PTE Academic · Guides · October 24, 2026 · 5 min read

PTE score for Australia PR 2026: Home Affairs skill table and points for skilled visas

For Australian PR and other skilled visas, the Department of Home Affairs sets a minimum PTE Academic score in each of the four skills, not one overall number. For tests taken on or after 7 August 2025, Proficient English needs at least 58 in Listening, 59 in Reading, 69 in Writing and 76 in Speaking, and Superior English needs 69, 70, 85 and 88. In the skilled points test, Proficient adds 10 points and Superior adds 20. Tests taken fully online at home are not accepted.

The official Home Affairs PTE table

Home Affairs defines three levels of English. For PTE Academic tests taken on or after 7 August 2025, you need at least these scores in each skill:

Source: immi.homeaffairs.gov.au, pages on Competent, Proficient and Superior English, checked on 24 October 2026.

Your overall PTE score does not appear in this table. All four skill scores must reach the level: 90 in three skills and 68 in Writing is not Proficient, because Writing is one point short.

What changed on 7 August 2025

When Pearson updated PTE Academic in August 2025, Home Affairs published new minimum scores for tests taken from that date. Two things follow:

• One number for every skill is out of date. Many older guides and agents still talk about “65 each” or “79 each”. Under the current table the minimums differ by skill, and Speaking and Writing need noticeably higher scores than Listening and Reading.
• Older tests are assessed under the older rules. A test taken before 7 August 2025 may still be accepted for up to three years, depending on the visa. Check your visa page to see whether your older score counts and which table applies to it.

If someone quotes you a PTE requirement for Australia, ask which date the requirement applies to and where it comes from. The Home Affairs website is the only source that decides.

PTE score and points for Australian PR

Skilled visas that use the points test (such as the 189 and 190) award points for English:

The 0 / 10 / 20 split is the standard rule for English in the points test; confirm it on the page for your visa, together with the other points factors.

For many applicants, English is the factor they can still improve after age, qualifications and work experience are fixed. Moving from Proficient to Superior is worth 10 points, and this is why “PTE 79+” became a common target. Under the current table, though, Superior means 69 in Listening, 70 in Reading, 85 in Writing and 88 in Speaking. Look at your own score report skill by skill: for most people one or two skills, often Speaking or Writing, decide the level.

Competent English earns no points, but some visas name a level of English as a requirement you must meet to apply. Your visa page says whether that applies to you and which level.

Student, graduate and employer-sponsored visas

Different visas have different English rules, and they change. We do not list PTE numbers for these visas here, because a wrong figure is worse than none:

For a student visa, remember that the university sets its own PTE requirement for admission, separate from the visa. You need to meet both. The current subclass 500 and 485 numbers, with the ELICOS options, are in PTE score for the Australian student visa.

Online PTE tests are not accepted

Home Affairs does not accept English tests taken fully online with remote proctoring, at home. If you need your PTE score for an Australian visa, book PTE Academic at a test centre. Check the version before you pay; the PTE exam fee guide walks through booking.

How long is a PTE score valid for Australia?

Pearson shows your results for two years. Whether a score is still accepted is decided by the receiving body, in this case Home Affairs, and the rules depend on the visa and the date of the test. As noted above, tests taken before 7 August 2025 may be accepted for up to three years depending on the visa. Your visa page gives the exact window and the date it is counted from, so check it before you plan your test.

Common questions

What PTE score do I need for Australia PR? At least Competent (47 L, 48 R, 51 W, 54 S) where your visa requires it, Proficient (58, 59, 69, 76) for 10 points, or Superior (69, 70, 85, 88) for 20 points, for tests taken on or after 7 August 2025.

Is PTE 65 enough for Australia PR? Not as a single number. Under the current table you need a separate minimum in each skill. A score of 65 in every skill would meet Competent but would fall short of Proficient in Writing and Speaking.

How many points do I get for PTE 79? It depends on your four skill scores, not on 79 alone. 79 in every skill reaches Proficient (10 points) but not Superior, which needs 85 in Writing and 88 in Speaking.

Is the PTE online test accepted for Australian visas? No. Home Affairs does not accept tests taken fully online at home; take PTE Academic at a test centre.

How long is PTE valid for PR? Pearson shows results for two years, but acceptance is set by Home Affairs and depends on the visa. Check the visa page for the exact period.

Train the skill that decides your level

Because Australia sets a minimum in each skill, the skill furthest below the line decides your level. In the Nomto trainer, every one of the 22 task types runs in exam timing, spoken tasks open the microphone after the tone and close it after 3 seconds of silence, and spoken and written answers get trait feedback on content, fluency, pronunciation, grammar and vocabulary with an approximate estimate on the 10–90 scale. A full mock test reports all four skills, so you can see how far each one is from Proficient or Superior. The PTE score chart explains how integrated tasks move your skill scores, and PTE vs IELTS compares the two tests if you are still choosing.

PTE Academic™ is a trademark of Pearson. Nomto is independent and not affiliated with or endorsed by Pearson.

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