IELTS vs PTE vs OET scores for Australia PR: the 2026 chart

Last reviewed 26 October 2026 against the Department of Home Affairs English language pages and the subclass 189 points table.

For an Australian skilled visa you need at least Competent English, which earns 0 points. Proficient English earns 10 points and Superior English earns 20. On IELTS that means 6, 7 or 8 in each of the four skills. On PTE Academic, taken on or after 7 August 2025, Proficient means at least 58 listening, 59 reading, 69 writing and 76 speaking. That is very different from the old “65 in everything”, which only applies to tests taken before that date.

At a glance

• Home Affairs changed the approved test list and every score table on 7 August 2025.
• Each level needs the minimum score in all four skills. There is no averaging.
• Points: Competent 0, Proficient 10, Superior 20. You claim one level only.
• PTE Academic kept its name, but the test and score scale changed. Check which table your result belongs to.
• OET switched from letter grades to numbers on 7 August 2025.
• Tests delivered completely online (“at-home” or remote-proctored) are not accepted.
• A result from before 7 August 2025 may still be valid for up to 3 years, depending on the visa subclass.

The chart: tests taken on or after 7 August 2025

Scores are minimums for listening / reading / writing / speaking.

Two rules apply to specific tests:

• TOEFL iBT: you must select “Taking TOEFL for Australia” when you register. Results not registered that way are not accepted.
• Retakes: IELTS results with One Skill Retake and MET results with Single Section Retake are accepted for eligible visas. Check the subclass page for your visa before relying on one.

Tests taken on or before 6 August 2025

If you tested before the change, the old table applies to that result. For PTE Academic it was 50 in each skill for Competent, 65 for Proficient and 79 for Superior. IELTS was the same as now: 6, 7 and 8. The old result may still be accepted for up to 3 years from the test date, depending on the visa subclass. If it is close to expiring, plan a new test against the current table.

How English fits the points test

English sits alongside age, skilled employment, education and other factors. Because state and federal invitations often go to profiles well above the 65-point minimum, moving from Proficient to Superior is one of the few changes you can make within a few months. Our Australian points calculator shows how it adds up for your profile, and our state nomination comparison shows what each state is asking for in 2026-27.

Your partner’s English can add points too. On the subclass 189 points table, a partner who is applying with you and has Competent English earns you 5 points. If you are single, or your partner is an Australian citizen or permanent resident, you get 10.

Citizens of Canada, Ireland, New Zealand, the UK and the USA can use a valid passport as evidence of Competent English when they submit a SkillSelect Expression of Interest. Points above Competent still need a test.

Functional English for family members

Family members aged 18 or older who apply with you need at least Functional English. If they cannot show it, Home Affairs asks for a second instalment of the visa application charge before granting the visa. On the subclass 189 page this charge is listed as AUD 4,885 per person (checked 26 October 2026).

Which test suits you?

There is no single right answer. Pick the test whose format fits how you perform, then check its score table, not a friend’s.

• IELTS: paper or computer at a test centre, with a face-to-face speaking test. Many UAE applicants find the speaking format comfortable. Proficient is a clean 7 across the board.
• PTE Academic: fully computer-based, including speaking into a microphone. Results are usually quick. The current writing and speaking thresholds for Proficient (69 and 76) are higher than the reading and listening ones, so plan your preparation around those two.
• OET: built for health professionals and set in clinical contexts. Nurses, doctors and allied health staff working in UAE hospitals often prefer it. OET score reports no longer show an overall score; contact OET if you need one.
• CELPIP General, TOEFL iBT, C1 Advanced, LANGUAGECERT and MET: also accepted, each on its own scale. Check the exact version and registration rules first.

Whatever you choose, sit it at an in-person test centre. Home Affairs does not accept tests delivered completely online.

Common mistakes we see from UAE applicants

• Reading an old chart. Many websites and coaching handouts still show the pre-August 2025 PTE figures. Match the table to your test date before you set a target.
• Aiming for an average. A 7.5 overall on IELTS with a 6.5 in writing is Competent, not Proficient. Every one of the four skills has to clear the bar.
• Booking the wrong product. An at-home version, or a TOEFL iBT sitting not registered for Australia, will not count however well you score.
• Testing too early. A result has to be current at the right point in your application. If your skills assessment or state nomination will take months, think about when the test expires before you book it.
• Ignoring the partner. Five points for a partner with Competent English can be the difference between a profile that is invited and one that waits. One test sitting may be enough.

A simple preparation plan

1. Take a full practice test under timed conditions in the format you plan to sit, and score it against the current table, skill by skill.
2. Find your weakest skill. For PTE Academic this is often writing or speaking, because those thresholds are highest. For IELTS it is often writing.
3. Set a target one level above what you need. If you need Proficient, prepare for Superior in your strongest skills so that a slightly weaker day still clears Proficient.
4. Book a real test date at an in-person centre, ideally with time for a second attempt before your skills assessment or Expression of Interest needs it.
5. Update your points as soon as the result arrives. An improved English score can change your EOI ranking and which states are realistic.

Frequently asked questions

Is PTE 65 still Proficient English for Australia?

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

Can I combine my highest scores from two different test sittings?

The tables require the minimum in each of the four components. Retakes are accepted only through IELTS One Skill Retake and MET Single Section Retake, for eligible visas. Check the subclass page before relying on one.

Does Home Affairs accept the IELTS Academic test, or only General Training?

Both. The scores required are the same.

How long is my English test valid for Australia?

Home Affairs generally looks for a result from the 3 years before your application, depending on the visa subclass.

Is OET accepted for non-health occupations?

The tables list OET without restricting it by occupation, but it is set in healthcare contexts. If you do not work in health, another test is usually the more practical choice.

What to do next

If you are in the UAE and want to know whether Proficient or Superior English would change your chances of an invitation, start with a free assessment on our Australia skilled migration page. Our team works with MARA-registered advisers. Invitations and visa decisions are made by the Australian government and the states.

Sources

All accessed 26 October 2026.

• Competent English (Department of Home Affairs)
• Proficient English (Department of Home Affairs)
• Superior English (Department of Home Affairs)
• English language visa requirements, including online test restrictions (Department of Home Affairs)
• Points table for Skilled Independent visa, subclass 189 (Department of Home Affairs)
• Skilled Independent visa, Points-tested stream: functional English and second instalment (Department of Home Affairs)
• Submitting your Expression of Interest, passport evidence of Competent English (Department of Home Affairs)

This article is general information, not advice on your individual case.

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