Alignment of the Canadian Language Benchmarks to the Global Scale of English

About the GSE

Pearson developed the Global Scale of English (GSE) to provide instructors and learners with a more granular understanding of English language proficiency. It has been designed to build learners’ confidence by revealing exactly where they are on their learning journey and setting personalized goals to help them progress.

The GSE is an ecosystem that underpins the Pearson English Journey:

  • GSE Scale: a proficiency scale from 10 to 90, with clear statements for what a learner can achieve in speaking, listening, reading and writing at any point on the scale.
  • GSE Learning Objectives: descriptions of what learners can do at each level of proficiency in speaking, listening, reading and writing.
  • Courseware: all of Pearson's English language learning courseware is developed using the GSE Learning Objectives.
  • Assessment: institutions can develop their own assessment materials using the GSE Learning Objectives and Assessment Frameworks, or choose one of Pearson's digital assessments that reports on the GSE.

Learn more about the GSE

About Canadian Language Benchmarks

The Global Scale of English and the Canadian Language Benchmarks have been integrated to order a more holistic evaluation of English language proficiency. This alignment aims to assist institutions in accurately assessing the English language skills of immigrants and other individuals aspiring to reside or work in Canada.

Alignment methodology and results

Each Canadian Language Benchmark competency statement within each competency area was aligned to one or more GSE Learning Objectives. The profile of ability, sample indicators of ability and sample tasks were also consulted during the alignment. Given that the target audience for CLBs is adult learners, GSE Learning Objectives for Adults, Professionals and Academic were used.

The results of the GSE alignment show consistency with the CEFR-CLB alignment carried out by North and Piccardo in 2018. 

To find out more about our alignment and stages, download the reports.
 

Stage I - Basic Language Ability
Stage II - Intermediate Language Ability
Stage III - Advanced

 

CLB-GSE alignment compared to CLB-CEFR

Stage CLB level GSE Range CEFR-CLB
Alignment
(North & Piccardo)
I: Basic 1 10-19 <A1
2 20-27 A1
3 28-34 A1/A2
4 35-41 A2/A2+
II: Intermediate 5 42-46 B1
6 47-52 B1/B1+
7 53-58 B1+
8 59-66 B2
III: Advanced 9 67-72 B2+
10 73-78 C1
11 79-84 C1
12 85-90 C2

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