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 190

PTE Score for the 190 Visa

English requirements and points for the subclass 190 State Nominated visa, with the PTE score needed in each individual skill.

What this subclass changes — and what it does not

Subclass 190 requires nomination by a state or territory, which adds points to your total but does not change the English requirement — the thresholds above apply unchanged. What nomination does change is who else you are competing against: states publish their own occupation lists and often set selection criteria above the federal minimum, so clearing a threshold here makes you eligible, not competitive.

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.