST:

Provide at least one example of meeting the standard for PS3.1, PS3.2 and PS3.3. The example should include
exploring at least three different ways of tackling a problem (for PS3.1).

PS3.1
Explore a problem
Evidence must show you can:
3.1.1 Identify, analyse and accurately describe the problem,
and agree with others how you will know it has been
solved

3.1.2 select and use a variety of methods to come up with

different ways of tackling the problem

3.1.3 compare the main features and risks of each approach,

and justify the method you decide to use.

PS3.2
Plan and implement at 3.2.1 plan your chosen way of solving the problem and get
the go-ahead from an appropriate person
least one way of
solving the problem. 3.2.2 put your plan into action, effectively using support
and feedback from others to help tackle the problem

3.2.3 check regularly progress towards solving the problem,

revising your approach as necessary.

PS3.3
Check if the problem has 3.3.1 apply systematically methods agreed with an
been solved and review appropriate person, to check if the problem has been
solved
your approach to problem solving.
3.3.2 describe fully the results and draw conclusions on
how successful you were in solving the problem

3.3.3 review your approach to problem solving, including

whether other approaches might have proved more
effective.

Problem solving: level 3

 EXAMPLES AND GUIDANCE
The following gives further guidance and examples of the
techniques and knowledge in Part A.
EXPLORE A PROBLEM AND IDENTIFY DIFFERENT WAYS OF TACKLING IT
Identify, analyse and accurately describe a problem by, for instance, identifying the
gap between the current situation and what is desirable.
Select and use a variety of different ways of tackling the problem and investigate
how others are affected, compare with similar problems.
PLAN AND IMPLEMENT A WAY OF SOLVING THE PROBLEM
Plan your chosen way of solving the problem using techniques such as flow charts,
time lines, and check out your plan with a supervisor or tutor.
Put your plan in action, check progress regularly, for instance against time lines,
resources allocated.
CHECK IF THE PROBLEM HAS BEEN SOLVED AND REVIEW APPROACH TO
PROBLEM SOLVING
Describe your results and draw conclusions by stating to what extent the problem
was solved and the level of satisfaction of others.
Review the strengths and weaknesses of each stage of your approach by checking
how well you followed the plan, any adaptions to the plan, any side effects from
your actions.
For further examples and guidance on the key skills standards please refer to The Key Skills
Standards and Guidance (order ref: QCA/04/1272).

Help with producing evidence

If producing certain types of evidence is difficult for you because of a disability or for another reason, please
discuss this with your tutor or supervisor. It may be possible for you to produce evidence using alternative
methods. Depending on the skill and level, these may include use of a scribe (amanuensis); Braille, voice
activated software and British Sign Language. Detailed guidance is available in the document Basic and Key
Skills: Guidance for candidates with Particular Requirements published by the Joint Council for Qualifications.
This is available from your key skills awarding body.
Please ask your tutor or supervisor for further guidance.

This standard is for use in programmes starting from September 2004.

QCA/04/1272
Copyright © 2004 Qualifications and Curriculum Authority.
Reproduction, storage, adaption or translation, in any form or by any means, of this publication is prohibited without prior written permission of the
publisher, or within the terms of licences issued by the Copyright Licensing Agency. Excerpts may be reproduced for the purpose of research, private study,
criticism or review, or by educational institutions solely for educational purposes, without permission, providing full acknowledgement is given.
Printed in Great Britain.
The Qualifications and Curriculum Authority is an exempt charity under Schedule 2 of the Charities Act 1993.
Qualifications and Curriculum Authority, 83 Piccadilly, London W1J 8QA. www.qca.org.uk
Copies of this document may be obtained by contacting:
QCA Publications, PO Box 99, Sudbury, Suffolk, CO10 6SN.
Telephone: 01787 884444, Fax: 01787 312950.
When ordering, please quote title and reference number.

Problem solving: level 3

KEY SKILLS

Problem solving
Level 4
The key skills are the skills which are most commonly needed to succeed in
a range of activities – at work, in education and training and in everyday
life. In developing the key skill of problem solving, you will learn to use and
adapt your skills confidently and effectively in a range of settings and
contexts.

Progression
The key skills qualifications are designed to enable you to progress at your
own pace. Each level of the key skill above level 1 incorporates and builds
on the previous ones. The key skills qualifications not only recognise your
current capabilities, they also require you to identify how you can further
improve your skills to meet new demands at higher levels.

Part A Part B
YOU NEED TO YOU MUST
KNOW HOW TO
This section builds on Part A and
This section tells you about the describes the application of skills. It
techniques and knowledge associated describes the skills you must show. All
with each key skill. It tells you what you your work for this section will be
need to learn and practise to feel assessed. You must have evidence that
confident about applying these skills in you can do all the things listed in the
your studies, work or other aspects of bullet points.
your life.

To achieve Problem Solving at level 4 you must be able to apply

your skills to suit different purposes. You will show that you can:

쏋 establish opportunities for problem solving

쏋 manage the problem solving process
쏋 identify ways of improving your problem solving skills.

Problem solving: level 4

Part
YOU NEED TO KNOW HOW TO:

쏋
A
Develop a strategy for problem solving
쏋 identify opportunities for problem solving by spending time looking at work activities, and clearly identify
what you hope to achieve
explore problems to establish their critical features, including, as appropriate:
– re-framing each problem by broadening its focus, re-visualising the problem by creating different
perspectives and reviewing changes
– simplifying the problem and discounting misleading information
– making comparisons with similar problems and finding analogies
– consulting other people such as those affected by the problems, your line manager or specialists, to help
inform your choice of problem
generate different ways of tackling a problem, making use of mathematical, verbal, visual, auditory,
collaborative and physical methods, as appropriate
negotiate with your line manager and other relevant people, the approach to use, supporting your case with
a cost/benefit analysis of its value and risks and, if appropriate, counter-factual arguments
plan how you will implement your approach to the problem, to include:
– use of planning methods such as a Gantt chart/time-line
– consideration of opportunities and constraints that may affect your plans, including your own and others’
attitudes to risk, your level of expertise and factors to do with finance, resources, health and safety and
other rules and regulations.

Monitor progress and adapt your strategy for solving the

problem
쏋 manage the problem solving process by:
– getting and making efficient use of resources, including your own and others’ specialist knowledge and
skills
– applying effectively methods that you have chosen as appropriate for the task
– keeping to health and safety and other relevant rules and regulations
쏋 keep track of progress and systematically check results by testing, observing, inspecting, measuring and
sampling, as appropriate.

Evaluate your strategy and present the outcomes of your

problem solving
쏋 bring together and clearly present the results of your approach to problem solving, including evidence to
support your conclusions
쏋 agree with appropriate people, such as those affected by the problem, your line manager and specialists, the
extent to which you solved the problem
쏋 assess the strengths and weaknesses of your strategy, including how your decisions and other factors
affected the results
쏋 identify ways of further improving your problem solving skills.

Problem solving: level 4

Part

Develop a strategy for

Problem solving.
B YOU MUST:

Provide at least one example of meeting the standard for PS4.1, PS4.2 and PS4.3. The example should show
that you can explore at least two problems (for PS4.1), one of which must be followed through to conclusion.

PS4.1
Evidence must show you can:
4.1.1 identify opportunities for problem solving and clearly
establish what you hope to achieve

4.1.2 explore problems to identify their critical features and

devise different ways of tackling them

4.1.3 negotiate with appropriate people the approach to

use and plan how you will implement this.

PS4.2

Monitor progress and 4.2.1 manage effectively and efficiently the problem solving
adapt your strategy for process, using appropriate methods

solving the problem. 4.2.2 keep track of progress and systematically check results

4.2.3 reflect critically on your approach to tackling the

problem and adapt your strategy as necessary to
improve your problem-solving skills.

PS4.3

Evaluate your strategy and 4.3.1 bring together and clearly present the results of your
present the outcomes of your approach to problem solving, including evidence to
support your conclusions
problem solving skills.
4.3.2 agree with appropriate people the extent to which the
problem has been solved

4.3.3 assess the effectiveness of your strategy, including

factors that affected the outcomes, and identify ways
of further improving your problem solving skills.

Problem solving: level 4

 EXAMPLES AND GUIDANCE
The following gives further guidance and examples of the
techniques and knowledge in Part A.
DEVELOP A STRATEGY FOR PROBLEM SOLVING
Explore problems to establish their critical features, simplifying the problem,
broadening the focus of the problem, creating different perspectives.
Generate different ways of tackling a problem by drawing on similar problems,
finding analogies with other situations.
MONITOR PROGRESS AND ADAPT YOUR STRATEGY FOR SOLVING THE
PROBLEM
Manage the problem solving process by obtaining the resources needed, and keep
track of progress by maintaining momentum, spotting and correcting errors.
EVALUATE YOUR STRATEGY AND PRESENT THE OUTCOMES OF YOUR
PROBLEM SOLVING
Clearly present the results of your approach and support your conclusions using
written, oral, visual material, demonstration of a working model.
Identifying ways of improving your problem solving skills by reflecting on the process
and evaluating the extent to which the problem has been solved.

For further examples and guidance on the key skills standards please refer to The Key Skills
Standards and Guidance (order ref: QCA/04/1272).

Help with producing evidence

If producing certain types of evidence is difficult for you because of a disability or for another reason, please
discuss this with your tutor or supervisor. It may be possible for you to produce evidence using alternative
methods. Depending on the skill and level, these may include use of a scribe (amanuensis); Braille, voice
activated software and British Sign Language. Detailed guidance is available in the document Basic and Key
Skills: Guidance for candidates with Particular Requirements published by the Joint Council for Qualifications.
This is available from your key skills awarding body.
Please ask your tutor or supervisor for further guidance.

This standard is for use in programmes starting from September 2004.

QCA/04/1272
Copyright © 2004 Qualifications and Curriculum Authority.
Reproduction, storage, adaption or translation, in any form or by any means, of this publication is prohibited without prior written permission of the
publisher, or within the terms of licences issued by the Copyright Licensing Agency. Excerpts may be reproduced for the purpose of research, private study,
criticism or review, or by educational institutions solely for educational purposes, without permission, providing full acknowledgement is given.
Printed in Great Britain.
The Qualifications and Curriculum Authority is an exempt charity under Schedule 2 of the Charities Act 1993.
Qualifications and Curriculum Authority, 83 Piccadilly, London W1J 8QA. www.qca.org.uk
Copies of this document may be obtained by contacting:
QCA Publications, PO Box 99, Sudbury, Suffolk, CO10 6SN.
Telephone: 01787 884444, Fax: 01787 312950.
When ordering, please quote title and reference number.

Problem solving: level 4