PTE vs IELTS for Australia PR: which test, which score

What score do I need for Proficient (10 points) and Superior (20 points)?

Home Affairs defines five levels. For tests taken on or after 7 August 2025: Vocational is IELTS 5 in each component or PTE 33 / 36 / 29 / 24 (listening / reading / writing / speaking). Competent is IELTS 6 each or PTE 47 / 48 / 51 / 54, and gives 0 points. Proficient is IELTS 7 each or PTE 58 / 59 / 69 / 76, worth 10 points. Superior is IELTS 8 each or PTE 69 / 70 / 85 / 88, worth 20 points. Sources: the Proficient English and Superior English pages and the subclass 189 points table.

Notice that PTE writing and speaking thresholds sit well above the listening and reading ones. A PTE candidate with 65 overall can still miss Proficient on speaking alone, which is where AI-scored speaking practice earns its keep.

What changed on 7 August 2025?

Home Affairs moved from a single PTE overall score (the old 50 / 65 / 79 ladder) to separate minimums for each of the four skills, to align with the updated PTE Academic test. The department notes that the test keeps the same name but the scores are different, so guides written before August 2025 are wrong. Only tests taken at a secure test centre count; IELTS Online is not accepted (approved tests).

Is PTE Core accepted for Australian visas?

No. The Home Affairs list names Pearson Test of English Academic only. Pearson itself says PTE Core is initially for work and migration routes to Canada, and that candidates planning to migrate to Australia, New Zealand or the UK should take PTE Academic (Pearson).

PTE vs IELTS: cost, speed and format

Results: PTE Academic results usually arrive within two business days and can take up to five (Pearson). IELTS on computer takes one to five days; IELTS on paper up to 13 days.

Cost in Australia: IELTS Academic and General Training are AUD 490, IELTS for UKVI AUD 505 and One Skill Retake AUD 310 (IDP, March 2026). Pearson publishes PTE fees only through its price finder; third-party sites quote about AUD 475 to 490 including GST, so check the official price for your centre.

Format: PTE is fully computer-marked with integrated tasks, so speaking is scored on fluency and pronunciation by software and there is no examiner. IELTS Speaking is a face-to-face interview. People who freeze in interviews tend to score higher on PTE; people whose accent is hard for speech recognition tend to score higher on IELTS. A scored mock of each is the cheapest way to find out which is you.

How long are results valid for the visa?

For Competent, Proficient and Superior English, Home Affairs accepts a score achieved in the three years before your visa application, depending on the subclass. Pearson's own validity for PTE is two years, and the IELTS partners recommend two years; the visa rule is the one that matters here. Functional English must be within 12 months.

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