Starting 7th August 2025, Australia’s Department of Home Affairs changed PTE score requirement. So if you are planning to give this exam for migration, PR, or work, you must understand PTE score changes for Australia Visa.
There are various changes, and one of the most important changes is the removal of the old uniform scoring system. You no longer have to aim for a fixed score across all skills. Instead, each level of English proficiency has a different and minimum DHA PTE requirement for Listening, Reading, Writing, and Speaking.
What Has Changed?
Component-wise scoring
- Earlier, Competent, Proficient, and Superior English all required the same score in each skill.
- Now, every skill has its own minimum, and they are not the same across the four modules.
Higher expectations for Writing & Speaking
- For several visa categories, Writing and Speaking requirements have increased.
- This means applicants will have to focus more on productive skills, not just reading-based tasks.
Old results remain valid
- If you took the PTE before 7 August 2025, your score will still be assessed under the older scoring pattern (as long as it’s within its validity period).
DHA PTE Academic Score Requirements Changes by English Level
| Skill | Superior
Before After |
Proficient
Before After |
Competent
Before After |
Vocational
Before After |
||||
| Listening | 8 | 8 | 7 | 7 | 6 | 6 | 5 | 5 |
| Reading | 8 | 8 | 7 | 7 | 6 | 6 | 5 | 5 |
| Writing | 8 | 8 | 7 | 7 | 6 | 6 | 5 | 5 |
| Speaking | 8 | 8 | 7 | 7 | 6 | 6 | 5 | 5 |
What This Means for Applicants
- You must now meet each skill’s minimum, not just an overall band.
- Weakness in one module can affect your entire visa eligibility.
- Writing and Speaking need extra attention due to higher score thresholds.
- Test-takers appearing after August 2025 must prepare using the new benchmarks.
- Balanced preparation is more important than ever.
If you’re planning to sit for the exam, this is a good time to begin your preparation—and you don’t have to do it alone. Gurully’s online PTE mock test gives you a realistic test environment, complete with expert-designed mock tests and targeted section-wise tests. It’s built to help you understand the exam pattern, track your progress, and move confidently toward your target score
Also Read:
- Pearson English Express Test- Newly Added 1-hour English Test
- Everything You Must Know About a Student Visa Australia
- New PR Rules in Australia Effective from 7th August 2025 Explained
