TIWA test equivalents for most courses
From TIWA's TAFE admission requirements page. North Metropolitan TAFE says TIWA, a unit of the WA Department of Training and Workforce Development, handles its international admissions and all international applicants must apply through TIWA. An IELTS result is valid for two years.
| Test | Equivalent of IELTS Academic 6.0 (no band below 5.0) |
|---|---|
| IELTS Academic | 6.0; 5.0 in each band |
| IELTS General Training | 6.0; 5.5 in each band |
| PTE Academic | 50, no band below 42 |
| Duolingo English Test | 105, no subscore below 80 |
| TOEFL iBT from 26 January 2026 | 4; L2.5 R3 S2.5 W2 |
| TOEFL iBT before 26 January 2026 | 67; L8 R8 S14 W9 |
| LanguageCert Academic | 61; L41 R44 S54 W45 |
| Cambridge English | 161 |
Higher levels, country rules and ELICOS
Some courses ask more: Early Childhood Education and Care needs IELTS Academic 6.0 with no band below 6.0, and Nursing 7.0 with no band below 7.0 except writing at 6.5. TIWA may offer its own English Placement Test when you cannot prove your level another way.
TIWA's country table, for India, Pakistan and Nepal, gives direct entry at IELTS 6.0 with no band below 5.5. At 6.0 with no band below 5.0, your course is packaged with 10 weeks of ELICOS first. Indian applicants need 60% in CBSE or CISCE or 65% from state boards, which TIWA assesses case by case.
TIWA does not teach ELICOS itself but partners with Perth English colleges; you need at least IELTS 5.0 to start ELICOS packaged with TAFE, and TIWA's Learn English page says moving from 5.0 to 6.0 typically takes 10 to 20 weeks. TIWA notes Home Affairs may set different or higher English levels for your visa.
Free test: are you at TIWA's score yet?
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Student visa (subclass 500) English rules
Your offer and your visa are assessed separately. If Home Affairs asks you for English evidence, the Student visa (subclass 500) page sets these minimums for tests taken on or after 7 August 2025: IELTS Academic or General Training 6.0, PTE Academic 47 or TOEFL iBT 67. With at least 10 weeks of ELICOS (or a Foundation or eligible Pathway program) packaged with your course they drop to 5.5, 39 and 51, and with at least 20 weeks of ELICOS to 5.0, 31 and 37.
The test must be taken within the 2 years before you lodge (Regular Evidence level), or within the 2 years before a decision if you are Streamlined Evidence level and asked for evidence. Tests delivered entirely online, such as IELTS Online and TOEFL iBT Home Edition, are not accepted for the visa, and from 21 January 2026 TOEFL candidates must select 'Taking TOEFL for Australia' when registering.
Minimum vs competitive score
Where TAFE in Western Australia (TIWA) publishes an IELTS score, it is the minimum: the floor an application has to meet to be considered, not a score that guarantees an offer.
Competitive programmes, and courses with far more applicants than places, may expect more than the minimum, and some departments set their own overall or per-skill scores, often for writing or speaking. The course page has the final word, so check it before you book a test.
If you are close to the line, aim for a margin above it: one weak skill can miss the requirement even when the overall band clears it. Not sure where you stand? Take a free IELTS mock test and get a band for each skill.
Frequently asked questions
What IELTS does North Metropolitan TAFE need?+
International applicants apply through TIWA, whose standard is Academic IELTS 6.0 with no band below 5.0. TIWA's country table gives Indian, Pakistani and Nepali applicants direct entry at 6.0 with no band below 5.5.
Does TAFE WA accept Duolingo?+
Yes. TIWA lists the Duolingo English Test at 105 with no subscore below 80 as equal to IELTS 6.0. Duolingo is not accepted for the student visa itself.
What PTE score does TAFE WA need?+
PTE Academic 50 with no band below 42.
Does TAFE WA accept IELTS General Training?+
Yes, at 6.0 overall with at least 5.5 in each band, which is stricter per band than the Academic module's 5.0.
Keep reading
Related
- IELTS for Australia: scores by university and visa
- IELTS for the Student visa 500
- Curtin University IELTS requirement
- Edith Cowan University IELTS requirement
- All 1393 guides
Verified against the linked official sources on 14 October 2026. Rules change: confirm on the official page before you book or apply.
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