PTE guide
Use the current Pearson score ranges, then check the separate Australian visa table that applies to your test date. PTE overall scores and communicative-skill scores are not interchangeable.
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Use Pearson's July 2025 concordance ranges and the separate post-7 August 2025 Home Affairs component tables without confusing an overall PTE score with skill minimums.
PTE Academic reports an overall score from 10 to 90 plus separate Listening, Reading, Speaking, and Writing scores on the same scale. The overall score is not an average of the four communicative-skill scores.
Pearson's July 2025 research aligns IELTS Academic 6.5 with a PTE overall range of 55-62, IELTS 7.0 with 63-70, and IELTS 8.0 with 79-85. These are estimated concordance ranges, not guarantees or visa rules.
The table below reproduces Pearson's current published ranges. Skill-level ranges differ because a PTE overall score is calculated from performance across the test rather than by averaging the four skills.
| IELTS Academic | PTE Overall | Listening | Reading | Speaking | Writing |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 4.5 | 24-30 | 26-32 | 29-35 | 14-23 | 17-28 |
| 5.0 | 31-38 | 33-39 | 36-41 | 24-38 | 29-40 |
| 5.5 | 39-46 | 40-46 | 42-47 | 39-53 | 41-50 |
| 6.0 | 47-54 | 47-52 | 48-53 | 54-65 | 51-59 |
| 6.5 | 55-62 | 53-57 | 54-58 | 66-75 | 60-68 |
| 7.0 | 63-70 | 58-63 | 59-64 | 76-82 | 69-76 |
| 7.5 | 71-78 | 64-68 | 65-69 | 83-87 | 77-84 |
| 8.0 | 79-85 | 69-74 | 70-74 | 88-89 | 85-89 |
| 8.5 | 86-89 | 75-80 | 75-80 | 90 | 90 |
| 9.0 | 90 | 81-90 | 81-90 | - | - |
Do not treat this as an exact conversion. Pearson describes score relationships between different tests as approximations with measurement error. A university, regulator, or visa authority can set a different policy.
Australia changed its approved English-test thresholds on 7 August 2025. For a PTE Academic test taken on or after that date, the Department of Home Affairs publishes the following minimum score in each named component. It does not publish one PTE overall minimum for these three English levels.
| Home Affairs level | Listening | Reading | Writing | Speaking | GSM points |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Competent English | 47 | 48 | 51 | 54 | Eligibility threshold where required; no English points |
| Proficient English | 58 | 59 | 69 | 76 | 10 points |
| Superior English | 69 | 70 | 85 | 88 | 20 points |
For an eligible test taken on or before 6 August 2025, the older PTE thresholds were 50 in each skill for Competent English, 65 in each skill for Proficient English, and 79 in each skill for Superior English. Whether an older result remains usable depends on the visa subclass and validity period.
The subclass 485 requirement is a separate rule. It should not be copied from the Competent English table.
| PTE test date | Overall | Listening | Reading | Writing | Speaking |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| On or after 7 August 2025 | 55 | 40 | 42 | 41 | 39 |
| On or before 6 August 2025 | 57 | 43 | 48 | 51 | 42 |
Home Affairs says the qualifying test must generally have been taken in the 12 months immediately before the day you apply for a subclass 485 visa. Passport exemptions and different thresholds for eligible British National (Overseas) or Hong Kong passport holders can apply. Check the exact stream and your circumstances on the official visa page before relying on a score.
Pearson's institution guide says its experience suggests these broad cut-score ranges:
These are not universal admissions requirements. A course may require a higher overall score, a minimum in one or more skills, or a particular test version. Use the exact course page as the final source.
Source review date: 24 August 2026. This guide is educational information, not migration or admissions advice.
A good score is one that meets both the overall and skill minimums set by the organisation receiving your result. Pearson says typical cut scores are 51-60 for undergraduate degrees and 57-67 for postgraduate degrees, but each course sets its own policy.
Pearson's July 2025 concordance estimates IELTS Academic 6.5 at PTE overall 55-62. It is a range, not an exact conversion. The PTE skill ranges for IELTS 6.5 are Listening 53-57, Reading 54-58, Speaking 66-75, and Writing 60-68.
For PTE Academic taken on or after 7 August 2025, Home Affairs lists minimum component scores of Listening 69, Reading 70, Writing 85, and Speaking 88. The older rule of 79 in each skill applies to eligible tests taken on or before 6 August 2025, subject to the relevant visa and validity rules.
For a PTE Academic test taken on or after 7 August 2025, the main subclass 485 table lists overall 55, Listening 40, Reading 42, Writing 41, and Speaking 39. Older tests use a different table, and passport exceptions can apply. Verify your stream on the Home Affairs page.
No. Pearson states that the PTE overall score is based on performance across the entire test and is not an average of Listening, Reading, Speaking, and Writing scores.