PTE requirement changes: what changed and when
On 7 August 2025 Home Affairs changed the English tests it approves and the scores each needs. PTE Academic kept its name but is a different test with different scores. The 482 visa has its own cut-off on 13 September 2025. Results from before 7 August 2025 can still be used, up to 6 August 2028 depending on the visa.
Every dated change
Each entry is a line read from the Home Affairs page named under it.
PTE Academic, before and after
The same English level asks for different PTE scores depending on the test date.
| English level | PTE Academic from 7 Aug 2025 (L / R / W / S) | PTE Academic on or before 6 Aug 2025 (L / R / W / S) |
|---|---|---|
| Functional | 24 overall | 30 overall |
| Vocational | 33 / 36 / 29 / 24 | 36 / 36 / 36 / 36 |
| Competent | 47 / 48 / 51 / 54 | 50 / 50 / 50 / 50 |
| Proficient | 58 / 59 / 69 / 76 | 65 / 65 / 65 / 65 |
| Superior | 69 / 70 / 85 / 88 | 79 / 79 / 79 / 79 |
Home Affairs sets these per skill for vocational, competent, proficient and superior English, and as an overall score for functional English.
How long older results keep working
*Test results from a test taken on or before 6 August 2025 may be used as evidence of English proficiency for visa purposes until 6 August 2028, inclusive. This will depend on the visa.
For functional English the date was earlier: * Test results from a test taken on or before 6 August 2025, may be used as evidence of English proficiency for visa purposes until 6 August 2026, inclusive. This will depend on the visa. That date has passed.
Nurses, midwives and doctors
Health regulators changed their minimum scores on 23 April 2026, citing the Home Affairs changes.
From 23 April 2026, National Boards have updated the minimum scores of accepted English tests to align with current score concordance research and scores set by the Department of Home Affairs for migration purposes.
| PTE Academic for registration | Overall | Listening | Reading | Writing | Speaking |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Tests on or after 23 April 2026 | 63 | 58 | 59 | 60 | 76 |
| Tests on or before 22 April 2026 | 66 | 66 | 66 | 56 | 66 |
Canada
IRCC added a language requirement to the post-graduation work permit for applications from 1 November 2024. If you submitted your PGWP application before November 1, 2024: You don’t need to meet the language requirement for your program. See the PGWP page.
Did the PTE scores go up or down?
Per skill, for tests taken on or before 6 August 2025 against tests taken on or after 7 August 2025.
| English level | Listening | Reading | Writing | Speaking |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Vocational | 36 to 33 (-3) | 36 to 36 (0) | 36 to 29 (-7) | 36 to 24 (-12) |
| Competent | 50 to 47 (-3) | 50 to 48 (-2) | 50 to 51 (+1) | 50 to 54 (+4) |
| Proficient | 65 to 58 (-7) | 65 to 59 (-6) | 65 to 69 (+4) | 65 to 76 (+11) |
| Superior | 79 to 69 (-10) | 79 to 70 (-9) | 79 to 85 (+6) | 79 to 88 (+9) |
Neither. The old tables asked for one number in every skill. The new ones set a different number for each skill: lower in listening and reading for most levels, higher in writing and speaking for the top three. The two sets of minimums come from different versions of the test, so the numbers are not like for like. Home Affairs says: “PTE Academic has the same name as the previous version of the test that was accepted before 7 August 2025. However, the test and scores are different.”
Vocational English: writing and speaking minimums fall, listening falls slightly and reading stays at 36.
Common questions
On 7 August 2025, the English language tests approved for Australian visa purposes changed. If you completed a test before this date, your results may still be valid for up to 3 years. This will depend on the visa subclass you apply for.
Home Affairs: PTE Academic has the same name as the previous version of the test that was accepted before 7 August 2025. However, the test and scores are different.
*Test results from a test taken on or before 6 August 2025 may be used as evidence of English proficiency for visa purposes until 6 August 2028, inclusive. This will depend on the visa. Which date applies depends on the visa.
Yes. Home Affairs publishes the 482 Core Skills and Specialist Skills table for tests taken on or after 13 September 2025 and a separate table for earlier tests.
Home Affairs says from 26 July 2023 to 4 May 2024 TOEFL iBT was not approved. For tests on or after 21 January 2026 you must select ‘Taking TOEFL for Australia’ when you register.
The department does not accept evidence from English language tests that are delivered completely online (also known as 'remote-proctored' or 'at-home'). Home Affairs names CELPIP Online, IELTS Online, LANGUAGECERT Academic Online, MET Digital (taken at-home), OET@Home and TOEFL iBT Home Edition.
These sources say what changed. Home Affairs says: “On 7 August 2025, the English language tests approved for Australian visa purposes changed.” and “PTE Academic has the same name as the previous version of the test that was accepted before 7 August 2025. However, the test and scores are different.” Pearson says: “our concordance with IELTS has been updated based on research published in July 2025” and “DHA score requirements have recently changed.” For health registration, Ahpra says: “From 23 April 2026, National Boards have updated the minimum scores of accepted English tests to align with current score concordance research and scores set by the Department of Home Affairs for migration purposes.” The dated list is on this page, and the Ahpra scores are on English scores for nurses, midwives and doctors.