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The Department of Home Affairs has released changes to some migration legislation instruments with specific updates to some English test requirements. Most of this updated legislation has been active from 7th August 2025, though in some cases, English tests results dated before this date and meeting previous eligibility criteria may still be used. This news update will outline the key changes and what they might mean for you.
English Test Providers and Types Updates
The updated instruments include some additional English test providers, such as:
- Canadian English Language Proficiency Index Program General (CELPIP General)
- LANGUAGECERT Academic Test (LANGUAGECERT Academic)
- Michigan English Test (MET)
Additionally, some clarifications have been added, including:
- Both IELTS General and IELTS Academic scores are now included within each of the instruments
- The name of Cambridge English Advanced test (CAE) was changed to Cambridge Advanced Test (C1 Advanced).
These updates should provide increased clarity on which test types are available, and the specific result requirements for each English test type moving forward.
Score Requirements Update for English Proficiency
Many visa types require applicants to demonstrate a certain level of proficiency in English as a hurdle requirement to be eligible for the visa. This legislation change has involved updating which scores within each test type will be considered to fall within each of the English levels. We have summarised these below for the most common English test types.
Scores Required for Competent, Proficient & Superior English
These updates are relevant for all visa subclasses that have a minimum English proficiency requirement, including Skills in Demand visas (subclass 482), Employer Nominated visas (subclass 186) and Employer Sponsored Regional visas (subclass 494). Additionally, if you are exploring skilled migration options, such as Skilled Independent (subclass 189), Skilled Nominated (subclass 190) or Skilled Work Regional (subclass 491), these updated English score requirements will impact how many points you can claim for the English test components.
Cambridge C1 Advanced (formerly ‘CAE’) |
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| Area | Vocational | Competent | Proficient | Superior |
| Listening | Excluded | 163 | 175 | 186 |
| Reading | 163 | 179 | 190 | |
| Writing | 170 | 193 | 210 | |
| Speaking | 179 | 194 | 208 | |
IELTS General / IELTS Academic |
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| Area | Vocational | Competent | Proficient | Superior |
| Listening | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 |
| Reading | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 |
| Writing | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 |
| Speaking | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 |
PTE Academic |
||||
| Area | Vocational | Competent | Proficient | Superior |
| Listening | 33 | 47 | 58 | 69 |
| Reading | 36 | 48 | 59 | 70 |
| Writing | 29 | 51 | 69 | 85 |
| Speaking | 24 | 54 | 76 | 88 |
Note: Specific result requirements for all other test types can be found on the Department of Home Affairs website.
Functional English Requirements
Other visa subclasses may require ‘Functional English’, whether for the main applicant, or in some cases, for dependents or subsequent entrants. We have outlined the new score requirements to meet the Functional English threshold, along with what has changed with the recent legislation update.
Test Type |
Result Required |
What has changed? |
IELTS General & IELTS Academic |
Average band score of 4.5 | No change |
PTE Academic |
Minimum 24 overall band score | Requirement decreased |
TOEFL iBT |
Minimum 26 total band score | Requirement decreased |
OET |
Minimum 1020 | New test type |
CELPIP General |
Minimum 5 overall band score | New test type |
LANGUAGECERT Academic |
Minimum 38 overall band score | New test type |
MET |
Minimum 38 overall band score | New test type |
CAE |
N/A | Removed test type |
English Score Changes for Student (500) and Graduate (485) Visas
These legislation updates to English requirements also include specific changes to the score requirements for student visas (subclass 500) and temporary graduate visas (subclass 485). You can find out more about the updates to the English test requirements for these visa types at the links below.