English Language Tests for Australian Visas

The Department of Home Affairs accepts results from several approved providers. You can choose whichever format suits you best — they are treated as equivalent once mapped to the relevant English level. Results must come from a test sitting, not a self-assessment.

There are three relevant English levels for skilled migration. Importantly, for tests taken on or after 7 August 2025 you must meet the minimum in every individual component — Listening, Reading, Writing and Speaking — and you cannot average your bands. A single weak component pulls your whole result down to the lower level.

English is one of the largest and most controllable point categories. Moving from Competent (0 points) to Superior (20 points) is a 20-point swing — frequently the difference between sitting in the pool for months and receiving an invitation in the next round.

Because age points fall as you get older and work-experience points are capped, English is often the most practical lever a candidate can pull to lift their score. Many applicants retake the test specifically to push from Proficient to Superior.

There is no test that is universally easier — it depends on your strengths and how you perform under different formats. PTE Academic is fully computer-based with algorithmic scoring and fast results, which suits candidates who are comfortable speaking to a microphone. IELTS offers a face-to-face speaking option that some find more natural. OET is tailored to medical vocabulary and is popular with nurses and doctors.

The best approach is to sit a timed practice test in two formats before booking. The small cost of practice materials is trivial compared with the points at stake.

For skilled visa purposes, your English test result must generally be no more than three years old at the time you are invited to apply. Plan your test date so your result remains valid through the expected invitation and lodgement window — retaking a test late in the process can cost you weeks.