Which PTE requirement should you check?
Start with what you are applying for, then check the date of your test. There is no single PTE score requirement for Australia that covers study, every visa and permanent residency.
Still choosing a test? Compare IELTS vs PTE for Australia by required scores, fees, retake options and your strengths.
- Student visa, subclass 500: check the overall-score table below and whether an exemption or eligible course package applies.
- University admission: check your exact course and intake. An offer can require an overall score and minimums in individual skills.
- Nursing registration: use the separate 2026 Ahpra PTE requirements for nurses, including the April test-date change and two-sitting rules.
- Points-tested skilled migration: check the four component scores for Competent, Proficient or Superior English, alongside your visa's eligibility rules.
The tables below describe PTE Academic. The government English levels are requirements applied to test results, not additional scores on your Pearson report.
PTE score for an Australian Student visa in 2026
If you need to provide English-test evidence for subclass 500, use the row matching your course arrangement. These are overall PTE scores; this Student visa table does not set separate PTE component minimums.
| Course arrangement | Test from 7 August 2025 | Test on or before 6 August 2025 |
|---|---|---|
| Standard requirement | 47 | 50 |
| At least 10 weeks of ELICOS with the principal course, a standard/extended foundation program, or an eligible pathway program | 39 | 42 |
| At least 20 weeks of ELICOS with the principal course | 31 | 36 |
Source: Home Affairs Student visa page, Step by step / Gather your documents. Earlier results must still meet the applicable evidence period.
ELICOS means English Language Intensive Courses for Overseas Students. The lower scores depend on eligible enrolment and course timing; planning to take a short English class is not enough. Check section 6 and the eligible pathway list in the Student visa English instrument (PDF) against your course package.
Does every Student visa applicant need PTE?
No. PTE Academic is one accepted test, and exemptions can apply. For example, section 7 of the English instrument includes applicants who are citizens of and hold a valid passport from Canada, New Zealand, the Republic of Ireland, the UK or the US. Other exemptions depend on study, sponsorship or course circumstances. Check the full category and supporting evidence before relying on it.
A university can ask for more than the visa minimum
A Student visa score and a university entry score answer different questions. Check the English requirement on your course page even when your result clears the visa table.
For a concrete example, the University of Melbourne's published Level 1 requirement is PTE 64 overall with at least 60 in each skill. Other Melbourne levels and individual courses have different requirements; this is not an Australia-wide university minimum.
Example: a current result of 50 overall clears the standard Student visa PTE score threshold. It falls short of Melbourne Level 1's overall minimum. A result of 64 overall with Writing 59 also falls short of that university level, even though the overall minimum is met.
Save the requirement for your course and intake, including each skill minimum, accepted test version and evidence age. If your course leads to professional registration, check the regulator's requirements separately too.
Planning a February or March start? Compare six Australian universities accepting PTE for master's study in 2027, with named course examples and intake details.
PTE scores for Australia PR: the three English levels
For skilled migration, compare every component with the required English level. A strong overall result cannot compensate for a skill below its minimum.
| English level | Listening | Reading | Writing | Speaking |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Competent | 47 | 48 | 51 | 54 |
| Proficient | 58 | 59 | 69 | 76 |
| Superior | 69 | 70 | 85 | 88 |
Official score sources: Home Affairs Competent English, Proficient English and Superior English.
The English category in the skilled migration points test awards 0 points for Competent, 10 for Proficient and 20 for Superior. Only one level counts: Superior gives 20 English points in total.
English eligibility is only part of the visa decision
For example, the subclass 189 points-tested stream requires at least Competent English at invitation and at least 65 total migration points. That 65 is a points-test total, not a PTE score. Occupation, skills assessment, invitation and other criteria also matter; reaching 65 points does not guarantee an invitation.
Check the relevant visa subclass page for your pathway. The subclass 491 points table concerns a provisional visa, with a separate pathway to permanent residence. Other visas, including the Temporary Graduate visa (485), have their own English rules.
Already have a result around 65 or 79 in every skill? Use our PTE 65-each PR guide and worked score examples to see which current minimums it meets.
Which rules apply to a test taken before August 2025?
Use the test date to choose the score table. A later application does not automatically move an earlier result to the new thresholds.
| English level | Minimum in every skill |
|---|---|
| Competent | 50 each |
| Proficient | 65 each |
| Superior | 79 each |
The earlier tables remain on the Home Affairs Competent, Proficient and Superior pages. Eligible pre-change results may be usable until 6 August 2028, depending on the visa. This is an outer transition limit, not a new expiry date granted to every old result.
Check the evidence period separately
- Student visa: section 6 of the English instrument specifies a two-year window before application when test evidence is supplied with the application, or before the decision when it is supplied later. Section 8 covers pre-change tests. Follow the evidence instructions for your application.
- Skilled migration: the Home Affairs English-level pages describe a three-year period subject to subclass rules. Invitation timing also matters; subclass 189 requires the English level at invitation. Check the exact dates for your subclass before claiming points.
- University: use the institution's own acceptance period. A visa evidence period does not extend an admission deadline.
Keep your test date, score report, course requirement and relevant visa dates together. A valid score still needs to meet the right thresholds.
Choose PTE Academic and prepare for the current test
The Home Affairs approved test list names PTE Academic. Book an accepted test at a secure test centre; a fully online, at-home test is not accepted as visa English evidence. PTE Core serves Canadian immigration purposes and is not interchangeable with Academic for these Australian requirements.
The August 2025 update also changed the exam. Pearson added Summarize Group Discussion and Respond to a Situation. Check the current PTE Academic exam format before using older preparation material.
Turn the correct requirement into a practice plan
- Write your target precisely. Record the overall minimum, any four skill minimums, test-date rule and evidence deadline. If you need both admission and a visa, check both sets of conditions.
- Review each skill. Use speaking, writing, reading and listening practice to identify specific errors. Keep a short list of corrections to revisit.
- Practise the full sequence. Take a free PTE Academic mock test to work on timing, then use the four-week study plan to organise follow-up practice.
MocksPTE's feedback uses transcript and text checks. It cannot confirm an official PTE result or visa English level. Read how the practice estimates work when reviewing your performance.