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PTE Score for Australia 190 and 491: English Points

  • Updated 13 Oct 2026
  • Checked against official sources

By pteexamprep editorial teamPublished 13 Oct 2026Updated 13 Oct 2026Reviewed 13 Oct 2026 against official sources

Editorial policyHow we check facts

Short answer: both the Skilled Nominated visa (subclass 190) and the Skilled Work Regional (Provisional) visa (subclass 491) ask for at least Competent English. For a PTE Academic test taken on or after 7 August 2025, that is 47 listening, 48 reading, 51 writing and 54 speaking. Higher English adds points on both points tables (10 for Proficient, 20 for Superior), and state nomination adds 5 points on the 190 and 15 on the 491.

The PTE figures are the same ones used for other skilled visas, so this page does not repeat the full level table. It is in our PTE score for Australia PR guide. What is different on the 190 and 491 is the state layer: a state or territory must nominate you, and each one sets its own rules and ranking. Checked 2026-10-13.

What Home Affairs asks for

  • 190: "At the time of invitation, you must have at least competent English." You also need at least 65 points to be invited. Source: Home Affairs, subclass 190. Checked 2026-10-13.
  • 491: "At the time of invitation, you must have at least Competent English." The page also says you must be able to score at least 65 points. Source: Home Affairs, 491 main applicant. Checked 2026-10-13.
  • PTE figures for Competent English: 47, 48, 51 and 54 for a test on or after 7 August 2025, and 50 in each skill for a test on or before 6 August 2025. Source: Home Affairs, Competent English and the PR guide on this site. Checked 2026-10-13.

How PTE feeds points on the 190 and 491

Both points tables list English as Competent 0, Proficient 10 and Superior 20 points (190 points table, 491 points table, checked 2026-10-13). Two other items on those tables also depend on English or your partner:

Points table item190491
Competent / Proficient / Superior English0 / 10 / 200 / 10 / 20
State or territory nomination515 (family sponsorship also 15)
Partner is a co-applicant with Competent English (partner not an Australian citizen or permanent resident)55
Single, or partner is an Australian citizen or permanent resident1010

Checked 2026-10-13 on the two points-table pages above. Skills, age and the remaining items are on those pages and not repeated here.

Worked example

An applicant who is single scores Proficient English (PTE 58, 59, 69 and 76 or better, test on or after 7 August 2025). From the items in the table above, that is 10 (English) plus 10 (single) = 20 points. Add state nomination and the running total is 25 on the 190 or 35 on the 491, before age, education and work experience, which come from the full table. Moving from Proficient to Superior (69, 70, 85, 88) adds 10 more points on either visa. The 491 nomination adds 10 more points than the 190 for the same English score, but the 65-point minimum applies to both visas.

State nomination: what the states say about English

States nominate only some people, and English is one of the ways they compare. Each row is what the state page said when we read it on 2026-10-13.

StateEnglish on the official pageSource
New South WalesNo stated minimum on the 190 page. NSW says it considers age, English language proficiency, education, points score and skilled work experience, and the highest ranking EOIs in an occupation group are invited.NSW, 190
QueenslandMinimum requirement is "at least competent English" under the Home Affairs definition. English competency is also one of the factors Queensland weighs when selecting who to invite. Its 2025-26 registrations were shown as closed when we read the page.Migration Queensland
South AustraliaLists at least Competent English among the Home Affairs requirements for the 190 (SA says to check Home Affairs for the latest), and says SA nomination adds 5 points.Migration SA, 190
Western AustraliaCompetent English in all four skills from a single sitting. PTE Academic 47 / 48 / 51 / 54 (test on or after 7 Aug 2025) or 50 each (on or before 6 Aug 2025, usable until 6 Aug 2028 within three-year validity).WA State Nominated Migration Program

For a passport from the UK, Canada, New Zealand, the United States or Ireland, WA says you do not need to sit an English test to be eligible for its nomination. Check your own state page before you rely on an exemption.

Treat the state minimum as a floor, not a target. NSW and Queensland both list English among the factors they use to select who is invited, and states with more applicants than places can only pick some of them.

Decision table: how much PTE should you aim for?

Your situationSensible PTE targetWhy
Already well above 65 points and the state names only Competent EnglishCompetent (47 / 48 / 51 / 54) is enough to meet the ruleYou still need each skill at its figure, not an overall average
Close to 65, or the state ranks applicants (as NSW and Queensland describe)Proficient (58 / 59 / 69 / 76)Adds 10 points and may help ranking
A regulated job (registration or licensing body sets English)Check the registration body firstYour occupation may need more than the visa minimum, so confirm with the body that sets it
Old test, taken on or before 6 Aug 2025Use the old column (50 each) while still validWA allows older results until 6 August 2028 within three-year validity

Checklist before you book

  1. Confirm the English level on the 190 or 491 Home Affairs page and on your state page.
  2. Check each of your four skills against the Competent or Proficient figure, not your overall score. Our eligibility checker compares your section scores against requirements.
  3. Look at the test date on your score report and use the matching column.
  4. Book a test centre session. Home Affairs does not accept tests delivered completely online (see the PR guide).
  5. Check validity. Home Affairs says older results may be used for up to three years depending on the visa, and WA gives 6 August 2028 as the last date for pre-7-August-2025 tests. Confirm the rule for your state and visa.

If you are also planning to study first, see the university requirements and our student visa page.

Not verified here

Victoria's official page could not be fetched on 2026-10-13, so we give no Victorian English figure. State programs open and close, and their rules change without notice. Confirm on the state page, then on Home Affairs, before you lodge.

Official sources

Frequently asked questions

What PTE score do I need for the Australia 190 visa?

Home Affairs says you need at least Competent English at the time of invitation. For a PTE Academic test taken on or after 7 August 2025 that is 47 listening, 48 reading, 51 writing and 54 speaking. Western Australia publishes the same four figures for its own nomination. Checked 2026-10-13.

Is the PTE requirement for 491 higher than for 190?

Not at the visa level. Home Affairs asks for at least Competent English on both the 190 and 491 pages we read. The difference is the points table: state nomination gives 5 points for the 190 and 15 for the 491. A state can still rank or select applicants using English, so a higher score can help you get nominated.

Do I get points for PTE on the 190 and 491?

Yes. Both points tables show Competent English as 0 points, Proficient English as 10 and Superior English as 20. For a test taken on or after 7 August 2025, Proficient needs 58, 59, 69 and 76, and Superior needs 69, 70, 85 and 88 in listening, reading, writing and speaking.

Does each state ask for the same English score?

Queensland and Western Australia state at least Competent English as a nomination requirement, and South Australia lists it among the Home Affairs requirements you must meet. NSW lists English proficiency as one factor it weighs when selecting applicants and does not state a minimum on the page we read. Victoria's page could not be fetched, so check it directly.

Can I use an older PTE result for a state nomination?

Western Australia says results from approved tests taken on or before 6 August 2025 can be used within their three-year validity until 6 August 2028, with 50 in each PTE skill for Competent English. Other states may set their own rules, so check the state page and the test date on your score report.

Official sources