The Global Scale of English: A decade of innovation in language education

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This year marks 10 years since the launch of the Global Scale of English (GSE) and what a journey it has been. As we celebrate this important milestone, it’s time to reflect on everything that has been achieved over the past decade.

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10 years of the GSE
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What is the Global Scale of English? 

The GSE is both a proficiency scale and a language framework designed to provide a detailed understanding of learners' English levels. It is the result of extensive global research and goes beyond other language measurement tools, such as the CEFR, to offer unparalleled insights into learners' skills.  

The GSE ensures precise learner placement and measurable progress tracking. It provides tangible insights into learners' English language competencies, boosting motivation and confidence.  Ìý
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Accurately place learners: Easily pinpoint reading, writing, listening and speaking skills on the simple 10-90 scale.

Measure and fast-track progress: Learning objectives describing what learners 'can do' at each point on the scale enable the creation of personalized learning journeys, short-term learning goals and the monitoring of progress towards these goals. Ìý
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In just a decade, the GSE has grown to support educators, learners and businesses across diverse learning stages and languages. Now, with the Global Scale of Languages (GSL), it also supports learners of French, German, Italian and Spanish. 

The evolution of the GSE 

From the initial set of 100 new GSE Learning Objectives, we now have almost 4,000 for all types of learners, from pre-primary to adults learning English for academic study and work. Our resources include comprehensive grammar and vocabulary databases, text analysis software and job-specific tools, all aligned to the GSE. Ìý

We wouldn’t be where we are today without the support of thousands of people around the world. This includes researchers, psychometricians and the 6,000+ teachers who collaborated with us to rate and validate the new learning objectives. 

Key milestones 

The GSE's journey is marked by many key milestones that highlight its growth and impact on global language education. Here are but a few notable achievements to showcase how far the GSE has come.

Plans and frameworks: The GSE resources provide guidance and support for the language learning process. Key educational frameworks, including Pre-Primary Learning Objectives, Young Learner Learning Objectives, Adult Learning Objectives, Academic Learning Objectives and Professional Learning Objectives, have been developed to help support English teaching in all contexts and for all ages. Educators can use these frameworks to deliver effective lessons, plan curriculums, shape learning and develop lessons further.

Recognition and awards: Recognition for the GSE by other education bodies such as the Council of Europe (CEFR), EAQUALS, NEAS and ACCET has strengthened its reputation within the worldwide education community. Furthermore, the GSE's nomination for the British Council ELTons Award for Innovation in Teacher Resources in 2020 further demonstrates its value and growing recognition.

Tools and applications: Teachers and students can benefit from the GSE Toolkit and GSE Text Analyzer. These tools provide helpful resources for educators and learners to make the most of the GSE. The GSE Job Profiles tool is an innovative resource that connects language learning with specific job requirements.

Global Scale of Languages expansion: It doesn’t just stop with English either. The GSE's expansion now includes the Global Scale of Languages (GSL) for French, German, Spanish and Italian, demonstrating our commitment to supporting language learners and educators across multiple languages.

10 Years of Global Scale of English: Mike Mayor Reflects on the Journey
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The 10-year anniversary of the Global Scale of English represents a significant milestone in language education. The GSE, a key part of ÃÛÌÒapp's learning programs, aims to provide precise, accurate, and personalized learning for students worldwide. We look forward to another decade of supporting learners, educators and businesses.Ìý

Find out about the GSE today and how it can enhance your educational journey.

Explore the GSE and learn more

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    7 tips for learning English online

    By Gemma Considine

    Learning English online is very different from studying in a physical classroom, and there is not always a teacher looking over your shoulder. And more often than not, you have to motivate yourself and keep yourself on track.

    In this blog, we’ll share seven tips to help you learn English online – including how to set goals, create a study schedule, and stay focused. Let’s explore:

    1. Set SMART goals

    Lots of students wonder how to learn English online. And we know getting started is often the most challenging part. So before you begin studying English online, we recommend setting some SMART goals. These are goals that are:

    • Specific
    • Measurable
    • Achievable
    • Relevant
    • Time-bound

    Let's say you:

    • Have an ultimate goal to get a high score in an English language exam (like ), so you can study abroad.

    You’ll need to plan how to reach this. An excellent way to start is to begin planning your short and medium-term goals. For example:

    • Short-term goal: Learn ten words each day
    • Medium-term goal: Improve practice test scores by 5% over the next month

    2. Make a study schedule

    Creating a well-thought-out schedule will help you to study English online and stay organized. It’ll also mean you dedicate enough time to each language skill – speaking, reading, writing and listening:

    • Pick times that work best for you – You may prefer studying at certain times of the day when you have more energy, or after doing something energizing like working out.
    • Stick to it – Once you’ve set a regular fixed time, stay with it to ensure it becomes a routine habit.
    • Make time – Give yourself as much time as possible to finish each task (especially in case life gets in the way) and some time to relax.

    3. Create a comfortable learning space

    Where you study . For example, sunlight can lead to better learning outcomes. Temperature and noise can also affect the way you learn. If you can, make sure that your learning space is:

    • well-lit
    • temperate
    • quiet (and private if possible!)
    • relaxing
    • organized

    You might also want to decorate your study space, perhaps with an indoor plant – they can !

    Also, before you start, do you have everything at hand? Do you have water? Is your coursebook close by? And is your computer fully charged? Having all your supplies on hand will help you stay focused – and learn English online faster.

    4. Eliminate distractions

    To learn English online, you need to eliminate distractions. Logging off your social media accounts and anything else distracting you until you’re done studying is good practice. If you find yourself logging back in, you might want to use a focus app (like , which can block up to thirty websites).
    If you can, turn off your phone altogether and put it away and out of sight. If you’re tempted to pick it up again, ask yourself why. Sometimes, there’s no good reason, and it’s best to keep studying.

    5. Try the Pomodoro Technique

    The Pomodoro Technique is a great way to break your studying into manageable chunks, which will also help you stay focused.

    The technique:

    • Set a timer for 20 minutes
    • Each time the timer goes off, write a tick on a piece of paper
    • Take a five-minute break
    • Continue to set the timer for 20-minute intervals
    • When you've got four ticks, take a 20-minute break

    This time management system works well because it gives you frequent breaks to look forward to and helps you concentrate. You can use this time to stretch, have a snack, take a walk – or do anything that gives your mind a rest.

    6. Use self-study resources

    There are lots of English learning materials available online – including worksheets, mock tests, games and grammar exercises. There are also various games and quizzes available online.

    7. Find a study partner

    We all know studying online can get lonely! That’s why we recommend you find a study partner. With a partner to work with, you can practice speaking and listening. You’ll have someone to check over your work. But most importantly – you’ll have someone to hold you accountable and help you stay motivated. Perhaps you know a friend or family member who is also studying English, and you can work with them. You can sometimes find local study groups or clubs depending on your location.

    If you're unable to find a local study group or an in-person partner, there are many places to find a study partner online – for example, or dedicated social media groups. You might also want to try out silent Zoom meetings; students and professionals keep each other focused by simply working together on mute.