If you’re trying to keep up with Australia’s English language test requirements for visas, don’t assume the goalposts are still in the same place you left them a couple of years ago. From 7 August 2025, the Department of Home Affairs changed both the scoring system and which tests actually count. If you’re planning to sit a test now, this is what you need to know before you book it.
The two big changes
1. Online and at-home tests are no longer accepted. If you sit your test on or after 7 August 2025, it has to be completed at a secure, in-person test centre. IELTS Online, CELPIP Online, and the TOEFL iBT Home Edition are all now rejected for visa purposes, regardless of the score you get.
2. PTE Academic moved from one overall score to four separate minimums. Previously, PTE applicants needed a single overall score. Now, like IELTS, you need to hit a minimum in each of the four components – listening, reading, writing, and speaking – individually. Scoring high in three areas no longer covers for a weak fourth.
If you already sat an approved test before 7 August 2025, there’s a grandfathering window: those results can still be used for visa purposes until 6 August 2028, depending on the specific visa subclass.
The three English levels, and what each test needs to hit them
Australian visas use three tiers – Competent, Proficient, and Superior English – and the points test rewards the higher two. Here’s what you need across the main tests, under the current (post-7 August 2025) scoring:
Competent English (the baseline most skilled visas require):
- IELTS: 6 in every band
- PTE Academic: 47 listening / 48 reading / 51 writing / 54 speaking
- TOEFL iBT: 16 / 16 / 19 / 19
- OET: 290 / 310 / 290 / 330
- Cambridge C1 Advanced: 163 / 163 / 170 / 179
Proficient English (worth 10 points on the skilled migration points test):
- IELTS: 7 in every band
- PTE Academic: 58 / 59 / 69 / 76
- TOEFL iBT: 22 / 22 / 26 / 24
- OET: 350 / 360 / 380 / 360
- Cambridge C1 Advanced: 175 / 179 / 193 / 194
Superior English (worth 20 points – the maximum English can contribute):
- IELTS: 8 in every band
- PTE Academic: 69 listening / 70 reading / 85 writing / 88 speaking
- TOEFL iBT: 26 / 27 / 30 / 28
- OET: 390 / 400 / 420 / 400
- Cambridge C1 Advanced: 186 / 190 / 210 / 208
Notice that the PTE thresholds are uneven across components – writing and speaking demand noticeably higher scores than listening and reading at every tier. If you’re choosing which test to sit based on your strengths, that unevenness matters.
Which visas actually need this
English test evidence is required across most of the skilled and employer-sponsored pathways migrants use, including:
- Subclass 189 (Skilled Independent)
- Subclass 190 (Skilled Nominated)
- Subclass 491 (Skilled Work Regional)
- Subclass 482 (Skills in Demand)
- Subclass 186 (Employer Nomination)
- Subclass 494 (Regional Sponsorship)
- Subclass 485 (Temporary Graduate)
Test results also need to be recent – within 3 years of your visa application – so an old test, even one that met the requirements at the time, may no longer be valid regardless of the grandfathering window.
What this actually means for you
If you’re about to book a test to meet Australia’s English language test requirements for visas, three things matter more than they used to:
- Check the test is on the approved list before you pay for it. An at-home or fully remote version of an otherwise-accepted test won’t count anymore, even if it used to.
- Don’t assume old advice about PTE still applies. If you were told you just need one overall score, that guidance is outdated – you now need to clear all four components individually.
- Weight your prep toward writing and speaking if you’re doing PTE. The gap between the easier components (listening, reading) and the harder ones (writing, speaking) is bigger than most people expect, especially at the Superior level.
The points difference between Proficient and Superior English is 10 points – often enough to be the difference between an invitation and another round of waiting. If you’re close to a threshold, it’s worth knowing exactly which band you’re short on rather than aiming vaguely at “a better score.”
FAQ
Can I still use an IELTS Online or TOEFL Home Edition result for my Australian visa?
Only if you sat it before 7 August 2025, and only until the grandfathering window closes on 6 August 2028, depending on your visa subclass. Tests sat from 7 August 2025 onward must be completed at a secure, in-person test centre.
How many points does Superior English add to my skilled migration points test score?
Superior English adds 20 points, the maximum available for English ability. Proficient English adds 10 points. Competent English is the baseline requirement and adds no extra points.
What PTE score do I need for Superior English?
Under the current scoring system, you need at least 69 (listening), 70 (reading), 85 (writing), and 88 (speaking) – all four, not an average.
How old can my English test result be when I apply for my visa?
It generally needs to be within 3 years of your visa application date.
