ScoreFluent1. Establish eligibility
Find your visa subclass and required English level. Add any university or professional registration requirements. Keep only tests and versions that satisfy every organisation you need.
Which English test should you take for an Australian visa?
Compare all nine options on the Department of Home Affairs list, then choose using your visa requirements, current skills and test-day preferences.
This comparison covers tests taken on or after 7 August 2025. Your visa subclass determines the English level, evidence period and any exemptions. Start with the official Home Affairs English-language requirements.
All accepted English tests: what to compare
Home Affairs lists IELTS Academic and General Training separately. That makes nine entries across eight exam families, including OET. ScoreFluent has guides for seven families; OET links to its official provider.
| Test | What to try in sample practice | Before booking |
|---|---|---|
| Cambridge C1 Advanced | Reading and Use of English, extended writing and paired speaking. | Check acceptance for your required English level; do not substitute another Cambridge qualification. |
| CELPIP-General | Everyday communication, email and survey writing, recorded speaking. | Book the four-skill General test, not General LS. |
| IELTS Academic | Academic reading and visual-data writing, plus an essay and examiner-led speaking. | Check whether your university or regulator also requires Academic. |
| IELTS General Training | Everyday and workplace reading, letter writing, an essay and examiner-led speaking. | Visa acceptance does not make General Training suitable for every university or regulator. |
| LANGUAGECERT Academic | Academic reading, listening, writing and speaking. | Book Academic at a secure test centre; other LanguageCert products are different tests. |
| Michigan English Test (MET) | Grammar within reading, listening, written responses and recorded speaking. | Use the four-skill test at a secure test centre. |
| Occupational English Test (OET) | English in healthcare contexts, with profession-specific communication tasks. | Check your professional regulator separately; its required scores can differ from visa thresholds. |
| PTE Academic | Computer-based academic communication, including tasks that combine skills. | Book Academic, not PTE Core; older sittings use different Home Affairs thresholds. |
| TOEFL iBT | Academic English across reading, listening, writing and speaking. | Select “Taking TOEFL for Australia” when registering. Check the Australia pathway before booking. |
Accepted-test list: Department of Home Affairs. Format detail: follow each exam guide for provider sources. Acceptance for a visa does not automatically satisfy admissions, registration or employment requirements.
Competent English: minimum scores by test
Use this table only when your application requires competent English and your test was taken on or after 7 August 2025. Each skill must meet its own minimum; an overall average does not replace these thresholds.
| Test | Listening | Reading | Writing | Speaking |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Cambridge C1 Advanced | 163 | 163 | 170 | 179 |
| CELPIP-General | 7 | 7 | 7 | 7 |
| IELTS Academic | 6 | 6 | 6 | 6 |
| IELTS General Training | 6 | 6 | 6 | 6 |
| LANGUAGECERT Academic | 57 | 60 | 64 | 70 |
| Michigan English Test (MET) | 56 | 55 | 57 | 48 |
| Occupational English Test (OET) | 290 | 310 | 290 | 330 |
| PTE Academic | 47 | 48 | 51 | 54 |
| TOEFL iBT | 16 | 16 | 19 | 19 |
Source: Home Affairs competent English table. These are administrative thresholds on different test scales, not equivalent raw scores or an exam difficulty ranking.
Need another level? Check the official functional, vocational, proficient or superior English requirements. Accepted evidence and thresholds vary; do not reuse this table for those levels.
Choose by evidence, not an “easiest exam” claim
2. Compare your responses
Try official reading, listening, writing and speaking samples from two eligible tests under time limits. Note where you lose accuracy or run out of time, and get writing and speaking feedback against each rubric.
3. Compare the logistics
Check nearby test centres, available dates, fees, result times and permitted retakes. Leave room for preparation and a possible resit before your application deadline.
If you prefer writing practical messages, try CELPIP and IELTS General Training samples. If you are comfortable discussing ideas with another candidate, explore Cambridge C1 Advanced speaking. If you work in healthcare, try OET tasks alongside your regulator’s requirements. These are ways to build a shortlist, not predictions of your score.
For a study-and-visa application, confirm the institution’s accepted version first. IELTS Academic and General Training share listening and speaking but differ in reading and writing; choosing on the visa requirement alone can create a second test booking.
Four checks that can prevent the wrong booking
- Delivery mode: use a secure test centre. A provider’s remote or at-home option is not accepted by Home Affairs for this evidence.
- Test date: pre-7 August 2025 results use earlier rules. Check validity for your visa; do not assume a universal three-year window.
- TOEFL registration: Home Affairs says to select “Taking TOEFL for Australia”. Follow the ETS Australia instructions. Do not substitute a conversion from the global 2026 score scale for the published Home Affairs requirements.
- Retakes: confirm whether IELTS One Skill Retake or MET Single Section Retake is acceptable for your visa and English level before paying for one.
Frequently asked questions
Which English tests are accepted for Australian visas?
For tests taken on or after 7 August 2025, Home Affairs lists Cambridge C1 Advanced, CELPIP-General, IELTS Academic, IELTS General Training, LANGUAGECERT Academic, MET, OET, PTE Academic and TOEFL iBT. The visa subclass and required English level determine which evidence and scores you need.
Which is the easiest English test for an Australian visa?
There is no universal easiest test. First confirm acceptance and the required section scores. Then use official sample tasks to compare your performance under time limits, speaking setup and writing demands. Lower-looking numbers on a different scale do not mean an easier requirement.
Can I take an English test at home for an Australian visa?
Home Affairs requires approved tests to be taken at a secure test centre. It does not accept fully online or at-home delivery for visa English evidence, even when the provider offers that version.
Can I use a test taken before 7 August 2025?
Different approved-test lists and score requirements apply to earlier sittings. Some older results may remain usable, depending on the visa and its validity rules. Use the Home Affairs table for your actual test date; the scores on this page are for sittings on or after 7 August 2025.
Are IELTS One Skill Retake and MET Single Section Retake accepted?
Home Affairs includes IELTS One Skill Retake and MET Single Section Retake in its current test list. Check the rules for your visa subclass and required English level before relying on a retake result; a provider offering a retake does not by itself establish acceptance for your application.
Keep the official requirement beside your study plan
Save the Home Affairs English-language page and the page for your visa subclass. Recheck them before booking and before applying. This independent comparison helps you shortlist tests; Home Affairs determines which evidence satisfies your application.