Best English test for Australia migration
Australia's migration points test accepts IELTS, PTE Academic, TOEFL, OET and Cambridge — all on the same English ladder. Compare scoring, speaking and results.
For Australia's skilled-migration points test there is no single best English test: Home Affairs accepts IELTS, PTE Academic, TOEFL iBT, OET and Cambridge C1 Advanced, all mapping to the same Competent, Proficient and Superior ladder. IELTS and PTE Academic are most common — choose on marking, speaking format and how fast you need results.
Australia's General Skilled Migration visas award points for English, measured on a three-tier ladder — Competent, Proficient and Superior. The Department of Home Affairs accepts five English tests for this, and they all convert onto the same three levels, so the choice is about format and logistics rather than one test being worth more points. This page sets out what genuinely differs between them and where to confirm the exact equivalent scores.
At a glance
Every test here is accepted by the Department of Home Affairs for the General Skilled Migration points test, and each maps to the same Competent / Proficient / Superior ladder. What differs is how you are marked, how you speak, and how fast the result lands.
| IELTS | PTE Academic | TOEFL iBT | OET | Cambridge C1 Advanced | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Scoring scale | Band 0–9, half bands, per skill | 10–90 scale, per skill | 0–120 total, 0–30 per section | Grades A–E per sub-test | Cambridge English Scale (~142–210 for C1) |
| How it is marked | Trained human examiners | Fully computer-scored (AI) | Mix of AI and human raters | Human assessors | Human examiners |
| Speaking format | Live one-to-one with an examiner | Recorded to a microphone, no examiner | Recorded responses, no live examiner | Role-play in a health-profession context | Paired, face-to-face with examiners |
| Typical results speed | 1–5 days (computer-delivered) | Often within about 2 days | Around 4–8 days | Around 2 weeks | About 2–3 weeks |
| Single-module retake | Yes — One Skill Retake accepted for AU visas | No — full retake only | No — full retake only | No — full retake only | No — full retake only |
| Accepted for the points test | Yes — Academic or General Training | Yes — PTE Academic | Yes — single test sitting | Yes — built for healthcare roles | Yes — C1 Advanced (also C2 Proficiency) |
The accepted-test list and the exact score for each English level are set by the Department of Home Affairs and can change — always confirm on the official English language requirements page before booking. TOEFL "MyBest" (superscored) results are generally not accepted; a single test sitting is required. The Duolingo English Test and at-home IELTS are not on the accepted list for the points test.
Which should you choose?
Choose IELTS if…
- You want a real Speaking conversation with a live examiner rather than talking to a microphone
- You would rather be marked by trained human examiners across Writing and Speaking
- You might need to lift just one skill — Australia accepts the IELTS One Skill Retake for a single module
- A skills assessor or university in your pathway also wants IELTS (Academic), so one test can cover both
Choose PTE Academic if…
- You need results fast — PTE usually returns them within about two days
- You are comfortable with a fully computer-scored test, Speaking included
- You prefer a fixed on-screen format with no face-to-face interview
- You want frequent test dates and quick rebooking if you have to sit again
One points ladder, five accepted tests
Australia's General Skilled Migration visas — subclasses such as 189, 190 and 491 — award points for English on a three-tier ladder. Competent English is the minimum needed to apply and earns no points; Proficient English adds ten points; Superior English adds twenty. Your level is decided by your weakest of the four components, so a single low skill can cap the whole result.
The Department of Home Affairs accepts five English tests as proof: IELTS, PTE Academic, TOEFL iBT, OET and Cambridge C1 Advanced. Every one of them converts onto the same three levels, which means no test can earn you more points than another — the ten- or twenty-point tier is the same whichever test you sit.
Because the level is what matters, the real choice is about format, logistics and which test suits you, not about chasing points. The exact equivalent score for each level is published by Home Affairs and can be revised, so confirm the current figures on the official English language requirements page before you book.
Where the tests genuinely differ
The clearest difference is how you are marked. IELTS, OET and Cambridge C1 Advanced are marked by trained human examiners; PTE Academic is scored entirely by computer; TOEFL iBT uses a mix of automated scoring and human raters. That flows into the Speaking test — IELTS is a live one-to-one interview, Cambridge pairs you with another candidate in front of examiners, OET is a profession-based role-play, while PTE and TOEFL have you record answers with no examiner present.
Results speed is where PTE Academic has built its reputation: it often returns scores within about two days, which is why applicants working to a deadline gravitate to it. Computer-delivered IELTS takes 1 to 5 days according to IELTS, TOEFL a little longer, and OET and Cambridge around two to three weeks.
Retake rules differ too. IELTS offers a One Skill Retake — you can resit a single module within a set window, and Home Affairs accepts the combined result for the visa. The other four tests require you to sit the whole test again if one skill falls short, so a weak component is more costly to fix.
Which test fits your situation
For most skilled applicants the decision comes down to IELTS or PTE Academic: a human examiner and a single-skill retake, against fully automated scoring and the fastest turnaround. Both earn identical points, so it is genuinely a question of which format you perform in and how quickly you need the result.
Two groups have a clearer answer. Healthcare professionals often already sit OET for registration with AHPRA, so it can double as their points-test evidence — though OET's health-profession content makes it an awkward fit for anyone outside the sector. And if a skills-assessment authority or a university is also in your pathway, check what they require: many assessors name IELTS Academic specifically, even though the visa itself treats Academic and General Training the same.
Whatever you choose, verify acceptance for your exact visa subclass and occupation on the Department of Home Affairs pages before booking — the accepted-test list, the equivalent scores and the validity window are all set there, and at-home or superscored results are not always accepted.
The Competent / Proficient / Superior ladder
English points are awarded by level, not by overall score, and your level is set by your lowest of the four components. These IELTS and PTE Academic equivalents are long-standing; the other accepted tests have their own equivalents on the Home Affairs page.
| English level | Points | IELTS (each band) | PTE Academic (each skill) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Competent English | 0 (minimum to apply) | 6.0 | 50 |
| Proficient English | 10 | 7.0 | 65 |
| Superior English | 20 | 8.0 | 79 |
Your level is capped by your weakest component — a profile of 8 / 8 / 8 / 7 counts as Proficient, not Superior. TOEFL iBT, OET and Cambridge C1 Advanced are also accepted, each with its own equivalent score for these three levels; verify every figure on the Department of Home Affairs English language requirements page. A partner with at least Competent English can add points separately.
Common questions
Is PTE easier than IELTS for Australian migration?
Neither is officially easier, and it would be wrong to treat one as a shortcut. Both map to the same Competent, Proficient and Superior points ladder and demand the same English level. What differs is format: PTE Academic is computer-scored with Speaking recorded to a microphone and results usually within about two days, while IELTS uses human examiners and a live Speaking interview. Sit whichever format plays to your strengths — the points are identical.
Is the Duolingo English Test accepted for Australian skilled migration?
No. The Department of Home Affairs does not list the Duolingo English Test among the tests it accepts for the skilled-migration points test — those are IELTS, PTE Academic, TOEFL iBT, OET and Cambridge C1 Advanced. Some Australian universities accept Duolingo for admission, but that is separate from the visa requirement. Always confirm the accepted-test list on the official Home Affairs page before booking.
Does General Training IELTS work for the points test, or do I need Academic?
For the visa points test, IELTS Academic and General Training earn identical points at each English level. However, a skills-assessment authority or a university in your pathway may specifically require Academic, so check what your occupation's assessor asks for before you book — the visa and the assessment can have different rules.
Which English test gives the fastest results for a visa application?
PTE Academic is usually the quickest, often returning results within about two days, which is why applicants working to a deadline gravitate to it. Computer-delivered IELTS takes 1 to 5 days according to IELTS, TOEFL iBT a little longer, and OET and Cambridge C1 Advanced around two to three weeks. Turnaround can change, so confirm with each provider.
Is OET accepted for Australian migration if I am not a healthcare worker?
OET is one of the five tests Home Affairs accepts for the points test, but it is built around health-profession scenarios and is aimed at healthcare applicants — it is also what AHPRA registration commonly uses. If you are not in a health field, a general test such as IELTS or PTE Academic is usually the more natural fit. Confirm acceptance for your visa on Home Affairs.
Can I retake just one section to lift my English points?
Only with IELTS. Its One Skill Retake lets you resit a single module within a set window, and Home Affairs accepts the combined result for the visa. PTE Academic, TOEFL iBT, OET and Cambridge C1 Advanced all require a full retake, so if one skill falls short you must sit the whole test again.
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