{"id":5163,"date":"2026-06-22T04:26:10","date_gmt":"2026-06-22T04:26:10","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.languageacademy.com.au\/blog\/?p=5157"},"modified":"2026-06-22T04:26:10","modified_gmt":"2026-06-22T04:26:10","slug":"pte-score-changes-7-august-2025","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.languageacademy.com.au\/blog\/pte-score-changes-7-august-2025\/","title":{"rendered":"PTE Score Changes (7 August 2025): The New Component Rules"},"content":{"rendered":"
\n
\"\"<\/div>\n
Quick answer:<\/strong><\/div>\n

On 7 August 2025 the Department of Home Affairs switched PTE Academic<\/a> from a uniform \u201850 \/ 65 \/ 79 in each skill\u2019 standard to\u00a0component-specific minimums \u2014 a separate score for Listening, Reading, Writing and Speaking. Writing and Speaking rose well above 79; Listening and Reading eased. You now must meet each skill individually.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

\n

What changed on 7 August 2025?<\/h2>\n
\n
<\/div>\n
Quick answer:<\/strong><\/div>\n

Before, every English level used the same number across all four skills \u2014 for example, 79 in each for Superior. From 7 August 2025, each skill has its own minimum. The single biggest effect is that Writing and Speaking now require noticeably higher scores than Listening and Reading.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

\n
\n\n\n\n\n<\/colgroup>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n
<\/th>\nOld rule (pre-7 Aug 2025)<\/th>\nNew rule (from 7 Aug 2025)<\/th>\n<\/tr>\n<\/thead>\n
Format<\/td>\nSame number in every skill<\/td>\nA specific minimum per skill<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Superior<\/td>\n79 in each<\/td>\nL69 \u00b7 R70 \u00b7 W85 \u00b7 S88<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Proficient<\/td>\n65 in each<\/td>\nL58 \u00b7 R59 \u00b7 W69 \u00b7 S76<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Competent<\/td>\n50 in each<\/td>\nL47 \u00b7 R48 \u00b7 W51 \u00b7 S54<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Averaging<\/td>\nNot allowed<\/td>\nStill not allowed \u2014 meet each skill<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/section>\n
\n

What are the new PTE scores for every level?<\/h2>\n
\n
<\/div>\n
Quick answer:<\/strong><\/div>\n

The new component minimums are:\u00a0Superior L69\/R70\/W85\/S88 (20 points); Proficient L58\/R59\/W69\/S76 (10 points); Competent L47\/R48\/W51\/S54 (0 points); Vocational L33\/R36\/W29\/S24.\u00a0You must meet the listed score in each skill \u2014 there is no averaging across the four.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

\n
\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n<\/colgroup>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n
Level (PTE Academic)<\/th>\nListen<\/th>\nRead<\/th>\nWrite<\/th>\nSpeak<\/th>\nPoints<\/th>\n<\/tr>\n<\/thead>\n
Superior<\/td>\n69<\/td>\n70<\/td>\n85<\/td>\n88<\/td>\n20<\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Proficient<\/td>\n58<\/td>\n59<\/td>\n69<\/td>\n76<\/td>\n10<\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Competent<\/td>\n47<\/td>\n48<\/td>\n51<\/td>\n54<\/td>\n0<\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Vocational<\/td>\n33<\/td>\n36<\/td>\n29<\/td>\n24<\/td>\n\u2014<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n
Component-specific PTE Academic minimums for Australian migration, in force from 7 August 2025 (Department of Home Affairs).<\/div>\n<\/section>\n
\n

Why did Writing and Speaking get harder?<\/h2>\n
\n
<\/div>\n
Quick answer:<\/strong><\/div>\n

Writing and Speaking now sit much closer to the ceiling \u2014 Superior needs W85 and S88 \u2014 because the new framework targets the productive skills that matter most for work and study in Australia. Listening and Reading minimums eased slightly, so the difficulty shifted rather than rising everywhere.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

\n

In practice, the test didn\u2019t get harder overall \u2014 the\u00a0balance\u00a0changed. Listening and Reading eased while Writing and Speaking rose, so the difficulty shifted rather than rising everywhere: the easier Listening and Reading thresholds offset the tougher Writing and Speaking ones.<\/p>\n

Still, if you\u2019re aiming for Superior, your prep should now be front-loaded onto Writing and Speaking \u2014 that\u2019s where the new bar bites.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

\n
The headline number to remember<\/div>\n

Superior is W85 and S88. Those two scores, not Listening or Reading, are what most applicants will need to train hardest for.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/section>\n

\n

Do my old PTE scores still count?<\/h2>\n
\n
<\/div>\n
Quick answer:<\/strong><\/div>\n

Yes. A PTE score sat before 7 August 2025 is assessed under the old uniform rule (50 \/ 65 \/ 79 in each skill) and stays valid for up to three years from the test date \u2014 roughly until 6 August 2028 for the latest pre-change sittings. You don\u2019t need to re-sit if your old score already qualifies.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

\n

This matters most if you already hold a qualifying result. A pre-change Superior score (79 in each) keeps its 20 points for its full validity window. If you\u2019re booking a\u00a0new<\/em> test, though, the component rules apply \u2014 so plan to the new numbers.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/section>\n

\n

What does this mean for your PR points strategy?<\/h2>\n
\n

Three practical moves follow from the change. They map cleanly onto how we coach for migration at Language Academy.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

\n
\n

1. Front-load Writing & Speaking<\/h3>\n

Superior needs W85\/S88. Build your study plan around the two skills where the bar moved up, not an even split across all four.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

\n

2. Coach to 90, not the threshold<\/h3>\n

A perfect-90 target gives you margin above W85\/S88, so one dip doesn\u2019t cost you the whole band.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

\n

3. Lock English in early<\/h3>\n

A skilled-PR score is valid for three years \u2014 clear Superior now and remove the riskiest variable from your application.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n

\n

For the exact points each level earns on the 189, 190 and 491, see our\u00a0PTE score for Australia PR guide<\/a>; students should also check the separate\u00a0subclass 500 requirements.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a><\/p>\n

Frequently asked\u00a0questions<\/span><\/h2>\n
    \n
  • \n
    When did the PTE score changes take effect?<\/strong><\/h6>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n

    The new component-specific requirements took effect on 7 August 2025 for Australian visa purposes.<\/p>\n

      \n
    • \n
      Is Superior English still 79 in each skill?<\/strong><\/h6>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n

      No. Superior is now L69 \u00b7 R70 \u00b7 W85 \u00b7 S88. The old \u201879 in each\u2019 rule only applies to tests sat before 7 August 2025.<\/p>\n

        \n
      • \n
        Did the test get harder?<\/strong><\/h6>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n

        Not overall. The difficulty shifted rather than rising everywhere: Writing and Speaking minimums rose while Listening and Reading eased.<\/p>\n

          \n
        • \n
          Are my pre-August-2025 scores still valid?<\/strong><\/h6>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n

          Yes. They are assessed under the old uniform rule and remain valid for up to three years from the test date.<\/p>\n

            \n
          • \n
            Can I still sit PTE online for an Australian visa?<\/strong><\/h6>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n

            No. From 7 August 2025, remote\/online PTE is not accepted for Australian visa purposes. You must test at an approved centre.<\/p>\n

              \n
            • \n
              Which skills should I focus on now?<\/strong><\/h6>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n

              Writing and Speaking, because Superior now requires W85 and S88 \u2014 the highest thresholds in the new framework.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/section>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

              Quick answer: On 7 August 2025 the Department of Home Affairs switched PTE Academic from a uniform \u201850 \/ 65 \/ 79 in each skill\u2019 standard to\u00a0component-specific minimums \u2014 a separate score for Listening, Reading, Writing and Speaking. Writing and Speaking rose well above 79; Listening and Reading eased. You now must meet each skill […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":5363,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_la_meta_desc":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[36],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-5163","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-pte-preparation"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.languageacademy.com.au\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/5163","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.languageacademy.com.au\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.languageacademy.com.au\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.languageacademy.com.au\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.languageacademy.com.au\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=5163"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.languageacademy.com.au\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/5163\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.languageacademy.com.au\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/5363"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.languageacademy.com.au\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=5163"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.languageacademy.com.au\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=5163"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.languageacademy.com.au\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=5163"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}