Functional Skills Level 2 expects you to use and convert standard units in real measuring situations: length, mass, capacity, time and money. The metric system uses prefixes that always mean the same thing: milli = one thousandth, centi = one hundredth and kilo = one thousand. To convert, multiply when moving to a smaller unit and divide when moving to a larger one.
Memorise the core metric facts and apply them confidently:
You also need approximate conversions between metric and common imperial units. Useful benchmarks are: 1 inch ≈ 2.54 cm; 1 kg ≈ 2.2 lb (1 lb ≈ 0.454 kg); 1 litre ≈ 1.75 pints (1 pint ≈ 0.568 litres); and 5 miles ≈ 8 km (1 mile ≈ 1.6 km). These let you compare quantities given in different systems, for example checking whether a 50 mph road sign matches an 80 km/h limit.
Reading scales described in words means working out the value of each unmarked division: find the gap between two labelled marks, divide by the number of intervals, and count along. Many measurements involve decimals of a unit (for instance 1.75 kg = 1750 g, or 2.5 km = 2500 m), so convert carefully and keep place value correct.
Compound measures combine two quantities. Speed = distance ÷ time, density = mass ÷ volume, and a rate links any two measures (such as cost per litre or flow per minute). Always rearrange the formula to find the unknown and make sure the units are consistent first.
Finally, estimate sensibly and choose appropriate units: measure a room in metres, a tablet dose in milligrams, a journey in kilometres or miles, and a drink in millilitres or litres. Picking the right unit reduces errors and makes answers easier to check.
1. How many millimetres are there in 1 centimetre?
There are 10 millimetres in 1 centimetre, because 'milli' means one-thousandth and 'centi' means one-hundredth of a metre. (DfE Functional Skills Mathematics subject content (Level 2); SI metric system (10 mm = 1 cm).)
2. How many centimetres are there in 1 metre?
There are 100 centimetres in 1 metre, as 'centi' means one-hundredth. (DfE Functional Skills Mathematics subject content (Level 2), 'common units of measure'; SI metric system (100 cm = 1 m).)
3. How many metres are there in 1 kilometre?
There are 1000 metres in 1 kilometre, because the prefix 'kilo' means one thousand. (DfE Functional Skills Mathematics subject content (Level 2); SI metric system (1000 m = 1 km).)
4. How many grams are there in 1 kilogram?
There are 1000 grams in 1 kilogram, as 'kilo' means one thousand. (DfE Functional Skills Mathematics subject content (Level 2), converting between units of mass; SI metric system (1000 g = 1 kg).)
5. How many millilitres are there in 1 litre?
There are 1000 millilitres in 1 litre, because 'milli' means one-thousandth. (DfE Functional Skills Mathematics subject content (Level 2), converting between units of capacity; SI metric system (1000 ml = 1 litre).)
6. A piece of timber is 2.5 metres long. What is its length in centimetres?
To convert metres to centimetres you multiply by 100, so 2.5 m x 100 = 250 cm. (DfE Functional Skills Mathematics subject content (Level 2); 100 cm = 1 m.)
7. A bag of flour weighs 750 grams. What is this mass in kilograms?
To convert grams to kilograms you divide by 1000, so 750 g divided by 1000 = 0.75 kg. (DfE Functional Skills Mathematics subject content (Level 2); 1000 g = 1 kg.)
8. A water bottle holds 1.5 litres. How many millilitres is this?
To convert litres to millilitres you multiply by 1000, so 1.5 l x 1000 = 1500 ml. (DfE Functional Skills Mathematics subject content (Level 2); 1000 ml = 1 litre.)
9. A running track is 400 metres long. A runner completes 10 full laps. What total distance is this in kilometres?
10 laps x 400 m = 4000 m, and dividing by 1000 gives 4 km. (DfE Functional Skills Mathematics subject content (Level 2); 1000 m = 1 km.)
10. A nail is 35 millimetres long. What is its length in centimetres?
To convert millimetres to centimetres you divide by 10, so 35 mm divided by 10 = 3.5 cm. (DfE Functional Skills Mathematics subject content (Level 2); 10 mm = 1 cm.)
11. A recipe needs 250 ml of milk. You only have a measuring jug marked in litres. How much milk do you need in litres?
To convert millilitres to litres you divide by 1000, so 250 ml divided by 1000 = 0.25 l. (DfE Functional Skills Mathematics subject content (Level 2); 1000 ml = 1 litre.)
12. A medicine dose is 0.4 grams. The label gives the dose in milligrams. How many milligrams is this?
To convert grams to milligrams you multiply by 1000, so 0.4 g x 1000 = 400 mg. (SI metric system; Functional Skills units of mass (1000 mg = 1 g).)
13. A delivery lorry carries 3 tonnes of sand. What is this mass in kilograms?
There are 1000 kilograms in 1 metric tonne, so 3 tonnes x 1000 = 3000 kg. (DfE Functional Skills Mathematics subject content (Level 2); UK metric tonne = 1000 kg.)
14. A fish tank holds 30 litres of water. Using the equivalence 1 litre = 1000 cubic centimetres, what is the volume of water in cubic centimetres?
Since 1 litre = 1000 cm³, the volume is 30 x 1000 = 30000 cm³. (SI metric system; Functional Skills Level 2 volume-to-capacity conversions (1 litre = 1000 cm³).)
15. A wine bottle is labelled 75 cl. How many litres does it contain?
There are 100 centilitres in 1 litre, so 75 cl divided by 100 = 0.75 l. (SI metric system (centi = 1/100); Functional Skills units of capacity (100 cl = 1 litre).)
16. A wall is 3 m 45 cm long. Expressed entirely in centimetres, what is its length?
3 m is 300 cm, and adding the extra 45 cm gives 300 + 45 = 345 cm. (DfE Functional Skills Mathematics subject content (Level 2); 100 cm = 1 m.)
17. A patient must take a 5 ml dose of medicine four times a day for 7 days. How many litres of medicine are used in total over the 7 days?
Total = 5 ml x 4 x 7 = 140 ml, and 140 ml divided by 1000 = 0.14 l. (DfE Functional Skills Mathematics subject content (Level 2); 1000 ml = 1 litre.)
18. Which of these lengths is the longest?
Converting all to metres: 0.5 km = 500 m, 450 m, 55000 cm = 550 m and 490000 mm = 490 m, so 55000 cm is the longest. (DfE Functional Skills Mathematics subject content (Level 2); metric length conversions.)
19. Which formula correctly gives average speed?
Average speed is found by dividing the distance travelled by the time taken. (DfE Functional Skills Mathematics subject content (Level 2), compound measures.)
20. A car travels 150 km in 2 hours at a steady rate. What is its average speed?
Average speed = distance ÷ time = 150 km ÷ 2 h = 75 km/h. (DfE Functional Skills Mathematics subject content (Level 2), compound measures (speed = distance/time).)
21. A cyclist rides at an average speed of 20 km/h for 3 hours. How far does the cyclist travel?
Distance = speed x time = 20 km/h x 3 h = 60 km. (DfE Functional Skills Mathematics subject content (Level 2), compound measures (distance = speed x time).)
22. A train covers 240 km at an average speed of 80 km/h. How long does the journey take?
Time = distance ÷ speed = 240 km ÷ 80 km/h = 3 hours. (DfE Functional Skills Mathematics subject content (Level 2), compound measures (time = distance/speed).)
23. A block of metal has a mass of 600 g and a volume of 200 cm³. Using density = mass ÷ volume, what is its density?
Density = mass ÷ volume = 600 g ÷ 200 cm³ = 3 g/cm³. (DfE Functional Skills Mathematics subject content (Level 2), compound measures (density = mass/volume).)
24. A plumber charges at a rate of £45 per hour. How much is charged for a job lasting 2 hours and 30 minutes?
2 hours 30 minutes is 2.5 hours, so the charge is £45 x 2.5 = £112.50. (DfE Functional Skills Mathematics subject content (Level 2), compound measures and rates; 60 minutes = 1 hour.)
25. A car uses fuel at a rate of 6 litres per 100 km. How many litres are needed for a journey of 250 km?
At 6 litres per 100 km, the rate per km is 0.06 litres, so 250 km x 0.06 = 15 litres. (DfE Functional Skills Mathematics subject content (Level 2), compound measures and rates.)
26. In the standard conversion used in Functional Skills, approximately how many centimetres are there in 1 inch?
The standard conversion is 1 inch ≈ 2.54 cm (exactly 2.54 cm). (DfE Functional Skills Mathematics subject content (Level 2): convert between metric and imperial units (1 in = 2.54 cm).)
27. Approximately how many pounds (lb) are equal to 1 kilogram?
The standard approximation is 1 kg ≈ 2.2 lb. (DfE Functional Skills Mathematics subject content (Level 2): metric/imperial conversion (1 kg ≈ 2.2 lb).)
28. Using the usual approximation, 5 miles is roughly equal to how many kilometres?
The standard approximation is 5 miles ≈ 8 km (1 mile ≈ 1.6 km). (DfE Functional Skills Mathematics subject content (Level 2): metric/imperial conversion (5 miles ≈ 8 km).)
29. Approximately how many pints are there in 1 litre?
The standard approximation is 1 litre ≈ 1.75 pints (1 pint ≈ 0.568 litres). (DfE Functional Skills Mathematics subject content (Level 2): metric/imperial conversion (1 litre ≈ 1.75 pints).)
30. A piece of timber measures 6 inches long. Using 1 inch ≈ 2.54 cm, what is its length in centimetres?
6 × 2.54 = 15.24 cm. (DfE Functional Skills Mathematics subject content (Level 2): convert between metric and imperial units.)
31. A bag of sugar weighs 5 kg. Using 1 kg ≈ 2.2 lb, what is its weight in pounds?
5 × 2.2 = 11 lb. (DfE Functional Skills Mathematics subject content (Level 2): metric/imperial conversion (1 kg ≈ 2.2 lb).)
32. A car journey is 40 miles long. Using 1 mile ≈ 1.6 km, what is this distance in kilometres?
40 × 1.6 = 64 km. (DfE Functional Skills Mathematics subject content (Level 2): metric/imperial conversion (5 miles ≈ 8 km).)
33. A container holds 4 litres of milk. Using 1 litre ≈ 1.75 pints, roughly how many pints is this?
4 × 1.75 = 7 pints. (DfE Functional Skills Mathematics subject content (Level 2): metric/imperial conversion (1 litre ≈ 1.75 pints).)
34. A man's weight is recorded as 70 kg. Using 1 kg ≈ 2.2 lb, what is his weight in pounds?
70 × 2.2 = 154 lb. (DfE Functional Skills Mathematics subject content (Level 2): metric/imperial conversion (1 kg ≈ 2.2 lb).)
35. A road sign abroad gives a distance of 80 km. Using 5 miles ≈ 8 km, approximately how many miles is this?
80 ÷ 8 × 5 = 50 miles. (DfE Functional Skills Mathematics subject content (Level 2): metric/imperial conversion (5 miles ≈ 8 km).)