PTE Score for Australian PR 2026: New Cut Scores

The old "65 for Proficient, 79 for Superior" rule only applies to tests taken on or before 6 August 2025.

The PTE cut scores for Australian PR

You have to reach the minimum in every skill. Your overall PTE score is not used for these levels.

English level	Listening	Reading	Writing	Speaking	Points
Competent	47	48	51	54	0
Proficient	58	59	69	76	10
Superior	69	70	85	88	20

Tests taken on or after 7 August 2025.

Home Affairs points out that the current PTE Academic has the same name as the earlier version, but the test and its scores are different. That is why the numbers moved.

What changed from the old 50/65/79 rule

Under the old rule, each level had one cut score for all four skills.

English level	Old (each skill, test on or before 6 Aug 2025)	New L / R / W / S
Competent	50	47 / 48 / 51 / 54
Proficient	65	58 / 59 / 69 / 76
Superior	79	69 / 70 / 85 / 88

Listening and Reading went down at every level. Speaking and Writing went up at every level. The largest increase is Proficient Speaking, which rose from 65 to 76.

Pearson says some requirements went up and most went down. In its concordance study, about 90% of 1,522 participants would end up in the same category or a higher one.

How English points fit into the points test

The pass mark for the Skilled Independent (189), Skilled Nominated (190) and Skilled Work Regional (491) visas is 65 points. It has been 65 since 16 November 2019. English is one of several factors in the test, along with things like age, qualifications and work experience.

Competent English is the minimum for these visas. It gives 0 points.
Proficient English gives 10 points.
Superior English gives 20 points.

Going from Proficient to Superior adds 10 points. On some EOIs, those 10 points are the difference between reaching the pass mark or a competitive score and missing it.

Which PTE results count

PTE Academic at a test centre only. Home Affairs requires the test to be taken in a secure testing centre. It does not accept tests delivered completely online, whether remote-proctored or at home.
PTE Core does not count. It is not on the Home Affairs list of accepted tests. Pearson positions PTE Core for Canadian immigration.
The 3-year window. For points-tested visas, the test must have been taken in the 3 years before your invitation. If you were not invited, the 3 years are counted back from your application date.

Older PTE results: the transition rules

A test taken on or before 6 August 2025 is judged against the old table: 50, 65 or 79 in every skill. Home Affairs says these results can be used until 6 August 2028 inclusive, depending on the visa.

The 3-year limit still applies to older results. That means many older results expire well before August 2028. For example, a test taken in March 2024 is outside the 3-year window from March 2027 onwards.

Your result is assessed against the table for the date you took the test. You can't combine skills from an old test with skills from a new one.

Worked examples

All of these are tests taken after 7 August 2025, except Candidate E.

Candidate	L	R	W	S	Result	Points
A	74	72	86	89	Superior	20
B	82	80	84	90	Proficient (Writing 1 short of 85)	10
C	66	68	72	74	Competent (Speaking below 76)	0
D	75	75	75	75	Competent (Speaking below 76)	0
E (test 20 June 2025)	80	79	79	82	Superior under the old table	20

Candidate B has higher Listening and Reading scores than Candidate A. Even so, B gets 10 fewer points because Writing is 84, one point under 85.
Candidate C would have been Proficient under the old rule, because every score is at least 65. Under the new table, Speaking 74 is two points short of 76.
Candidate D scores 75 in every skill and still gets 0 points.
Candidate E can claim 20 points only for invitations within 3 years of the test date. The result lapses in June 2028, before the 6 August 2028 cut-off.

Where candidates tend to fall short

The numbers show where the gap is. At Superior, the Speaking bar (88) is 19 points higher than Listening (69). Writing (85) is 15 points higher than Reading (70). At Proficient, Speaking (76) is 18 points above Listening (58).

Under the old rule, a candidate with even scores in all four skills was in a good position. Under the new table, an even profile can leave you short, as Candidate D shows. Candidates who are strong in Listening and Reading but weaker in speaking or writing are the ones most likely to miss out.

Some practical steps:

Sit a full mock test first. You need to see all four skill scores to find the one that's holding you back.
Work on Speaking and Writing first. That is where the cut scores are highest.
Plan for the 3-year window. If you might not get an invitation for a while, test closer to when you lodge your EOI.

FAQ

Is PTE 79 still Superior English?

Only for tests taken on or before 6 August 2025. For newer tests, you need 69 Listening, 70 Reading, 85 Writing and 88 Speaking.

Can I use PTE Core for Australian PR?

No. PTE Core is not on the Home Affairs list of accepted English tests. Book PTE Academic.

Is PTE Academic taken at home accepted?

No. Home Affairs does not accept English tests delivered completely online. Take PTE Academic at a test centre.

How long is my PTE score valid for PR points?

For points-tested visas, the test must be from the 3 years before your invitation. Results from tests taken on or before 6 August 2025 can be used until 6 August 2028 at the latest, depending on the visa. The 3-year limit still applies to them.

Does my overall PTE score matter for PR points?

No. Competent, Proficient and Superior English are assessed skill by skill. One low skill puts you in the lower level.

Prepare with TestSucceed

TestSucceed offers full-length PTE mock tests and AI scoring of Speaking and Writing with feedback, on the web and in iOS and Android apps. Sit a mock test to see your four skill scores against the 58/59/69/76 and 69/70/85/88 cut scores. Then put your practice into the skill that is furthest below the line.

Try a mock test →

PTE Score for Australian PR in 2026