Which English tests does Australia accept?
Nine tests are accepted for the student visa (Subclass 500) in 2026. The common trap: at-home versions of most tests are not accepted, even if the test-centre version is fine. Read the three warnings below before you book.
Do not book an at-home test.
These specific versions are not accepted for the student visa — even if the test operator allows you to sit them at home:
- IELTS Online
- TOEFL iBT Home Edition
- OET@Home
- CELPIP Online
- LANGUAGECERT Online
- MET Digital at home
PTE Academic has no at-home version. The test-centre version is accepted.
Booking TOEFL iBT? Choose “Taking TOEFL for Australia”.
When you register for TOEFL iBT, the registration system asks which country you are testing for. Select Australia. A result not registered this way may not be accepted. This is Home Affairs’ own wording — there is no confirmed date for when this rule applies from.
Cambridge C1 Advanced does not work with a packaged English course.
Cambridge C1 Advanced (also written as CAE) is not accepted for the 10-week or 20-week ELICOS (English Language Intensive Courses for Overseas Students) pathway. It is also not accepted for the Temporary Graduate visa (Subclass 485).
The Cambridge result is still accepted for the standard student visa (Subclass 500) score threshold — it just does not unlock the lower packaged-course thresholds.
All nine accepted tests
PTE Academic
Pearson (all markets); Pearson VUE / Beijing Enxiaisi Information Technology Services in mainland China
- Format
- Part 1 Speaking & Writing; Part 2 Reading; Part 3 Listening
- Time
- 135 min
- Score scale
- 10-90
- Results in
- 2
- Valid for
- 2 years
Visa 500 score thresholds
- Standard
- 47
- +10 wks
- 39
- +20 wks
- 31
+10 wks and +20 wks apply when you package an ELICOS course before your main course.
SourceChecked:Book it here →TOEFL iBT (Australia pathway)
ETS; NEEA in mainland China
- Format
- Reading; Listening; Writing; Speaking
- Time
- 120 min
- Score scale
- 1-6 in 0.5 steps with comparable 0-120 to Jan 2028; TOEFL iBT Australia reported as 0-120 (UNVERIFIED)
- Results in
- 3
- Valid for
- 2 years
Visa 500 score thresholds
- Standard
- 67
- +10 wks
- 51
- +20 wks
- 37
+10 wks and +20 wks apply when you package an ELICOS course before your main course.
SourceChecked:Book it here →CELPIP General
Visa 500 score thresholds
- Standard
- 7
- +10 wks
- 6
- +20 wks
- 5
+10 wks and +20 wks apply when you package an ELICOS course before your main course.
SourceChecked:LANGUAGECERT Academic
Visa 500 score thresholds
- Standard
- 61
- +10 wks
- 54
- +20 wks
- 46
+10 wks and +20 wks apply when you package an ELICOS course before your main course.
SourceChecked:Michigan English Test
Visa 500 score thresholds
- Standard
- 53
- +10 wks
- 49
- +20 wks
- 44
+10 wks and +20 wks apply when you package an ELICOS course before your main course.
SourceChecked:IELTS Academic
IDP and British Council (AU, VN, ID); British Council with NEEA (CN)
- Format
- Listening; Reading; Writing; Speaking
- Time
- 165 min
- Results in
- 1-2 computer; 13 paper
- Valid for
- 2 years
Visa 500 score thresholds
- Standard
- 6.0
- +10 wks
- 5.5
- +20 wks
- 5.0
+10 wks and +20 wks apply when you package an ELICOS course before your main course.
SourceChecked:Book it here →IELTS General Training
IDP and British Council (AU, VN, ID); British Council with NEEA (CN)
- Format
- Listening; Reading; Writing; Speaking
- Time
- 165 min
- Results in
- 1-2 computer; 13 paper
- Valid for
- 2 years
Visa 500 score thresholds
- Standard
- 6.0
- +10 wks
- 5.5
- +20 wks
- 5.0
+10 wks and +20 wks apply when you package an ELICOS course before your main course.
SourceChecked:Book it here →Occupational English Test
OET (Cambridge Boxhill Language Assessment)
- Format
- Listening; Reading; Writing; Speaking
- Score scale
- 0-500 per sub-test with letter grades A-E (confirmed unchanged, live-verified 2026-08-23)
- Results in
- 12
Visa 500 score thresholds
- Standard
- 1210
- +10 wks
- 1090
- +20 wks
- 1020
+10 wks and +20 wks apply when you package an ELICOS course before your main course.
SourceChecked:Book it here →Cambridge C1 Advanced
Cambridge English
- Format
- Reading and Use of English; Writing; Listening; Speaking
- Score scale
- Cambridge English Scale 180-199 (C1 Advanced qualification band)
Visa 500 score thresholds
- Standard
- 161
- +10 wks
- Not accepted
- +20 wks
- Not accepted
+10 wks and +20 wks apply when you package an ELICOS course before your main course.
SourceChecked:Book it here →
See score requirements for the minimum score at each course level.
Side-by-side comparison
All figures come from the live database. Each row shows the source and check date on the test card above. Scroll right if the table does not fit.
| Test | Time (min) | Cost in AUD | Results in | Valid for | At-home accepted |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| PTE Academic | 135 | $490 | 2 | 2 yr | No |
| TOEFL iBT (Australia pathway) | 120 | — | 3 | 2 yr | No |
| CELPIP General | — | — | — | — | No |
| LANGUAGECERT Academic | — | — | — | — | No |
| Michigan English Test | — | — | — | — | No |
| IELTS Academic | 165 | $490 | 1-2 computer; 13 paper | 2 yr | No |
| IELTS General Training | 165 | $490 | 1-2 computer; 13 paper | 2 yr | No |
| Occupational English Test | — | — | 12 | — | No |
| Cambridge C1 Advanced | — | $330 | — | — | No |
AUD fee is the test operator’s published price for an Australian test centre. Fees change — confirm at the booking link before purchasing.
General information only — not migration advice. StudyVisaHub provides general information sourced from publicly available Australian Government publications. For decisions about a visa application, consult a Registered Migration Agent (MARN) or an Australian immigration lawyer.