What Has Changed in PTE Academic: Test Updates & New Immigration Requirements

Australia has introduced major updates to English language testing requirements for migration, alongside changes to the PTE Academic test format itself. These changes affect both test takers and visa applicants.

Here’s what you need to know.

Part 1: PTE Academic Test Updates

Pearson has refreshed the PTE Academic test to make it more real-world, balanced, and fair.

Key Changes

• New Speaking Tasks
  Two new tasks have been introduced:
  
  • Summarise Group Discussion
    
  • Respond to a Situation
    → These tasks assess spontaneous communication and the ability to summarise ideas in realistic contexts.
    
• Human Involvement in Scoring
  Some speaking and writing responses will now be human-marked, alongside AI scoring. This means test takers must focus on logic, structure, and content quality, not just fluency or pronunciation.
  
• One-Skill Scoring
  Certain tasks no longer give “cross-skill credit.” For example, Read Aloud now only contributes to Speaking, not Reading. Weakness in one skill is harder to mask.
  
• Alignment with Other Tests
  Updated concordance studies ensure PTE scores align more closely with IELTS, TOEFL, and other accepted tests.
  

What Stays the Same:
The test length (~2 hours), structure (Speaking & Writing, Reading, Listening), and 10–90 scoring scale remain unchanged.

Part 2: Immigration Requirements (LIN 25/016)

Australia’s Department of Home Affairs has introduced a new legislative instrument: Migration (Specification of Language Tests, Test Scores and Passports) 2025.

What’s New

1. Start Date & Transition
   
   • New rules apply to tests taken on or after 7 August 2025.
     
   • Tests taken before 7 August remain valid under old criteria for up to 3 years.
     
2. Approved Tests
   
   • IELTS Academic / General (with One Skill Retake)
     
   • PTE Academic
     
   • TOEFL iBT
     
   • OET
     
   • Cambridge C1 Advanced (not accepted at Vocational level after 13 Sept 2025)
     
   • New options: CELPIP General, LanguageCert Academic, MET
     
3. Component Minima (PTE Academic)
   Every English level (Vocational, Competent, Proficient, Superior) now requires different minimum scores in Listening, Reading, Writing, and Speaking.
   
   Example – Vocational English (482 Visa Skills in Demand stream):
   
   • Listening ≥ 33
     
   • Reading ≥ 36
     
   • Writing ≥ 29
     
   • Speaking ≥ 24
     (Previously 36 across all skills)
     
4. Higher levels (Competent, Proficient, Superior) now have tougher Writing and Speaking requirements, especially for Skilled Migration visas.
   

Comparison Snapshot: Old vs New (PTE Academic Minima)

English Level	Old Requirement	New Requirement (from 7 Aug 2025)
Vocational	36 each band	L: 33, R: 36, W: 29, S: 24
Competent	50 each band	L: 47, R: 48, W: 51, S: 54
Proficient	65 each band	L: 58, R: 59, W: 69, S: 76
Superior	79 each band	L: 69, R: 70, W: 85, S: 88

Why It Matters

• Writing & Speaking are under the spotlight — higher thresholds at advanced levels mean test takers must strengthen these skills.
  
• No “weak link” allowed — each skill has its own minimum, so a poor score in one area can’t be offset elsewhere.
  
• Strategic timing — those who sit PTE before 7 August 2025 may benefit from the lower thresholds (valid up to 3 years).
  
• Visa impact — Skilled Migration points, employer-sponsored visas (482), and study pathways all depend on meeting the new standards.
  

Tips for Test Takers

1. Practice the New Tasks
   Get comfortable with Summarise Group Discussion and Respond to a Situation. Focus on clarity, structure, and summarising key points.
   
2. Polish Writing & Speaking
   With human scoring, content quality matters. Avoid memorised templates; aim for logical, coherent, and well-structured responses.
   
3. Cover All Skills
   Don’t rely on cross-skill scoring. Strengthen each skill area individually.
   
4. Use Updated Prep Material
   Ensure your practice tests reflect the 2025 changes.
   
5. Record Yourself
   Review your speaking responses for fluency, clarity, and natural delivery.
   
6. Aim Higher than the Minimum
   Target scores above the baseline to allow a buffer.
   

Final Word

The 2025 updates to PTE Academic and Australia’s immigration rules mark a shift toward more realistic assessment of English skills and stricter component-based thresholds.

For test takers, this means adapting preparation strategies and paying closer attention to Speaking and Writing. 

For visa applicants, it means knowing exactly which English level applies to your subclass and planning your test timing carefully.

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