Australian skilled visas · 20 points
PTE Superior English: the scores you need now
Since 7 August 2025, Superior English with PTE Academic means listening 69, reading 70, writing 85 and speaking 88 in one test. The old rule of 79 in every skill applies only to tests taken on or before 6 August 2025. Enter your scores to see your level and the gap to the next one.
Source: the Department of Home Affairs' Superior, Proficient and Competent English pages and the 189 points table. BandLadder is an independent preparation platform.
PTE scores for Competent, Proficient and Superior English
Each skill must meet its own minimum in a single test. Averages and the overall score do not count.
| Level | Listening | Reading | Writing | Speaking | Before 7 Aug 2025 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Competent (0 pts) | 47 | 48 | 51 | 54 | 50 each |
| Proficient (10 pts) | 58 | 59 | 69 | 76 | 65 each |
| Superior (20 pts) | 69 | 70 | 85 | 88 | 79 each |
Why writing and speaking decide Superior
Listening 69 and reading 70 are within reach for most candidates who already hold Proficient English. Writing 85 and speaking 88 are not: they sit near the top of the 10–90 scale, so a candidate with 79 in every skill under the old rule now falls short by 6 in writing and 9 in speaking.
PTE scores speaking and writing from several task types each, and Pearson does not publish task weights. Practise the integrated tasks that feed both skills, such as Summarize Spoken Text and Write from Dictation for writing and Repeat Sentence for speaking, then check the result on a full scored test before you pay for the real one.
Test on a full mock before you re-sit
The real PTE Academic costs AUD 499 in Australia (fee guide). A free full-length scored PTE mock on BandLadder shows all four skill scores, so you can see whether writing and speaking are near 85 and 88 first.
Questions
- What PTE score is Superior English?
- For PTE Academic tests taken from 7 August 2025: listening 69, reading 70, writing 85 and speaking 88, all in one test. Tests taken on or before 6 August 2025 needed 79 in each skill.
- Is PTE 79 still Superior English?
- Only for a test taken on or before 6 August 2025, which stays usable until 6 August 2028 depending on the visa. A newer test with 79 in every skill is Proficient English: writing 85 and speaking 88 are now needed for Superior.
- How many points is Superior English?
- 20 points on the skilled migration points test (subclasses 189, 190 and 491). Proficient English gives 10 points and Competent English 0.
- Is PTE 65 still Proficient English?
- Not for a test taken from 7 August 2025. Proficient now needs listening 58, reading 59, writing 69 and speaking 76, so 65 in every skill is Competent English.
- Which PTE skills block Superior most often?
- Writing and speaking, because their new minimums (85 and 88) are well above listening (69) and reading (70). Use the checker to see your own gap per skill.