Using the GSE

If you are a learner, test taker, educator or HR professional looking to use the GSE in a non-commercial context – for example in order to plan courses of study, set learning goals or monitor progress – we are delighted that you are interested in the GSE and can’t wait for you to start using it. When doing so we ask that you follow these guidelines.

(Version dated July 2024)

If you want to align materials or courses to the GSE, please follow this recommended approach:

  1. List out your institution’s learning objectives.
  2. For each of your learning objectives, search for related GSE Learning Objectives using the GSE Toolkit. Try using key words from your institution’s learning objectives (e.g. talk, interest, hobby, etc.) to search the database.
  3. Identify the closest possible match.
  4. The main focus of any alignment should be the functional learning objectives for Listening, Reading, Speaking and Writing. For Adult learners, grammar can also be aligned using the GSE Learning Objectives for Grammar in the GSE Toolkit.
  5. Analyze the final list of learning objectives to provide an overview of the distribution of learning objectives across levels.
  6. The basic mean of all the learning objectives can be calculated by applying a standard statistical deviation of +/- 3 to find the upper and lower ends of the level range.
  7. If you would like further guidance, please refer to the following case study: Curriculum auditing and program development: Using the Global Scale of English to review and develop English Language programs (pearson.com).

For the purposes of publications and presentations please include the following copyright notice: The Global Scale of English and its components © Pearson.

Pearson retains ownership of the GSE (including its components) and we reserve the right to update it at any time, or to refuse or withdraw permission for your use of the GSE (including where we determine the use of it is not in accordance with the above guidelines).

For anyone looking to use the GSE for commercial purposes, please contact us first.