When you need English evidence
You might need to give evidence of your English when you apply; the Document Checklist tool tells you. Home Affairs can also ask for it at any time while it processes your application, even if the checklist said you did not need it (Student visa (subclass 500)).
The test must be taken within the 2 years before you lodge if you are Regular Evidence level, or within the 2 years before the decision if you are Streamlined Evidence level and the department asks for evidence. Tests delivered entirely online, such as IELTS Online or TOEFL iBT Home Edition, are not accepted.
Scores for tests taken on or after 7 August 2025
Home Affairs sets minimum overall scores for the student visa; the 10- and 20-week columns are minimums of ELICOS packaged with your principal course. Cambridge C1 Advanced does not accept any score below IELTS 6, so it is excluded from the ELICOS columns. For TOEFL iBT, from 21 January 2026 you must select 'Taking TOEFL for Australia' when you register (Home Affairs).
| Test | No ELICOS | 10+ weeks ELICOS, Foundation or eligible Pathway | 20+ weeks ELICOS |
|---|---|---|---|
| IELTS Academic | 6.0 | 5.5 | 5.0 |
| IELTS General Training | 6.0 | 5.5 | 5.0 |
| PTE Academic | 47 | 39 | 31 |
| TOEFL iBT | 67 | 51 | 37 |
| OET | 1210 | 1090 | 1020 |
| Cambridge C1 Advanced | 161 | Excluded | Excluded |
| LanguageCert Academic | 61 | 54 | 46 |
| Michigan English Test (MET) | 53 | 49 | 44 |
| CELPIP General | 7 | 6 | 5 |
Know your target? Check where you stand
Take a free AI-scored IELTS mock and see your score per skill before you book the real test. Free account, no card.
Take a free scored IELTS mock →Older tests, ELICOS packages and what changed in 2025 to 2026
For tests taken on or before 6 August 2025 the table is IELTS 6.0 / 5.5 / 5.0, PTE Academic 50 / 42 / 36, TOEFL iBT 64 / 46 / 35, Cambridge English: Advanced 169 / 162 / 154, and OET B in each component in all three columns.
If you package courses, the last course is your main course of study, and it decides which English evidence you need. Gaps between packaged courses must be less than two calendar months unless the first course ends at the end of the standard academic year. The eligible Pathway programs are listed in the Student visa English instrument on the Federal Register of Legislation.
The changes shown on the page: new approved tests and scores from 7 August 2025 (CELPIP General, LanguageCert Academic and MET join the table), the TOEFL registration rule from 21 January 2026, and a new Ministerial Direction (115) for processing offshore applications lodged from 14 November 2025. If you use LanguageCert, attach both the certificate and the report.
Who is exempt from giving a test score
You do not need a test score if you are a citizen holding a passport from the UK, USA, Canada, New Zealand or the Republic of Ireland; a Foreign Affairs or Defence sponsored student or a Secondary Exchange student; enrolled in a registered school course, a standalone ELICOS, a course delivered in a language other than English, or a registered postgraduate research course; or if you completed at least 5 years of study in English in Australia, the UK, the USA, Canada, New Zealand, South Africa or Ireland. Other exemptions cover the Senior Secondary Certificate of Education completed in Australia on a Student visa, and a substantial part of a Certificate IV or higher course completed on a Student visa. BNO passport holders may still be asked for a score (Home Affairs).
Home Affairs changes these rules, sometimes at short notice. Confirm the current scores on the Home Affairs Student visa page before you book a test or lodge an application. This guide restates the department's pages; it is not migration advice.
Frequently asked questions
What IELTS score is needed for an Australian student visa?+
6.0 overall with no ELICOS, 5.5 with at least 10 weeks of ELICOS (or a Foundation or eligible Pathway program), and 5.0 with at least 20 weeks of ELICOS.
Is PTE accepted for the Student visa 500?+
Yes. For tests from 7 August 2025, PTE Academic needs 47, or 39 with 10+ weeks of ELICOS, or 31 with 20+ weeks. Older tests needed 50, 42 or 36.
Is IELTS General Training accepted for the student visa?+
Yes. For tests from 7 August 2025 Home Affairs lists IELTS General Training with the same 6.0 / 5.5 / 5.0 scores as IELTS Academic. Your education provider sets its own entry rules.
How long is the result valid?+
Within 2 years before you lodge (Regular Evidence level) or within 2 years before the decision if you are Streamlined Evidence level and asked for evidence.
Is a passport holder from the UK exempt?+
Yes. Citizens holding a UK, USA, Canadian, New Zealand or Irish passport do not need to give a test score.
Keep reading
Related
- IELTS for Australia
- IELTS for the 485 visa
- How long is an IELTS score valid?
- Free IELTS mock test with AI band score
- All 711 guides
Verified against the linked official sources on 30 September 2026. Rules change: confirm on the official page before you book or apply.
© 2026 BandLadder. Written and checked by the BandLadder team. You may quote or cite this page with credit to BandLadder and a link to it; republishing it in full needs our written permission. Content use policy