02 Mar 2021
Key Facts
Qualification purpose
Prepare for further learning or training and/or develop knowledge and/or skills in a subject area
Qualification Grading Type
Pass
Assessment Methods
Why choose this qualification?
The suite of Gateway Qualifications IT User Skills (ITQ) qualifications
They aim to equip individuals with the IT user skills needed for full participation in employment and society. ITQ units can be gained across a range of situations and credit achieved can be taken by learners from school to college, from training programmes to the workplace, until the learner has achieved a full ITQ qualification.
The qualifications recognise employers’ needs for ICT qualifications that reflect real-world skills, and the challenges of work-place learning. They enable recognition of the skills that employers want across the range of levels, have been successfully piloted in a wide range of companies and organisations, and are now a part of mainstream provision. They enable learning providers to target teaching and equipment resource effectively and use flexible approaches to assessment and delivery that ensure all learning counts towards a qualification, wherever it takes place.
Rules of Combination
To achieve the Entry Level 3 Award for IT Users (ITQ) a learner must achieve a minimum of 6 credits. A minimum of 4 credits must be achieved at Entry Level 3. Learners cannot include more than one unit with the same or similar title. For full details refer to the unit group structures. ICT Functional skills with any of the three units with embedded FS (IUF, ICF, ISF) may be included at Level 1 or Level 2 and will be valued at 5 credits.
Units
Learners must complete a minimum of 4 credits from this group.
Design and Imaging Software
Desktop Publishing Software
Digital Lifestyle
IT User Fundamentals
Presentation Software
Spreadsheet Software
The Internet and World Wide Web
Using Email
Using Mobile IT Devices
Using the Internet
Word Processing Software
Learners may complete the remaining credits from this group.
Audio Software
Bespoke Software
Computerised Accounting Software
Data Management Software
Database Software
Design Software
Desktop Publishing Software
Drawing and Planning Software
IT Communication Fundamentals
IT Security for Users
IT Software Fundamentals
IT User Fundamentals
Imaging Software
Improving Productivity Using IT
Internet Safety for IT users
Multimedia Software
Optimise IT System Performance
Personal Information Management Software
Presentation Software
Project Management Software
Set Up an IT System
Specialist Software
Spreadsheet Software
Using Collaborative Technologies
Using Email
Using Mobile IT Devices
Using a Computer Keyboard
Using the Internet
Video Software
Website Software
Word Processing Software
What is the purpose of this qualification?
This qualification forms part of the ITQ Framework that was developed, led by e-skills UK the Sector Skills Council for, Business, Information and Technology, to provide a flexible framework for recognising achievements in IT skills across the UK within the education system and industry.
The qualification is designed for the following learner groups:
• Those in education to ensure they are equipped with the appropriate skills to support their personal or career development.
• Those preparing for employment or in employment to gain a level of skills application and development to enable practical exploitation of the potential of IT within the business environment
It is likely that learners at this level will have little or no prior experience of IT.
What skills, knowledge, or understanding does this qualification develop?
This qualification covers a wide range of optional units, there are no mandatory units that learners are required to complete. This enables providers to develop a coherent IT learning programme that meets the needs of the learner by selecting optional units from different types of software and core IT functions, for example database, spreadsheet, design, multi media and specialist software, IT system performance
The purpose of this qualification is as a taster qualification to develop learners’ IT skills and underpinning knowledge to enable progression to further learning but which can also be applied at work, and as part of their daily lives.
This qualification can be tailored to the needs of individual learners as they can achieve a proportion of the learning at a higher level than that of the qualification and can pursue those areas of IT learning most relevant to them.
How is this qualification different from other, similar qualifications?
The Entry Level 3 Award in IT User Skills ( ITQ) is the smallest size qualification within the framework and is most suitable for learners who require a qualification as an introduction to developing their IT skills or who have a limited amount of learning time to develop a specific / specialist aspect of their IT skills.
Which sector does this qualification support?
This qualification provides formal recognition of a learner’s IT Skills that can be applied in current or future employment for a variety of roles including those applying general IT skills in their day-to-day work.
Progression & entry requirements
The approved age range for these qualifications is: pre 16; 16-18 and 19+. Learners can progress in two ways: • increasing the range of skills they have by increasing the size of their qualification (Award → Certificate → Diploma) • developing skills at a higher level by moving up the level of qualification from Entry Level 3 to Level 1.Funding information
There are now two main sources for funding information, a straightforward ESFA Qualification Search and the more detailed Find a Learning Aim website.
The new Find a learning aim (FALA) service provides a search tool that you can use to check the funding status of any qualification, framework, unit, standard or T Level:
View this qualification on the ESFA’s Find a learning aim website
The Education and Skills Funding Agency search provides funding information on qualifications. It does not provide funding information for units, non-regulated activity and work placements, for this information please use Find a learning aim (FALA).
View this qualification on the ESFA Qualification Funding Search
How to find a learning aim
If you’re not sure how to use the new find a learning aim website, we’ve created a handy walkthrough to help you:
How to Use: Find a learning Aim
We have done our best to collate and summarise the key information, and wherever possible we alert our providers to changes in funding policy.
This funding information is provided in good faith and it is always advisable to check directly with the funding agencies before committing to delivery.
The following support materials will help you to deliver this qualification.