What PTE score is 20 points for Australian PR?
Listening 69, Reading 70, Speaking 88 and Writing 85 in one sitting, for tests taken from 7 August 2025. Superior English earns 20 points in the skilled points test.
PTE Academic for Australia
PTE score for Australian visas: per-skill minimums since 7 August 2025
For tests taken from 7 August 2025, Australia reads four separate PTE Academic skill scores and no overall. Competent English is Listening 47, Reading 48, Speaking 54, Writing 51; Proficient (10 points) is 58, 59, 76, 69; Superior (20 points) is 69, 70, 88, 85. Only PTE Academic counts; PTE Core and at-home tests are not accepted.
PTE Academic minimums per skill for each English level
Department of Home Affairs levels for PTE Academic tests taken on or after 7 August 2025. Every skill must clear its number; the overall score is not read. Superior is the maximum English points in the skilled points test, Competent the minimum to apply for the points-tested visas, Vocational and Functional apply to particular streams and secondary applicants. Tests taken up to 6 August 2025 stay on the old single table (30, 36, 50, 65 or 79 in each skill) until 6 August 2028. Checked 24 September 2026.
| Level | Listening | Reading | Speaking | Writing | Points (189, 190, 491) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Superior | Listening69 | Reading70 | Speaking88 | Writing85 | Points (189, 190, 491)20 |
| Proficient | Listening58 | Reading59 | Speaking76 | Writing69 | Points (189, 190, 491)10 |
| Competent | Listening47 | Reading48 | Speaking54 | Writing51 | Points (189, 190, 491)0 |
| Vocational | Listening33 | Reading36 | Speaking24 | Writing29 | Points (189, 190, 491)— |
| Functional | ListeningOverall 24 | Reading— | Speaking— | Writing— | Points (189, 190, 491)— |
How Home Affairs reads a PTE Academic result
For tests taken from 7 August 2025, the Department of Home Affairs reads the four PTE Academic communicative skill scores separately against the level a visa requires. There is no overall requirement and no averaging: a candidate with Listening 80, Reading 79, Speaking 81 and Writing 79 meets Proficient, not Superior, because Superior needs Speaking 88 and Writing 85. The thresholds are uneven on purpose. Speaking and Writing carry the high numbers; Listening and Reading are low. Only PTE Academic counts, including the UKVI version. PTE Core is not accepted for Australian visas and tests taken at home are not accepted. Results are read within three years of the test date, depending on the subclass, and a test taken up to 6 August 2025 stays on the old single-score table until 6 August 2028. Citizens holding a valid passport of Canada, New Zealand, Ireland, the United Kingdom or the United States meet Competent English without a test.
- Four separate skill scores; no overall, no averaging
- Speaking and Writing carry the high thresholds
- PTE Academic only; at-home tests and PTE Core are not accepted
Why Superior is a Speaking and Writing plan
Under the old rule a balanced 79 in every skill was Superior. Under the new table the same profile is Proficient, so the 20 points now depend on two skills. A Superior plan is a Speaking and Writing plan: Oral fluency with no restarts, Pronunciation with clear stress, and essays and summaries that keep every Form and Spelling mark. The tasks that feed those two skills are Read Aloud, Repeat Sentence, Describe Image, Write Essay, Summarize Written Text and Write From Dictation, which scores every correct word into both Writing and Listening. Add a margin of three to five points per skill for test-day variation, and book only when a full mock clears every skill with that margin. The PTE for Australia PR plan sets out the six-week order of work; the score calculator converts a mock into the four skill scores the visa reads.
- A 79 overall is Proficient on the new table, not Superior
- Plan Speaking and Writing first; they carry the points
- Book when a full mock clears every skill with a margin
Which visas ask for which level
The points-tested skilled visas need Competent English to apply and an invitation at 65 points or more; Proficient and Superior English add points. Employer-sponsored streams set their own level.
| Visa | English required | Points for English | Note |
|---|---|---|---|
| Skilled Independent (subclass 189) | English requiredCompetent to apply | Points for EnglishProficient 10 · Superior 20 | NotePoints-tested; invitation needs 65 points or more |
| Skilled Nominated (subclass 190) | English requiredCompetent to apply | Points for EnglishProficient 10 · Superior 20 | NoteState or territory nomination adds 5 points |
| Skilled Work Regional (subclass 491) | English requiredCompetent to apply | Points for EnglishProficient 10 · Superior 20 | NoteRegional nomination adds 15 points |
| Skills in Demand (subclass 482) | English requiredSet per stream | Points for English— | NoteCheck the subclass page for the current PTE minimums before booking |
Related
- PTE for Australia PR planThe six-week order of work for Superior
- PTE score calculatorConvert a mock into the four skill scores
- Australian English levelsThe five levels, defined
- PTE statistics 2026Fees, visa thresholds and acceptance, dated
- PTE 79 planTask-level method for a high per-skill target
- Free PTE mock testOne complete scored mock, no card
Frequently asked questions
What PTE score is Competent English?
Listening 47, Reading 48, Speaking 54 and Writing 51. Competent English is the minimum to apply for the points-tested skilled visas (subclasses 189, 190 and 491) and earns no points on its own.
Is the overall PTE score used for Australian visas?
Not for tests taken from 7 August 2025. Home Affairs reads the four skill scores separately and each must meet the minimum for the level. Tests taken up to 6 August 2025 are read on the old single-score table until 6 August 2028.
Does Australia accept PTE Core?
No. Only PTE Academic, including PTE Academic UKVI, is accepted for Australian visas. PTE Core is for Canada, and tests taken at home are not accepted for any Australian visa.
How long is a PTE result valid for an Australian visa?
Within three years of the test date at the time of the visa application, depending on the subclass. Check the specific visa page, because some streams and registration bodies set their own window.
Can I meet Competent English without a test?
Yes, if you hold a valid passport of Canada, New Zealand, Ireland, the United Kingdom or the United States, you meet Competent English without sitting a test. Proficient and Superior English still need a test score.