PTE vs IELTS for Australian Visas: Score Table

The short answer

Australia does not rank one test above another. Home Affairs accepts several tests and publishes a minimum score in each of the four skills (listening, reading, writing and speaking) for each level of English. You need to reach the level in every skill, not just on average.

The big change to know about: on 7 August 2025 the list of approved tests and the required scores changed. PTE Academic kept its name, but its scores for visa purposes are different now, so the old "PTE 65 = Proficient, PTE 79 = Superior" rule of thumb only applies to tests taken on or before 6 August 2025. All figures below were checked against Home Affairs on 30 September 2026.

Which tests are accepted

For tests taken on or after 7 August 2025, at a secure test centre:

• Cambridge C1 Advanced
• CELPIP General (Canadian English Language Proficiency Index Program)
• IELTS Academic and IELTS General Training, including One Skill Retake
• LANGUAGECERT Academic
• Michigan English Test (MET), including Single Section Retake
• OET (Occupational English Test, designed for health professionals)
• PTE Academic
• TOEFL iBT, but only if you select "Taking TOEFL for Australia" when you register

Results from the older approved tests (C1 Advanced / CAE, IELTS, PTE Academic, OET and TOEFL iBT) taken on or before 6 August 2025 can still be used until 6 August 2028, depending on the visa.

The English levels explained

Home Affairs uses five named levels: functional, vocational, competent, proficient and superior. For skilled migration, the three that matter most are:

• Competent English: the usual minimum for skilled visas. For example, the 189 needs it at the time of invitation and the 186 needs it for the main applicant. Passport holders from the UK, US, Canada, New Zealand and Ireland automatically meet it.
• Proficient English: earns extra points on the points test.
• Superior English: the top level, worth the most points.

Unless a visa says otherwise, the test must have been taken in the 3 years before you apply. Some visas set their own rules instead. For example, the 485 Temporary Graduate visa needs IELTS 6.5 overall (5.5 in each skill) from a test in the last 12 months, and the Skills in Demand 482 visa has its own lower minimums.

Score table: tests taken on or after 7 August 2025

Scores are shown as listening / reading / writing / speaking. You need at least this score in each skill.

Two things stand out. First, the new PTE and TOEFL scores are uneven across skills, with writing and speaking set higher than listening and reading. Second, the Michigan English Test is not listed for Superior English, so if you are aiming for 20 points, choose another test.

Score table: tests taken on or before 6 August 2025

Use this table only if your test was taken on or before 6 August 2025. These results can be used until 6 August 2028 at the latest, and only while they are within the visa's validity window (usually 3 years), so most will expire well before then.

How many points each level earns

On the points table published for the Skilled Independent (189) visa, English is one of the quickest ways to add points:

English can also help through your partner. If your partner applies with you and has competent English, you can claim 5 points; if they also meet the age and skills criteria, 10 points. The pass mark to be invited is 65 points. Try different combinations in our points test calculator, and see the points test guide for every category.

PTE or IELTS: how to choose

Home Affairs treats every accepted test equally at each level, so the right test is the one where you can reliably hit every skill. Some practical points:

• Look at your weakest skill. Under the new tables, PTE and TOEFL ask for their highest scores in writing and speaking. IELTS asks for the same band in all four. If writing is your weak area, compare the requirements carefully.
• Check retake options. IELTS One Skill Retake and MET Single Section Retake are accepted for eligible visas, which can save a full resit if one skill falls short. Check the visa page to confirm it is accepted for your visa.
• Health professionals may prefer OET, which is designed around healthcare settings.
• Registering for TOEFL? Select "Taking TOEFL for Australia", or the result will not be accepted.

Test fees, availability and result times are set by the test providers, so check them directly before booking.

Common mistakes

• Using the old PTE rule of thumb (65 / 79) for a test taken after 6 August 2025.
• Looking only at the overall score. Levels are set per skill; one low skill pulls you down a level.
• Booking an at-home test. Remote-proctored tests are not accepted for any visa.
• Letting a result expire. Most results are valid for 3 years from the test date. For the 485 it is only 12 months.
• Claiming points you cannot prove. Your English points are checked against your test report, so claim only the level every skill supports.

Planning the bigger picture? See skilled migration to Australia and how to get Australian PR.

Frequently asked questions

What PTE score equals IELTS 8 for Australian visas?

For tests taken on or after 7 August 2025, Superior English on PTE Academic means at least 69 listening, 70 reading, 85 writing and 88 speaking. On IELTS it means 8 in each component. For PTE tests taken on or before 6 August 2025, it was 79 in each component.

Is PTE 65 still Proficient English?

Only for PTE tests taken on or before 6 August 2025. For tests taken on or after 7 August 2025, Proficient English needs at least 58 listening, 59 reading, 69 writing and 76 speaking.

How many points do I get for English on the Australian points test?

Competent English earns 0 points, Proficient English earns 10 and Superior English earns 20. Competent English is still required to be eligible for the skilled visas themselves.

How long are English test results valid for Australian visas?

For Competent, Proficient and Superior English, the test must have been taken in the 3 years before you apply, depending on the visa. Some visas are stricter; the 485 Temporary Graduate visa requires a test taken in the 12 months before you apply.

Are IELTS Online or other at-home tests accepted?

No. Home Affairs does not accept tests delivered completely online, including IELTS Online, OET@Home, TOEFL iBT Home Edition, CELPIP Online, LANGUAGECERT Academic Online and MET Digital taken at home.

Sources

• English language visa requirements – Home Affairs
• Competent English – Home Affairs
• Proficient English – Home Affairs
• Superior English – Home Affairs
• Points table for the Skilled Independent visa (subclass 189) – Home Affairs
• 485 Post-Higher Education Work stream – Home Affairs

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