For a Student visa subclass 500, a PTE result may be one part of your visa evidence. Your university, college or school can set a separate English admission requirement. Check both. Meeting a provider's entry score does not automatically meet Home Affairs rules, and meeting a visa score does not guarantee admission.
Select the row by both application date and test date
The current instrument applies to subclass 500 applications made on or after 7 August 2025. For those applications, a PTE Academic test taken on or after 7 August 2025 uses the 47, 39 and 31 rows below. Section 8 and Schedule 3 preserve 50, 42 and 36 for an eligible test taken before commencement. These are visa evidence thresholds, not universal university entry scores. Check both dates before choosing a row.
Current subclass 500 PTE Academic scores
For a test taken on or after 7 August 2025, the current Home Affairs subclass 500 page lists these minimum PTE Academic scores:
| Study arrangement | Minimum PTE Academic score |
|---|---|
| Standard requirement | 47 |
| Principal course with at least 10 weeks of ELICOS, or an eligible Foundation or Pathway program | 39 |
| Principal course with at least 20 weeks of ELICOS | 31 |
For a PTE test taken on or before 6 August 2025, the corresponding table lists 50, 42 and 36. See the official Student visa subclass 500 page.
Do not choose a lower number simply because you plan to study English first. The package must meet the official conditions, including the stated minimum ELICOS duration or an eligible program. Your provider should document the course package, while Home Affairs determines the visa requirement.
When evidence may be required
Home Affairs says applicants required to provide a test must generally have completed it within two years before lodging the visa application. For applicants in streamlined evidence arrangements who are later asked for evidence, the test must be within two years before the decision. The official page also lists exemption categories, including specified passports and certain courses or prior study (Home Affairs eligibility information).
An exemption is fact-specific. Do not assume that studying in English or holding an overseas qualification is enough. Match your circumstances to the current list and retain the evidence requested.
Home Affairs does not accept a test delivered entirely online or at home for Australian visa purposes. Book the correct PTE Academic delivery and verify it against the current page.
Visa evidence and provider admission are two checks
Make a two-column note before you book:
| Home Affairs | Education provider |
|---|---|
| Is English evidence required in my case? | What score does this exact course require? |
| Which test-date table applies? | Are there overall and skill minimums? |
| Does my packaged course qualify for a lower threshold? | Does the offer include ELICOS or a pathway? |
| What is the evidence time window? | How recent must the result be for admission? |
Use direct sources. For the visa side, start with Home Affairs and the current 2025 subclass 500 instrument, which the Register marked in force and latest on 16 September 2026. Schedule 2 names eligible pathway programs; confirm that the provider's written package identifies the qualifying program. For admission, use the provider's course page and offer conditions.
Worked example: two targets for one applicant
Fictional applicant Leo has an offer for a bachelor degree packaged with 10 weeks of ELICOS. His provider's letter requires PTE Academic overall 45 with no communicative skill below 40. Leo sees a blog claiming that every student needs 47.
He separates the questions:
- On the Home Affairs page, he checks whether his package fits the listed 10-week ELICOS category and whether he must provide test evidence. If it does, the current post-7 August 2025 table shows 39 for that visa category.
- On his provider documents, he keeps the separate admission target of overall 45 and each skill 40.
Leo therefore prepares for the higher or more restrictive condition across both sets. He does not treat the visa table as permission to ignore the provider's skill minimums. This example illustrates the method only; Home Affairs and the provider decide his actual case.
Final check before applying
Confirm your test date, application date, course package, Confirmation of Enrolment, exemption evidence and provider conditions. Save dated copies or notes of the official pages you used. Check again before lodgement because policies and offers can change.
Once both targets are clear, choose tasks for the required skills in the PTE practice question hub.
Related guides
- PTE for Australian Universities: How to Check Your Course Requirements
- How to Book PTE Without Choosing the Wrong Test