August 8, 2025
ENGLISH PROFICIENCY TESTS CHANGE SUMMARY
Home Affairs now acccepting new English proficiency test
Here’s a detailed summary of the new changes to English proficiency requirements introduced by the Department of Home Affairs as of 7 August 2025:
🇦🇺 Key Updates to English Language Requirements
📅 Effective Date:
7 August 2025
🧪 Expanded List of Accepted Tests
The Department now accepts scores from a wider range of tests, provided they are taken at a secure test centre:
- IELTS Academic & General Training (including One Skill Retake)
- OET (Occupational English Test)
- PTE Academic
- TOEFL iBT
- Cambridge C1 Advanced
- CELPIP General
- LANGUAGECERT Academic
- Michigan English Test (MET)
📊 Updated Score Requirements by English Level
🟡 Functional English
| Test | New Minimum Score |
|---|---|
| IELTS | Average score of 4.5 |
| PTE Academic | Overall score of 24 |
| TOEFL iBT | Total score of 26 |
| OET | Overall score of 1020 |
| CELPIP | Overall score of 5 |
| MET | Overall score of 38 |
| LANGUAGECERT | Overall score of 38 |
🔵 Competent English (Required for skilled migration)
| Test | New Minimum Scores (per component) |
|---|---|
| IELTS | 6 in each component |
| PTE Academic | Listening: 47, Reading: 48, Writing: 51, Speaking: 54 |
| TOEFL iBT | Listening: 16, Reading: 16, Writing: 19, Speaking: 19 |
| OET | Listening: 290, Reading: 310, Writing: 290, Speaking: 330 |
| CELPIP | 7 in each component |
| MET | Listening: 56, Reading: 55, Writing: 57, Speaking: 48 |
| LANGUAGECERT | Listening: 56, Reading: 55, Writing: 57, Speaking: 48 |
🟣 Superior English (Adds 20 migration points)
| Test | Minimum Grade |
|---|---|
| OET | Grade A in each component |
| IELTS | 8 in each component |
| PTE Academic | 79 in each component |
| TOEFL iBT | 29 in each component |
ENGLISH PROFICIENCY TESTS CHANGE SUMMARY
Courtesy MIA
🧭 Why These Changes Matter
- More flexibility: Migrants can now choose from a broader range of tests.
- Updated scoring: Some tests now have lower thresholds for Functional English, making it easier to meet basic visa requirements.
- Migration points: Higher proficiency levels (Competent, Proficient, Superior) directly impact your skilled migration points.
For full details, visit the Department of Home Affairs English language requirements page.
