The Skills for Life Survey
A national needs and impact survey of literacy, numeracy and ICT skills
DfES Research Brief RB 490, 2003

Background to the research
The Skills for Life survey was commissioned by the Department for Education and Skills, and between June 2002 and May 2003 BMRB (the British Market Research Board) interviewed 8,730 randomly selected adults aged 16-65 in England. The survey was divided into two parts with a sample of adults from the first interview taking part in the second. The first interview included assessments for literacy and numeracy; the second interview included two ICT tests.

Results of the assessments
Around one in six respondents (16 per cent, or 5.2 million 16-65 year olds) were classified as having lower level literacy skills - Entry level 3 or below in the literacy test. Lower level literacy skills were associated with socio-economic deprivation. Adults in more deprived areas, such as the North East, tended to perform less well in these tests than those in less deprived areas such as the South East.

Adult literacy levels - what do they mean?

Literacy results

Base: all respondents with literacy score (7,874)
Source for population figures: Census 2001

More than a third of adults living in social class five households were classified as having lower literacy skills, whereas adults living in social class one households were roughly four times more likely than those in social class five households to reach Level 2 or above in the literacy test.

Language was a barrier to those whose first language was not English (seven per cent of the total) - only one in four achieved Level 2 or above in the literacy assessment. However, those whose first language was not English but who claimed to have 'very good' spoken English performed to a similar standard as those with English as a first language. Among those speaking English as their first language, there were only minor differences in skills levels between the various ethnic groups. The exception was the low performance of the English speaking Black Caribbean population.

Good literacy and numeracy skills tended to be associated with good wages, although the connection was stronger for numeracy.

Very few adults regarded their reading, writing or maths skills as below average, even among those with the lowest level of ability. Only a tiny proportion (two per cent) felt their weak skills had hindered their job prospects or led to mistakes at work.

Literacy and numeracy skills in everyday life
The majority of respondents at each level of literacy claimed to read every day, with the exception of Entry 1 or lower level literacy. One in four of these respondents said they never read, but even among this group, four in ten read every day. The frequency of writing was more closely associated with literacy level. Only one in five of those with Entry 1 or lower level literacy, and only one in three of those with Entry level 2 literacy wrote every day.

Nearly all parents of children aged 5-16 said they helped their children with reading (95 per cent), writing (89 per cent) or maths (87 per cent). Those with lower levels of literacy and/or numeracy were less likely to help, and were less confident when they did, but still the majority tried to help (63 per cent of those with Entry level 2 or lower level literacy helped with their children's reading).

Basic Skills training
In total, 12 per cent of respondents said they have received training (outside school) in reading, writing or speaking English. This rises to 37 per cent for those whose first language is not English. One third said they had learnt 'a great deal' and another 44 per cent said they had learned 'a fair amount'.

ICT Skills
Many of the respondents had a relatively high level of awareness of ICT applications and terminology. However, a good level of awareness was not always accompanied by good practical skills. Fifteen per cent had never used a computer and slightly fewer than half (47 per cent) achieved Level 1 or above in the practical assessment. Those who performed better were likely to use a computer most days, whether at home or work, use a computer for a variety of applications and were confident in their abilities. Most accurately predicted their ICT skills, whereas many adults over-estimated their levels of literacy and numeracy.

Critique of the survey
International adult literacy consultant Thomas Sticht has produced a critique of the Skills for Life survey on behalf of the Basic Skills Agency. Read more about the critique

Links:
Download the full Skills for Life survey or the research brief from www.dfes.gov.uk or visit www.dfes.gov.uk/trends/index.cfm?fuseaction=home.showIndicator&cid=5&iid=39

For Skills for Life statistics in your area visit www.dfes.gov.uk/readwriteplus_skillsforlifesurvey

J. Williams with S. Clemens, K. Oleinikova and K. Tarvin of BMRB Social Research for the Department for Education and Skills (2003). The Skills for Life survey: A national needs and impact survey of literacy, numeracy and ICT skills. London: Department for Education and Skills.