Which visas does the English points test apply to?

The skilled migration points test covers the subclass 189, 190 and 491 visas. English points sit alongside points for age, skilled employment, qualifications and other factors.

Visa subclass 189

PTE Score for the 189 Visa

English requirements and points for the subclass 189 Skilled Independent visa, with the PTE score needed in each skill under the current rules.

What this subclass changes — and what it does not

Subclass 189 is the independent stream: you are not nominated by a state or sponsored by a relative, so your points total has to carry the application on its own. That makes English the most valuable lever most applicants have, because it is the only major points category you can change in a matter of weeks rather than years. The English thresholds themselves are the standard ones shown above.

The English points table is the same for subclasses 189, 190 and 491. Whichever you are applying for, the level you reach depends only on your four skill scores.

Per-skill thresholds

Threshold table
Level	Points	Listening	Reading	Writing	Speaking	IELTS equivalent
Superior English	20	69	70	85	88	8
Proficient English	10	58	59	69	76	7
Competent English	0	47	48	51	54	6

There is no averaging. An applicant with L90 R90 W90 S60 scores zero English points: three near-perfect skills reach Superior on their own, but Speaking clears only Competent, which carries no points.

Australia PR Points Calculator

Typical university entry bands

English level	PTE
Foundation and pathway programmes	36–50
Undergraduate	51–60
Postgraduate	57–67
Competitive and selective programmes	70–90

Ranges are indicative. Always confirm the requirement for your specific programme — thresholds vary widely even within one institution.

Frequently asked questions

No. Australian skilled migration assesses each of the four skills against its own minimum, and always has. Your overall band is irrelevant to the English points test — an applicant averaging 80 with one skill below its threshold receives zero English points.