New English language tests approved for student and skilled visas and amendments to minimum scores from 7 August 2025

Several legislative instruments that determine minimum scores required for skilled visas commenced today.

Many years ago, there was an effective monopoly on approved English language tests for skilled visas: the International English Language Testing System, commonly known as IELTS.

While there was also the Occupational English Test (OET), this test was, and still is, used almost exclusively for healthcare professionals.

In 2012, this monopoly was broken by the introduction of the Pearson Test of English Academic (PTE Academic) and the Test of English as a Foreign Language internet-based test, (TOEFL iBT). In 2015, the Cambridge English: Advanced (CAE) test was added.

Visa applicants for many visas that require an English language test now have more options. Introduced in various instruments are three new tests:

• Canadian English Language Proficiency Index Program General (CELPIP General),

• LANGUAGECERT Academic Test (LANGUAGECERT Academic), and

• Michigan English Test (MET).

The Cambridge Advanced test (C1 Advanced), while added, is the CAE test, rebranded.

These tests were added to the specific legislative instruments for:

• Subclass 485 – Temporary Graduate visas

• Subclass 500 – Student visas

Furthermore, they were added to the definition of:

• Vocational, competent, proficient, and superior English, and

• Functional English

Competent English is used for primary applicants for subclass 494 – Skilled Employer Sponsored Regional (Provisional) visas, subclass 186 – Employer Nomination Scheme visas, subclass 187 – Regional Sponsored Migration Scheme visas and the threshold English requirement for all General Skilled Migration visas:

• Subclass 189 – Skilled - Independent visas,

• Subclass 190 – Skilled – Nominated visas, and

• Subclass 491 – Skilled Work Regional (Provisional) visas.

Proficient and superior English is also used for General Skilled Migration visas to award more points. Functional English is used for all provisional and permanent skilled visas to determine whether second visa application charges apply to any applicants at least 18 years old, with few exceptions. Interestingly, vocational English has not been applied to any visa for a while.

A benefit to these new instruments is the addition of tables specifying the necessary scores. They also clarify that IELTS Academic and IELTS General Training are considered the same, however, test sitters are likely to disagree with that assessment.

Visa applicants must be careful as to what English language test they sit. For instance, the MET is not applicable for superior English, while C1 Advanced is not accepted for 485 visas. The scores for some levels have also changed. For example, competent English for PTE Academic was at least 50 in each of the four test components, however, now it is at least 47 in listening, 48 in reading, 51 in writing, and 54 in speaking. This is problematic as some labour agreements benchmark scores to an IELTS equivalent, such as where a visa applicant must have an IELTS overall test score of at least 5.0 or equivalent. Without specifying a new overall test score, what overall score for PTE Academic is comparable to an IELTS overall test score of at least 5.0, when each band is different?

TOEFL iBT is another test where the minimum scores were amended.

All instruments have provisions to accept scores for valid tests undertaken before 7 August 2025.

Another quirk is that no tests were added or changes made to the English language tests for the subclass 482 – Skills in Demand visa.

While more tests are always appreciated, consistency and availability across all visas are warranted to avoid confusion and disadvantage.