Guide · Last updated 30 September 2026
IELTS for Australia
The score each Australian visa asks for since the rules changed on 7 August 2025, the PTE and TOEFL scores that now count as the same level, how old your result may be, and the points that Proficient and Superior English add to a skilled application.
Skilled visas: the four levels
Skilled and many other visas describe English as a level rather than a score. IELTS needs the same band in all four skills; PTE and TOEFL now need a different score in each.
| Level | IELTS, each skill | PTE Academic (L / R / W / S) | TOEFL iBT (L / R / W / S) | Points |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Vocational | 5 | 33 / 36 / 29 / 24 | 8 / 8 / 9 / 14 | None |
| Competent | 6 | 47 / 48 / 51 / 54 | 16 / 16 / 19 / 19 | None; the minimum for points-tested visas |
| Proficient | 7 | 58 / 59 / 69 / 76 | 22 / 22 / 26 / 24 | 10 |
| Superior | 8 | 69 / 70 / 85 / 88 | 26 / 27 / 30 / 28 | 20 |
The same instrument also accepts CELPIP General, Cambridge C1 Advanced (not for Vocational), LanguageCert Academic, the Michigan English Test (not for Superior) and OET, each with its own score for every skill. IELTS Academic and General Training carry identical requirements.
Student visa (Subclass 500)
| Test | Standard | With 10+ weeks of ELICOS, a foundation or pathway program | With 20+ weeks of ELICOS |
|---|---|---|---|
| IELTS (Academic or General Training) | 6.0 average | 5.5 average | 5.0 average |
| PTE Academic | 47 overall | 39 overall | 31 overall |
| TOEFL iBT | 67 total | 51 total | 37 total |
These are the visa's floor. There is no minimum for each skill at visa level, but universities set their own entry scores, and a course offer usually asks for more than the visa does. Meet the offer and the visa score follows.
Temporary Graduate visa (Subclass 485)
| Test | Overall | Each skill (L / R / W / S) |
|---|---|---|
| IELTS (Academic or General Training) | 6.5 average | 5.5 in each |
| PTE Academic | 55 | 40 / 42 / 41 / 39 |
| TOEFL iBT | 81 | 12 / 12 / 14 / 17 |
The test must be taken in the one year before you apply, not three. Plan the test into your final semester rather than reusing the result from your student visa application. Holders of a Hong Kong or British National (Overseas) passport have a separate, lower table.
Skills in Demand visa (Subclass 482)
Since 13 September 2025 the employer-sponsored 482 asks for IELTS 5.0 in each skill, or PTE Academic 33 in Listening, 36 in Reading, 29 in Writing and 24 in Speaking, from a test in the three years before you provide the evidence. Unlike the skilled, student and graduate instruments, its instrument accepts a re-sit of a single component on a later day, combined with your original test. Among the exemptions: holding one of the five listed passports, at least five years of full-time study taught in English, or a transfer from an overseas employer on earnings of at least AUD 96,400.
Rules that catch people out
| Rule | What it means for you |
|---|---|
| Three years, counted from the invitation | For skilled visas the clock runs to the date you are invited to apply, not the date you lodge. A result that expires while you wait for an invitation no longer counts. |
| One year for the 485 | The graduate visa needs a test from the last twelve months. |
| Tests before 7 August 2025 | Judged on the old scores (IELTS unchanged; PTE 50 in each for Competent, 65 for Proficient, 79 for Superior) while they are within three years. |
| Same band in every skill | Proficient is 7 in each IELTS skill. An overall 7.5 with 6.5 in Writing is still Competent. |
| Five passports are exempt | Canada, New Zealand, the Republic of Ireland, the United Kingdom and the United States count as Competent without a test. |
IELTS or PTE for Australia?
Both are accepted for every visa, and the choice comes down to how you perform. The practical difference since August 2025 is where the effort goes: for Proficient, IELTS asks for 7 in every skill, while PTE asks for 58 in Listening but 76 in Speaking. Our IELTS vs PTE guide has Pearson's full score conversion and a way to decide.
Frequently asked questions
What IELTS score do I need for Australian PR?
At least Competent English, which is 6 in each of Listening, Reading, Writing and Speaking, for the points-tested skilled visas such as the Subclass 189, 190 and 491. Competent earns no points. Proficient English (7 in each) earns 10 points and Superior English (8 in each) earns 20, which is often the difference between receiving an invitation and waiting.
What IELTS score do I need for an Australian student visa?
An average band of 6.0 for a Subclass 500 student visa, with no minimum for each skill at visa level. It drops to 5.5 if your main course comes with at least 10 weeks of English classes (ELICOS), a foundation program or an eligible pathway program, and to 5.0 with at least 20 weeks of ELICOS. Your university sets its own entry score, often higher, and that is the one you have to meet to get an offer.
What IELTS score do I need for the 485 graduate visa?
An average of 6.5 with at least 5.5 in each skill, from a test taken in the year before you apply. The one-year limit is the rule people miss: a result that was fine for your student visa is usually too old by the time you graduate.
Does Australia accept IELTS General Training?
Yes. The instruments list IELTS Academic and IELTS General Training side by side, with the same scores, for skilled, student, graduate and 482 visas. Your university may still require Academic for admission.
How old can my IELTS result be?
Three years for skilled visas, counted back from the date you were invited to apply or, if you were not invited, the date you applied. One year for the 485 graduate visa. For the 482, three years before the day you provide the evidence.
Can I retake one section of IELTS for an Australian visa?
For the Subclass 482 (Skills in Demand) visa, yes: its instrument accepts scores from your test day together with a later re-sit of one component. The instruments for skilled, student and graduate visas do not provide for a re-sit, so treat a full test in one sitting as the safe choice for those.
Who does not need an English test at all?
Citizens holding a current passport from Canada, New Zealand, the Republic of Ireland, the United Kingdom or the United States are treated as having Competent English. Proficient and Superior still need a test result, because they come with points.
Aim for 7 in every skill, not just overall
Full timed practice with a band for each skill, so you can see which one stands between you and Proficient. Free to start.
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