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PTE Score for Australia PR 2026: Required Levels

  • 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: for Australian permanent residency, the English minimum is set per skill. For a PTE Academic test taken on or after 7 August 2025, Competent English needs at least 47 listening, 48 reading, 51 writing and 54 speaking. For a test taken on or before 6 August 2025, the figure is 50 in every skill. Competent English gives 0 points on the skilled migration points table. Proficient English (10 points) needs 58, 59, 69 and 76, and Superior English (20 points) needs 69, 70, 85 and 88.

These are the Department of Home Affairs figures from its Competent English page. This page covers the English requirement only. It does not check your overall visa eligibility or points total.

PTE score for each Australian PR English level

The table uses the figures from the Home Affairs English language pages. Each skill must meet its number on its own.

English levelPoints on subclass 189 tablePTE Academic, test on or after 7 Aug 2025 (Listening / Reading / Writing / Speaking)PTE Academic, test on or before 6 Aug 2025 (each skill)IELTS Academic equivalent (each skill, tests on or after 7 Aug 2025)
Competent English047 / 48 / 51 / 54506
Proficient English1058 / 59 / 69 / 76657
Superior English2069 / 70 / 85 / 88798

Points come from the English language skills section of the Skilled Independent (subclass 189) points table. Subclass 190 and 491 have their own pages, so check their points table too before you rely on a points total.

Which PTE test version applies to you

The Home Affairs rules changed on 7 August 2025, and the PTE Academic test changed with them. The name is the same, but the scores are not.

  • Test taken on or after 7 August 2025: use the first column of PTE figures in the table above.
  • Test taken on or before 6 August 2025: use the older figure. Competent English needs 50 in each skill. Proficient English needs 65. Superior English needs 79.
  • Older results: Home Affairs says a test taken on or before 6 August 2025 may be used until 6 August 2028, inclusive, depending on the visa.

Check the test date on your score report and use the column that matches it.

How long is a PTE score valid for Australian PR?

Home Affairs asks for a result from a test taken in the 3 years before your visa application, depending on the visa subclass. Read the subclass page for the exact period, because it is not the same for every PR route.

Pearson is a separate point. Its help center says your score report stays available for two years from the date you took the test, and after that you cannot open it. Save a PDF of your score report as soon as results come out, so you keep a copy after that window closes.

Is PTE accepted for Australian PR?

Yes. Pearson lists PTE Academic as accepted for several Australian visas, including the skilled independent (189), skilled nominated (190), employer nomination (186) and regional sponsored migration (187) subclasses. Home Affairs sets the evidence rules, so confirm the subclass on the Home Affairs website before you book.

The Home Affairs pages also say online tests are not accepted. A test that is delivered completely online, such as a remote-proctored or at-home version, does not count as evidence. Book a test centre session if you need the result for a visa.

PTE or IELTS for Australia PR

Home Affairs accepts both tests for these English levels. The IELTS Academic equivalents are in the table above: 6 in each skill for Competent English, 7 for Proficient and 8 for Superior, for tests taken on or after 7 August 2025.

Choose the test where you can reach each skill's number. A score that is high on paper can still fail if one skill is below its figure, so look at your skill profile before you decide. Our PTE vs IELTS comparison covers format and scoring differences, and the PTE to IELTS converter gives an estimate, not an official conversion.

Intermediate or professional: which Australian level do I need?

Home Affairs does not use the words intermediate or professional for PR. Its English levels are Functional, Vocational, Competent, Proficient and Superior. For a skilled PR points test, the levels that matter are Competent (0 points), Proficient (10 points) and Superior (20 points). Check which level your visa subclass asks for, then use the table above for the matching PTE figures.

Skilled Independent (subclass 189): how your PTE result becomes points

For a 189 invitation, the English level you reach feeds straight into your points score. The Home Affairs points table gives 0 points for Competent, 10 for Proficient and 20 for Superior English. Checked 2026-10-13 on the subclass 189 points table.

Home Affairs says invitations go to the highest ranked expressions of interest by points score first, and that not everyone who lodges an expression of interest is invited. Checked 2026-10-13 on the invitation rounds page. So English is one of several levers, and a jump from Competent to Superior is worth 20 points on its own.

Which level does my PTE result reach?

Your level is set by your weakest skill, because each skill is checked on its own against the table above. Three worked examples, for a test taken on or after 7 August 2025 (Listening / Reading / Writing / Speaking):

Example resultWeakest linkLevel reachedEnglish points
72 / 75 / 86 / 90None, all four meet the Superior figuresSuperior20
66 / 68 / 80 / 70Speaking 70 is below the Proficient figure of 76Competent0
60 / 62 / 72 / 80None, all four meet the Proficient figures but not SuperiorProficient10

The second row shows the common trap. Three strong scores do not lift you to Proficient when one skill falls short, so your practice time should go to that skill first. Check the Home Affairs English pages for how results from more than one sitting are treated before you plan a partial re-test.

What the English level is worth in a points ladder

Home Affairs also awards points for age. Checked 2026-10-13 on the same points table: at least 25 but under 33 years gives 30 points, and at least 33 but under 40 gives 25. Using only those two categories as an illustration:

ApplicantAge pointsEnglish pointsSubtotal from these two
Aged 28, Competent English30030
Aged 28, Proficient English301040
Aged 28, Superior English302050
Aged 35, Superior English252045

The subtotals leave out employment, education and every other category on the table, so they are not a pass mark or a prediction of an invitation. The Superior English step is worth more than the 5 point gap between those two age bands. Moving up an English level can therefore matter more than a few years of age band.

189 English checklist

  1. Confirm your test date, then read your four skill scores against the matching column of the English-level table above.
  2. Note the lowest-margin skill and decide whether a re-test for Proficient (10 points) or Superior (20 points) is realistic.
  3. Check the other categories on the points table and add up your own total.
  4. Look at the minimum points and occupation ceilings on the invitation rounds page. We have not verified a current invitation cut-off, so check it directly rather than relying on any figure you have heard elsewhere.
  5. Use the PTE eligibility checker to compare a target result with a route, and the universities directory if you also plan study in Australia first.

Next steps

  1. Find the English level your PR subclass requires on its Home Affairs page.
  2. Check the date of any PTE result you already have, and use the correct column in the table.
  3. Book a test centre session, because online tests are not accepted.
  4. Plan practice for the skills that are furthest below your target. Our practice hub has free tasks for every PTE section, and the PTE Academic passing score guide explains how scores are read. The PTE score chart and a full PTE mock test help you see where each skill stands.

If you are also planning a study visa, the student visa PTE score page lists the separate student minimums. The PTE score for Australia overview covers all visa routes and the university-level requirements.

Official sources

Related reading

Frequently asked questions

What PTE score do I need for Australian PR?

For a PTE Academic test taken on or after 7 August 2025, the Department of Home Affairs asks for at least 47 listening, 48 reading, 51 writing and 54 speaking for Competent English. Each skill is checked separately. For a test taken on or before 6 August 2025, the figure is 50 in each skill. Proficient and Superior English need more, and they add points on the skilled migration points test.

What is the PTE superior score for Australia in 2026?

For a test taken on or after 7 August 2025, Superior English needs at least 69 listening, 70 reading, 85 writing and 88 speaking. For a test taken on or before 6 August 2025, it was 79 in each skill. Superior English adds 20 points for English on the subclass 189 points table.

Is an overall PTE score of 50 enough for Australia PR?

Not on its own. Home Affairs sets a minimum for each of the four skills, so a strong overall average does not cover a skill below its figure. Check your four section scores against the table on this page.

Can I use IELTS instead of PTE for Australian PR?

Yes. Home Affairs accepts IELTS Academic for these levels. For tests on or after 7 August 2025, Competent English needs 6 in each skill, Proficient English needs 7 and Superior English needs 8. Pick the test where your scores meet the figures for your level.

How long is a PTE score valid for Australian PR?

Home Affairs says the test must be among those completed in the 3 years before your visa application, depending on the visa subclass. For tests taken on or before 6 August 2025, the old results may be used until 6 August 2028 inclusive, depending on the visa. Pearson also keeps your score report online for two years from the test date, so save a PDF copy.

Is an online or at-home PTE test accepted for Australian PR?

No. Home Affairs does not accept English test results from tests that are delivered completely online, such as remote-proctored or at-home versions. Book a test at a test centre if you need the result for an Australian visa.

Is PTE Academic or PTE Core needed for Australia PR?

PTE Academic is the version that Pearson lists as accepted for Australian visas, including the skilled independent (189) and skilled nominated (190) subclasses. PTE Core is set up for Canadian permanent residency, so check the Australia page for your subclass before you book.

Australia PR ke liye PTE mein kitna score chahiye?

For Competent English, a PTE Academic test taken on or after 7 August 2025 needs 47 listening, 48 reading, 51 writing and 54 speaking. Each skill is checked on its own. Higher levels, Proficient and Superior, need more and give more points on the 189 table.

Australia PR-er jonno PTE score koto lagbe?

The Home Affairs minimum for Competent English is 47 listening, 48 reading, 51 writing and 54 speaking for a test from 7 August 2025, and 50 in each skill for an older test. Each skill has its own minimum, so check all four before you apply.

Official sources