PTE Score for Australia: Visa and PR Minimums
Last updated 2026-10-09 · Checked against Department of Home Affairs and Pearson pages
Short answer: for a PTE Academic test taken on or after 7 August 2025, Home Affairs Competent English needs at least 47 in Listening, 48 in Reading, 51 in Writing and 54 in Speaking. Tests taken before 7 August 2025 were judged against 50 in each skill. PTE Academic has no general pass mark, so the number you need is set by the visa or the course, and the table below lists every Australian English level.
Check your PTE scores for Australia
Enter your four skill scores and your overall score. The checker shows the highest Home Affairs English level you meet and the points you still need in each skill.
Highest English level you meet
Competent English
- Need Listening +9, Reading +10, Speaking +23, Writing +20
Superior English
L 69 · R 70 · S 88 · W 85
- Need Speaking +11, Writing +4
Proficient English
L 58 · R 59 · S 76 · W 69
- Met
Competent English
L 47 · R 48 · S 54 · W 51
- Met
Vocational English
L 33 · R 36 · S 24 · W 29
- Met
Functional English
Overall 24+
PTE score for each Australian English level
Minimum PTE Academic score in each component, unless the level is shown as overall. Figures are the Home Affairs thresholds, loaded from our checked data file.
| English level | Test on or after 7 Aug 2025 (L / R / W / S) | Test before 7 Aug 2025 |
|---|---|---|
| Superior English | 69 / 70 / 85 / 88 | 79 in each |
| Proficient English | 58 / 59 / 69 / 76 | 65 in each |
| Competent English | 47 / 48 / 51 / 54 | 50 in each |
| Vocational English | 33 / 36 / 29 / 24 | 36 in each |
| Functional English | Overall 24 | Overall 30 |
Concordance note: Pearson's July 2025 study links a PTE overall score of 63–70 to IELTS 7.0. Use our PTE to IELTS converter for skill-by-skill equivalents.
Which test version applies to you
The name stayed the same on 7 August 2025, but Pearson changed the test and the scores, so Home Affairs set a new set of thresholds. The rule is set by the date of your test, not the date you apply:
- Test on or after 7 August 2025:use the “new” column above.
- Test on or before 6 August 2025:use the “old” column. Home Affairs says these results can be used until 6 August 2028, inclusive, depending on the visa.
Home Affairs does not accept evidence from English tests delivered completely online, such as remote-proctored or at-home sittings. Book a test at an approved centre.
Is PTE accepted in Australia?
Yes. PTE Academic appears in the Home Affairs table for every English level above, and Pearson lists the visa subclasses that take it. Two limits apply: the test must be one of the versions in the table (the date of your sitting decides which), and results from completely online, remote-proctored or at-home tests are not accepted. Whether PTE alone is enough for your visa is set by that visa's page, since some visas allow other forms of evidence.
Which visa needs which English level
Each visa subclass sets its own English level, and the level is what you have to meet on the PTE score. The two most-searched routes have their own pages with their rules:
- PTE score for an Australia student visa, including the lower ELICOS, Foundation and Pathway cases.
- PTE score for Australian PR for skilled migration subclasses.
- PTE requirement for a master's in Australia for university entry, which is set by each institution.
Competent English is the level usually referenced for skilled migration. The checker tells you whether you meet it and what you are missing.
PTE vs IELTS for Australia
Both tests are accepted for Australian visas. For Competent English, Home Affairs lists IELTS Academic at 6.0 in each of the four skills. PTE Academic uses the 10 to 90 component scores in the table above, which do not map one-to-one onto IELTS bands. If you are choosing between them, compare your practice scores in each skill, not the overall figure. Our PTE vs IELTS comparison covers format, speed and scoring differences.
Frequently asked questions
How much PTE score is required for Australia?
It depends on the visa or English level. For a PTE Academic test taken on or after 7 August 2025, the Home Affairs Competent English level needs at least 47 in Listening, 48 in Reading, 51 in Writing and 54 in Speaking. For tests taken before that date, Competent English needed 50 in each skill.
Is PTE accepted in Australia?
Yes. The Department of Home Affairs accepts PTE Academic as evidence of English for Australian visa purposes, and Pearson lists the visa subclasses that accept it. Remote-proctored or at-home test results are not accepted, so take the test at an approved test centre.
Which PTE score is required for Australian PR?
Skilled and permanent visas use the same Home Affairs English levels. Competent English is the level usually referenced for skilled migration, and higher levels can add points under the points test. Confirm the exact level on the page for your visa subclass before you apply.
PTE mein Australia ke liye kitna score chahiye?
In English: Home Affairs asks for Competent English, which is 47 / 48 / 51 / 54 (Listening / Reading / Writing / Speaking) for a PTE Academic test taken on or after 7 August 2025. Student visa and PR needs can be different, so use the checker above or the visa page for your case.
Does a PTE result from before 7 August 2025 still count?
Yes, for a limited time. Home Affairs says a test taken on or before 6 August 2025 can be used until 6 August 2028, inclusive, depending on the visa. Those older results are judged against the old thresholds, which were 50 in each skill for Competent English, not the new numbers.
Is IELTS or PTE better for Australia?
Both are accepted. Home Affairs lists IELTS Academic at 6.0 in each skill for Competent English. PTE Academic is scored on a 10 to 90 scale per skill, so the numbers are not directly comparable with IELTS bands (for reference, Pearson's July 2025 concordance links a PTE overall score of 63–70 to IELTS 7.0). Choose the test whose format suits you better and check your target visa or course's rules.
What is the minimum PTE score for Superior English in Australia?
For a test taken on or after 7 August 2025, Superior English needs Listening 69, Reading 70, Speaking 88, Writing 85. For tests before that date it was 79 in each skill.
Official sources
- Department of Home Affairs: functional english
- Department of Home Affairs: vocational english
- Department of Home Affairs: competent english
- Department of Home Affairs: proficient english
- Department of Home Affairs: superior english
- Pearson: PTE Academic for Australian visas
- Pearson: New DHA visa requirements for PTE Academic (7 Aug 2025)
PTE Exam Prep is an independent practice site. PTE and Pearson are trademarks of Pearson. The score figures here are official thresholds; the practice tools give estimates only.