If you sat a PTE Academic exam before August 2025 and you have a visa application coming up, something has changed. On 7 August 2025, the Department of Home Affairs officially updated the English language test rules for Australian visas. The change affects which tests are accepted and what scores you now need.

It is not a dramatic overhaul. But for applicants who are right at the borderline of Proficient or Superior English, a few points in the wrong direction can cost you 10 to 20 PR points. That matters.

Before we go into the scores, the most important thing to check right now: if you are applying for any points-tested visa subclass 189, 190, or 491 understanding the updated PTE score requirements for Australian visas 2026 should be your first step.

What Changed on 7 August 2025?

According to the Department of Home Affairs, the English language tests approved for Australian visa purposes changed on 7 August 2025. Three new tests were added to the approved list: CELPIP General, LanguageCert Academic, and the Michigan English Test (MET).

So the full list of accepted tests now stands at nine. Previously, most applicants relied on IELTS, PTE Academic, TOEFL iBT, OET, and Cambridge C1 Advanced. Adding CELPIP and LanguageCert gives applicants more options, which is useful if you find PTE Academic difficult or if IELTS is not your strongest format.

The second change is about PTE Academic specifically. The test now has component-specific minimum scores for each English level. That means you can no longer rely on an overall average. You must meet the required score in Listening, Reading, Writing, and Speaking separately.

IELTS scores remain the same: 6.0 in each component for Competent, 7.0 for Proficient, 8.0 for Superior.

Are Old Scores Still Valid?

Yes, with conditions. If you took a test on or before 6 August 2025, your result remains valid for visa purposes for up to 3 years from your test date so until 6 August 2028 at the latest, depending on your visa type. The official Home Affairs page confirms this clearly.

However, if you are applying on or after 7 August 2025 and your test was taken after that date, the new scores apply.

One rule that has not changed: the department does not accept tests delivered completely online meaning remote-proctored or at-home tests are still not valid. Your test must be completed at a secure testing centre.

New PTE Academic Score Requirements by English Level

Here are the official minimum component scores for PTE Academic taken on or after 7 August 2025, as confirmed by immi.homeaffairs.gov.au:

Competent English (required for most visas, gives 0 PR points):Listening 47, Reading 48, Writing 51, Speaking 54.

Proficient English (gives 10 PR points for skilled migration):Listening 58, Reading 59, Writing 69, Speaking 76. Check the official proficient English page for full details.

Superior English (gives 20 PR points for skilled migration):Listening 69, Reading 70, Writing 85, Speaking 88. Confirm against the official superior English page before you plan your preparation.

Writing and Speaking have noticeably higher thresholds than before. Listening and Reading requirements are slightly adjusted but more manageable. If you are aiming for Proficient or Superior, plan your preparation around Writing and Speaking specifically.

How Does This Affect PR Points?

For skilled migration subclasses 189, 190, and 491
English is one of the most impactful point categories. You can earn up to 20 points from English alone.

Competent English gives you zero points. You clear the eligibility requirement, but nothing more. Proficient adds 10 points to your score. Superior adds 20.

Given how competitive invitation rounds have become most successful 189 applicants are sitting at 90+ points those 10 or 20 English points can genuinely be the difference between waiting years for an invitation and receiving one in the next round. You can check how English points fit into your overall score using the Australia PR points calculator.

The key shift with the August 2025 change is this: some applicants who previously met Proficient English requirements under the old scoring thresholds may no longer qualify under the new component minimums. If you have an existing score, go back and check each component individually against the new benchmarks.

For more on how points work in 2026, read Australia PR Points System 2025: Why 65 Points Isn't Enough Anymore.

Student and Graduate Visas: What Changed?

For student visa subclass 500, the August 2025 update does not change the Competent, Proficient, or Superior framework directly. Student visa English requirements are set by individual universities and ATAR/GPA equivalents. Most universities require a PTE score of 42 to 50 overall, with each institution setting its own component minimums.

Hmm, here is the thing though: universities now need to decide whether they will adopt the new PTE scoring benchmarks or continue using the old ones. It varies by institution. Before you sit your test or submit an application, confirm the requirement directly with your university. Our guide on Australian universities PTE requirements covers what the major institutions expect.

For the subclass 485 Graduate visa and the Skills in Demand visa (which replaced 482), Competent English is the minimum. That means the new PTE component scores Listening 47, Reading 48, Writing 51, Speaking 54 apply.

CELPIP and LanguageCert: Are They Worth Considering?

If PTE Academic has not been working for you, these two new tests are genuine alternatives.

CELPIP General uses everyday language, so it feels less academic than PTE. Results come in 3 to 8 days. The minimum for Competent English is 7 in each component - Listening, Reading, Writing, and Speaking. For more, read LanguageCert Exam: Complete Guide for Australian Immigration.

LanguageCert Academic is available in both computer and paper formats and is well-suited for applicants who prefer structured preparation. The minimum for Competent is Listening 57, Reading 60, Writing 64, Speaking 70.

Switching tests is fine as long as you are strategic about it match the test format to how you actually communicate. There is no penalty for choosing a different test.

If you are weighing your options between PTE and IELTS, the breakdown in PTE vs IELTS for Australia Immigration is worth reading before you book.

Three Mistakes That Catch Applicants Off Guard

The first one: relying on your overall PTE score without checking each component. You might average 65 overall but score 55 in Writing which would put you below the Proficient threshold for Writing under the new rules.

The second: not checking whether your old test score uses the pre-August or post-August benchmarks. The cutoff date is 7 August 2025. Old scores follow the old thresholds. New scores follow new ones.

The third: booking a test format that is not accepted. Remote-proctored tests including TOEFL iBT Home Edition — are still not valid for Australian visa purposes. Your test must be at an approved testing centre.

Practical Next Steps

First, confirm which English level your visa requires. Then check whether your current score (if you have one) meets the new component minimums under the relevant level.

If you need to sit a new test or improve your score, the guide on how to improve your PTE score for Australian visa success covers preparation strategies across each section.

And if the July 2025 immigration policy changes  including the Skills in Demand visa and TSMIT increases are adding to your confusion, Australia Immigration Changes July 2025 covers that separately.

The Desire Immigration team, led by registered migration agent Mrs. Manisha Bhutani, offers personalised visa score assessments and PTE coaching. If you want to understand how your current English score affects your visa eligibility, reach out to us directly.

Frequently Asked Questions

Q: Do the August 2025 PTE score changes affect my existing test result?A: If your test was taken on or before 6 August 2025, your result is still valid under the old scoring thresholds for up to 3 years, subject to your visa type. New tests taken on or after 7 August 2025 use the updated component scores.

Q: What is the minimum PTE Academic score for Competent English after August 2025?A: The minimums are Listening 47, Reading 48, Writing 51, and Speaking 54. Each component must be met individually. Source: immi.homeaffairs.gov.au.

Q: Which new English tests are accepted for Australian visas from August 2025?A: CELPIP General, LanguageCert Academic, and the Michigan English Test (MET) are the three newly added tests. The full list of 9 accepted tests is published on the Department of Home Affairs website.

Q: Can I use a remote-proctored or online PTE test for my visa application?A: No. The Department of Home Affairs does not accept tests taken completely online. Tests must be completed at an approved testing centre.