PTE scores for Australian visas — current rules, previous rules, dates
Plain-English guide to the PTE Academic scores published by the Department of Home Affairs, with every figure linked to its source.
PTE for Australian visas
Home Affairs accepts PTE Academic as evidence of English. For tests from 7 August 2025, it must be taken in a secure test centre — fully online tests aren’t accepted.
PTE for Student visa
Student visa (subclass 500) English requirements are set in a legislative instrument and can vary with ELICOS study. Test providers report 47 overall for PTE tests from 7 August 2025 — confirm on Home Affairs and with your provider.
PTE for Skilled Migration
Skilled visas commonly require at least Competent English. Proficient and Superior English can earn points in the points test — check the points table for your subclass.
Competent, Proficient and Superior English
Current thresholds apply to PTE Academic tests taken on or after 7 August 2025. Previous thresholds apply to tests taken on or before 6 August 2025. Home Affairs notes the updated test has the same name, but “the test and scores are different”. Scores as at 7 October 2026.
Competent English
A common minimum for many skilled and employer-sponsored visas.
| Skill | From 7 Aug 2025 | Before |
|---|---|---|
| listening | 47 | 50 |
| reading | 48 | 50 |
| writing | 51 | 50 |
| speaking | 54 | 50 |
Proficient English
Can earn points in the General Skilled Migration points test.
| Skill | From 7 Aug 2025 | Before |
|---|---|---|
| listening | 58 | 65 |
| reading | 59 | 65 |
| writing | 69 | 65 |
| speaking | 76 | 65 |
Superior English
The highest level recognised in the points test.
| Skill | From 7 Aug 2025 | Before |
|---|---|---|
| listening | 69 | 79 |
| reading | 70 | 79 |
| writing | 85 | 79 |
| speaking | 88 | 79 |
Check your PTE scores against each level
Enter your four skill scores and your test date. You’ll see which levels you meet and exactly how far each skill is from the next level.
Missing a level by a few points?
That’s the most common reason students contact us. The X-Ray shows which skill is cheapest to lift and which question types feed it.
PTE visa score checker
Free toolEnter your four PTE Academic skill scores to compare them with Home Affairs English levels.
Results appear when all four scores are entered.
Informational only. Thresholds as at 7 October 2026, from the Department of Home Affairs. Your visa subclass may have other requirements — this is not migration advice. For migration advice, speak to a registered migration agent.
How long PTE results remain usable
- Tests taken on or after 7 August 2025: Home Affairs generally accepts results for up to 3 years from the test date, depending on the visa subclass.
- Tests taken on or before 6 August 2025: may be used until 6 August 2028, inclusive, depending on the visa subclass — and the previous score thresholds apply to them.
- Pearson states PTE score reports are valid for 2 years for institutions, though each institution may set its own rules. Visa validity is set by Home Affairs, not Pearson.
Rule changes timeline
2025
Pearson publishes details of two new speaking tasks and human scoring of content on selected tasks.
Pearson PTE — PTE changes 2025: everything you need to know2025
Tests taken from 7 August 2025 include Summarize Group Discussion and Respond to a Situation.
Pearson PTE — PTE Academic updates 20252025
For PTE Academic tests taken on or after 7 August 2025, new component scores apply for Competent, Proficient and Superior English. Home Affairs notes the test has the same name but “the test and scores are different”.
Home Affairs — Competent English2025
Home Affairs states it does not accept evidence from English tests delivered completely online. PTE Academic must be taken in a secure test centre.
Home Affairs — English language visa requirements2028
Results from tests taken on or before 6 August 2025 may be used as evidence of English for visa purposes until 6 August 2028, inclusive (subject to the visa subclass).
Home Affairs — Proficient EnglishPTE vs IELTS for Australia
Both are accepted by Home Affairs when taken in a test centre. The better choice depends on how you perform, not which test is “easier”.
| PTE Academic | IELTS | |
|---|---|---|
| Format | Computer-based, taken in a secure Pearson test centre | Paper or computer-based; speaking test with an examiner |
| Scoring | AI scoring, with human experts part-scoring content on 7 task types (never pronunciation or fluency) | Human examiners for Speaking and Writing |
| Score scale | 10–90 overall and for each skill | Band 0–9 |
| Results | Pearson says within two days in almost all cases | Check the IELTS provider for current timelines |
| Visa acceptance | Accepted by Home Affairs (test-centre delivery) | Accepted by Home Affairs (test-centre delivery; IELTS Online not accepted) |
| Best fit for | Students comfortable with computer-based tasks and fast-paced integrated questions | Students who prefer a face-to-face speaking test |
Home Affairs publishes the equivalent scores for every accepted test on each English level page. How to choose between them: PTE vs IELTS for Australia.
PTE & Australian visa questions
Only for PTE Academic tests taken on or before 6 August 2025. For tests taken on or after 7 August 2025, Home Affairs lists Superior English as at least 69 Listening, 70 Reading, 85 Writing and 88 Speaking (as at 7 October 2026). Always check the current Home Affairs page.
- Home Affairs — English language visa requirements
- Home Affairs — Competent English
- Home Affairs — Proficient English
- Home Affairs — Superior English
- Home Affairs — Student visa (subclass 500)
- Federal Register of Legislation — English Language Tests for Subclass 500 Visas Instrument 2025
- IDP — New English requirements for Australian visas (Aug 2025)
- Home Affairs — Skilled Independent visa (subclass 189) points table