Australia's PTE Academic visa score requirements changed for tests taken on or after 7 August 2025. For Competent, Proficient and Superior English, check all four skill scores against the correct test-date table. An overall PTE score or an IELTS conversion cannot replace that check.
Corrected and checked: 20 September 2026. An earlier version of this article incorrectly described the concordance report as a July 2026 release and said Australia had not changed its requirements. Pearson dates the report to July 2025; Home Affairs has already published the applicable changes.
What changed · Current scores · Older tests · Check two examples · Plan your practice
A concordance report and a visa rule are different things
A concordance study compares performance across tests. Pearson's score-setting guidance identifies its July 2025 report and explains that the relationship is approximate. It includes overall and individual-skill comparisons between PTE Academic and IELTS Academic. A university or government still sets its own acceptance requirements.
For Australian visas, the relevant change is confirmed in Pearson's 7 August 2025 notice and the Home Affairs tables below. “The concordance does not automatically change policy” is a useful distinction; “Australia has not changed its requirements” is no longer an accurate conclusion.
The test also received updates: Pearson lists Summarize Group Discussion and Respond to a Situation among the additions to PTE Academic and PTE Academic UKVI. Use the official update page when choosing preparation materials. Do not assume the older format is unchanged.
PTE Academic scores for tests from 7 August 2025
These are minimum component scores, not overall scores. In the PTE column, L means Listening, R Reading, W Writing and S Speaking. The IELTS column applies to Academic or General Training in the linked Home Affairs tables.
| English level | PTE Academic | IELTS |
|---|---|---|
| Competent | L 47 R 48 W 51 S 54 | 6.0 each |
| Proficient | L 58 R 59 W 69 S 76 | 7.0 each |
| Superior | L 69 R 70 W 85 S 88 | 8.0 each |
Sources: Home Affairs Competent English, Proficient English and Superior English, Table 1 on each page.
For example, PTE 79 in every skill does not meet the current Superior English score thresholds: Writing needs 85 and Speaking needs 88. This is why “PTE 79 equals IELTS 8” is not a sufficient migration preparation target.
What if your test was on or before 6 August 2025?
Table 2 on the same official pages gives the earlier-test thresholds:
| English level | PTE Academic | IELTS |
|---|---|---|
| Competent | 50 each | 6.0 each |
| Proficient | 65 each | 7.0 each |
| Superior | 79 each | 8.0 each |
The date you took the test matters. An older result is not automatically invalid because the thresholds changed, but it must still meet the visa's evidence and validity rules. Home Affairs describes possible use of these earlier results up to 6 August 2028, depending on the visa; this is not an extension of every person's test validity to that date.
Check your visa subclass for the required English level, relevant evidence date and any accepted alternatives. These three levels are not a complete list of Australian visa English requirements. Student visa thresholds and university admission requirements are separate; see our Australia Student visa English guide if study is your immediate purpose.
Try it: which skill still needs work?
Original fictional example A: a learner took PTE Academic in September 2026 and has Listening 69, Reading 70, Writing 85 and Speaking 87. Do those four scores meet the current Superior English thresholds?
Reveal example A's answer
No: Speaking is one point short of 88. The other three scores meet their Superior thresholds. All four scores meet the Proficient thresholds, but an overall score cannot cancel the Speaking shortfall. This compares scores only; it does not determine visa eligibility or an invitation outcome.
Original fictional example B: a learner took PTE Academic on 30 July 2025 and scored 79 in every skill. Which Superior English table should they check?
Reveal example B's answer
The earlier-test table. Those scores meet its 79-each threshold. The learner must still verify whether that result is acceptable for their visa and relevant evidence date. They should not apply the current Writing 85/Speaking 88 thresholds to this older test just because they are reading the article in 2026.
Turn the four targets into a practice plan
- Write down your test version, test date and required English level.
- Copy all four targets from the matching official table and compare each skill separately.
- Choose a focused practice task for a skill below target, review feedback and repeat with a fresh prompt. A practice estimate is not official test evidence.
Start with our PTE Retell Lecture audio exercise or the PTE essay examples. A single task cannot establish your full skill score. Use the four-week PTE study plan to practise across task types.
Create an account and continue to PTE Academic Writing. Prefer IELTS preparation? Try IELTS Speaking with Claire, then continue to IELTS General Writing.
BandLadder offers a 25k+ PTE question library, a 30k+ IELTS question library, AI practice feedback and prediction resources. Access depends on your plan and free evaluation limits apply. Predictions are preparation material, not guaranteed exam questions. BandLadder scores are practice estimates, not official Pearson or IELTS results.
