Assessing listening skills with the GSE

Leonor Corradi
Leonor Corradi
A teacher standing next to a student who is sat down, he has a pen and is gesturing to her work on the table.
Reading time: 4 minutes

In today’s interconnected world, effective communication in English is more crucial than ever. As educators and language learners seek to measure and improve English proficiency, a resource like the Global Scale of English (GSE) offers a valuable framework for assessment. This blog post will explore how the GSE can be used to assess listening skills, providing insights into how it also helps tailor instruction and support language development.

For listening skills, the GSE focuses on how well learners can understand spoken English in different contexts. It assesses comprehension at varying levels of complexity:

Understanding simple information: At lower levels, learners are expected to understand basic information, such as simple instructions or everyday topics. The GSE provides learning objectives for how well learners can grasp essential details.

Understanding main ideas: As proficiency grows, learners should be able to identify main ideas and key points in more complex spoken texts, such as conversations and broadcasts. The GSE outlines how well learners can extract important information from various sources.

Understanding detailed information: At advanced levels, learners are expected to comprehend detailed and nuanced information, including implicit meaning and speaker intent. The GSE describes the level of detail and depth of understanding required at these stages.

The GSE also shows how students engage in different operations of listening, from global comprehension, recognizing information and identifying specific information to extracting information. By taking this into account, teachers can monitor students’ progress and assess their listening skills. An example will show this in action.

Let’s consider a level, say GSE 30-35 (equivalent to low A2 on the CEFR) and focus on how students process information. When checking a listening activity, rather than simply focusing on whether the answers are correct or incorrect, we can analyze our learners using the GSE and see what progress they are making and what we need to do as teachers to help them move on. Heres how:

Learning objectives

GSE

Date 1

Date 2

Date 3

Date 4

Can understand basic information about someone when introduced to them using simple language.

28

 

 

 

 

Can recognize phrases and content words related to basic personal and family information.

30

 

 

 

 

Can identify simple information in a short video, provided that the visual supports this information and the delivery is slow and clear.

30

 

 

 

 

Can extract key factual information - prices, times and dates - from short clear, simple announcements.

30

 

 

 

 

Can identify basic factual information in short, simple dialogues or narratives on familiar everyday topics, if spoken slowly and clearly.

32

 

 

 

 

Can understand key information about arrangements in simple dialogues spoken slowly and clearly.

32

 

 

 

 

Can understand information related to people's daily routines.

32

 

 

 

 

Can understand the main information in short, simple dialogues about familiar activities, if spoken slowly and clearly.

33

 

 

 

 

Can identify key information from short audio recordings, if spoken slowly and clearly.

33

 

 

 

 

Can understand the main information in simple conversations about hobbies and interests.

34

 

 

 

 

Can extract key factual information such as prices, times and dates from a recorded phone message.

35

 

 

 

 

Can recognize some fixed expressions used to confirm information.

35

 

 

 

 

Can identify specific information in short, simple dialogues in which speakers make arrangements to do something, if spoken slowly and clearly.

35

 

 

 

 
We should analyze the items in the listening activity using the following criteria, criteria that we can find by analyzing the learning objectives
  • Should there be any support?
  • Are learners being asked to use a number of different listening modes?

Every class will include a range of different abilities: some students get all of the questions right, whereas others may not. In this case, the GSE provides teachers with an extremely valuable tool to assess learners’ performance.

We may see that students are performing well at the understanding and recognition level but still find it hard to identify and extract specific information. Will we solve this by simply giving them more listening activities? Well, no. To support them in identifying and extracting specific information, we need to help them understand and identify clues in a text. Analyzing the written audioscripts is the best way to help learners understand what they are listening to.

We can also use the same table, above, to record information each time we do a listening activity.

Students write the date and compare results to the ones they fill out in the future. This way, they can truly see progress and if they’ve mastered a particular learning objective, something hard for them to see, even if we tell them so.

Utilizing the GSE

The Global Scale of English provides a structured and detailed approach to assessing speaking and listening skills. By using the GSE framework, teachers can offer precise, level-appropriate feedback and tailor their instruction to meet learners' needs. This not only enhances the learning experience but also ensures that learners effectively develop their English communication skills. Whether you're a teacher or a learner, embracing the GSE can lead to more targeted, effective, and meaningful language assessment.

Explore the teaching resources available at GSE to support learning, including tools like our GSE Toolkit. 

Read our other post 'How the GSE can help teachers personalize activities'.

Learn more about the GSE

More blogs from Pearson

  • Two business professionals loooking at notes together
    GSE, KPIs and ROI (Part 2): Turning language data into business value
    By Łukasz Pakuła
    Reading time: 5 minutes

    In Part 1, we looked at how to build a sensible measurement philosophy for language training using KPIs and the Global Scale of English (GSE). We’ve established that language programs shouldn’t be treated as a calendar entry, but as a strategic lever, and that independence, granularity and credibility are the secret sauce.

    Now it’s time to move from how to why: how these datapoints translate into tangible business outcomes, and how to make sure your investment in English doesn’t just look good on slides but actually delivers value when the CFO walks in.

    From measuring to meaning: translating KPIs into ROI

    Let’s be blunt: only a reckless stakeholder invests without expecting a return. Weighing costs and benefits, however, can get tricky. Without some operational clarity, ROI quickly becomes either a fairy tale or a labyrinth, both of which are bad news in risk-averse corporate cultures.

    From a client’s perspective, it’s vital to include all components in your calculation: direct delivery fees, platform access, materials and, ideally, a provider capable of offering the full package. And please don’t forget the indirect cost of time. Two hours of lessons per week equals more than 100 hours per learner per year. Add the asynchronous learning that every serious learner contributes, and we’re suddenly talking about real numbers.

    If you skip that, the ROI will look spectacular on paper until someone performs a reality check and the budget line gets a little uncomfortable. If you’re an L&D manager reading this, add sensible estimates for coordination and reporting. Ideally, your provider helps you keep those to a minimum. At choices®, which provides language services, we see this as part of the service rather than a side quest. Trust me, it saves everyone time and sanity.

  • Students looking at notebooks smiling
    Get same-day results with Pearson English Express Test
    By Abi Fordham
    Reading time: 2 minutes

    If you’ve ever taken an English test and found yourself constantly checking your inbox, wondering when your score will arrive, you’re not alone. I worked across Pearson’s social media channels for years, and I heard from students every day who were anxious to know how they did, despite it only being an hour into the standard 48-hour turnaround time.

    That’s why I’m so excited about the Pearson English Express Test - because it gives you something most tests don’t: a score in minutes.

    The score that helps you plan

    Let’s talk about the unofficial score. You’ll see it just minutes after finishing the test. While it’s not certified for university applications just yet, it’s a powerful tool for planning your next move.

    If your score is where you hoped it would be, you can start preparing your application materials with confidence. If it’s not quite there, you’ve got a head start on knowing what to improve, and you haven’t lost time waiting to find out. It’s like getting a sneak peek at your future, and it’s one of the most empowering parts of the Pearson English Express Test experience.

    Fast and reliable certified results

    Of course, you’ll still need your certified score to apply to universities. That’s delivered within 48 hours, after a security review.

    • AI scoring ensures fairness and consistency.
    • Remote proctoring and ID checks keep the process secure.
    • Certified results align with CEFR standards and are trusted by institutions.

    You get speed and reliability – without compromise.

    Why fast English test results matter for students

    When you’re applying to study in the USA, every day counts and you’ll have so many things to tick off your list. You might be juggling deadlines, coordinating with universities, or planning your next big move. The Pearson English Express Test was built to support you, not slow you down.

    It’s fast, fair and designed for students who want to move forward with confidence.

    Ready to take the Pearson English Express Test?

    If you’re looking for a test that gives you answers quickly and helps you plan your next step, this is it.

    Take your test today and experience the difference for yourself.

  • A student and lecturer talking together in a lecture room
    Language education trend predicitions for 2026
    By Charlotte Guest
    Reading time: 4 minutes

    Language education has never been more active or challenging. We've experienced significant changes in technology, changing student needs and higher expectations for practical results. Looking ahead to 2026, the outlook is positive: better tools, clearer skill guides and learning that feels more personal and human.

    Below are nine trends to keep an eye on in 2026 for your language teaching. 

    AI becomes your co-teacher, not your replacement

    Generative AI is moving from novelty to dependable support: drafting lesson variants, generating levelled texts, offering initial feedback on writing and speaking, and freeing you to focus on pedagogy and relationships. The emphasis in 2026 is on ethical, transparent use: you set the learning goals and the guardrails; AI accelerates the workflow.

    Try: Use AI to produce three versions of a reading at different proficiency bands, then validate levels using a recognized framework.

    Data-informed personalization with clear proficiency frameworks

    Teachers want data they can trust and act on. Proficiency frameworks like the Global Scale of English (GSE) make progress visible and instructional decisions simpler, connecting learning objectives, materials and assessments across skills and levels. Expect more “micro-mastery” milestones and dashboards that turn evidence into next-step teaching.

    Try: Map unit outcomes to specific "can-do" statements, then build short practice cycles around those micro-goals. Use GSE-aligned resources to set targets and monitor growth.