PTE Score for Australia PR 2026: 65 vs 79 vs 90 — Points, Visa Subclasses & Immigration Guide

PTE Academic is the #1 English test choice for Australia PR applicants in India — and the numbers back it up. With 48-hour results (vs 13 days for IELTS paper), AI scoring consistency, computer-based format, and unlimited free score reports, PTE has become the default test for the Australia immigration pipeline. Whether you are targeting Subclass 189, 190, 491, 485, or 500, this guide covers every PTE score requirement, every points threshold, and the exact strategy to maximise your English language points for Australia PR.

“I needed 10 extra points for my 189 EOI to reach the cutoff. EEC coached me from PTE 65 to PTE 79 in 8 weeks — those 10 points made the difference between waiting 2 years and getting my ITA in 3 months.”

— Darshan M., PTE 79, Subclass 189 — IT Professional

Why PTE Is the #1 Choice for Australia Immigration

Over 80% of EEC students targeting Australia choose PTE Academic. Here is why:

1. Speed: PTE delivers results in 1-5 business days (typically 48 hours). IELTS paper-based takes 13 days. When you are racing against EOI invitation rounds, skills assessment deadlines, or visa lodgement timelines, 48-hour results can save your application.

2. AI Scoring Consistency: PTE uses artificial intelligence to score every response. There is no human examiner variation — your speaking is evaluated by the same AI algorithm whether you test in Mumbai, Ahmedabad, or Sydney. This eliminates the examiner-bias anxiety many Indian students feel with IELTS speaking.

3. Computer-Based Comfort: Indian students who are comfortable with keyboards and screens (IT professionals, engineers, younger graduates) often perform better on PTE's computer-based format than IELTS's paper-based format.

4. Unlimited Free Score Reports: Send your PTE score to the Department of Home Affairs (DHA), skills assessment bodies, and universities at zero cost. Apply to multiple pathways simultaneously without worrying about per-report fees.

5. Frequent Test Dates: Pearson VUE centres offer PTE almost every day of the week in major Indian cities, giving you maximum flexibility for booking and retakes.

Australia Points System — How English Proficiency Adds Points

Australia's General Skilled Migration (GSM) programme uses a points-based system. You need a minimum of 65 points (for Subclass 189/190) from factors like age, education, work experience, English proficiency, and state nomination. English language points can be the deciding factor between receiving an invitation to apply (ITA) and waiting indefinitely.

Competent English: PTE 65 — 0 Bonus Points (But Mandatory)

PTE 65 in each skill (Listening, Reading, Speaking, Writing) is the minimum English requirement for most skilled visa subclasses. Scoring exactly 65 gives you 0 bonus English points — but you must achieve this to be eligible for PR at all. Without PTE 65 (or IELTS 6.0 each), your EOI cannot be submitted for Subclass 189, 190, or 491.

For most students at EEC, PTE 65 is the first milestone. If you are currently scoring 40-55 on mock tests, your target preparation timeline is 2-3 months. See our PTE 50 to 65 improvement guide.

Proficient English: PTE 79 — 10 Bonus Points

PTE 79 in each skill unlocks 10 additional immigration points. These 10 points can transform your EOI competitiveness. In recent invitation rounds, the difference between receiving an ITA and being bypassed has often been exactly 5-10 points. Proficient English at PTE 79 is the single most accessible way to add 10 points to your total — compared to getting a PhD (20 points) or finding 8+ years of Australian work experience (15 points).

This is the sweet spot for most IT professionals, engineers, and accountants at EEC. If you are scoring PTE 65-70 consistently, the jump to 79 requires focused work on pronunciation, oral fluency, spelling precision, and Write from Dictation accuracy. Timeline: 6-10 weeks of intensive preparation. See our PTE 65 to 79 guide.

Superior English: PTE 90 — 20 Bonus Points (Game Changer)

PTE 90 in every skill unlocks 20 bonus points — the maximum English language contribution to your points total. This is the game changer: 20 points from English alone can compensate for lower scores in age, experience, or education. However, PTE 90 is extremely demanding — it requires near-native proficiency across all four skills with zero tolerance for error.

EEC's recommendation: Target PTE 90 only if you are already scoring 79-85 consistently AND you need those extra points to reach the cutoff. For most students, PTE 79 (10 points) provides the best effort-to-reward ratio. Read our PTE 90 guide for the advanced preparation strategy.

PTE Score Requirements by Australian Visa Subclass

PTE Scores for Professional Registration

Many occupations in Australia require a skills assessment from a professional body before you can apply for PR. Several of these bodies have their own PTE requirements:

Nursing is the strictest: AHPRA requires PTE 65 in each of the four skills with no skill below 65 — there is no provision for averaging. This is identical to the Australia DHA Competent English threshold but is non-negotiable for AHPRA registration. EEC has a specialised nursing student programme with focused Speaking and Writing practice.

PTE 65 vs 79 vs 90 — Which Should You Target?

Your target depends on your current English level and total points calculation:

Target PTE 65 if: You are a first-time test taker, currently scoring 45-55 on practice tests, and your total points (excluding English) already reach 55+ through age, education, and experience. PTE 65 makes you eligible — that is the first priority.

Target PTE 79 if: You need extra points to be competitive. If your non-English points total is 50-55, the additional 10 points from PTE 79 can push you above the cutoff. This is the most common scenario for IT professionals (ANZSCO 261313), accountants, and engineers. The 65→79 jump requires 6-10 weeks of focused preparation.

Target PTE 90 if: You are already scoring 80-85 consistently and your total points are still 5-10 short of the current invitation cutoff. PTE 90 demands near-native English — perfect spelling, advanced vocabulary, zero hesitations in speaking, and flawless Write from Dictation. Only target 90 if the math demands it.

PTE to IELTS Score Conversion for Australia

An important nuance: PTE 65 = IELTS 6.0 each band at the Competent level, but PTE 79 maps to approximately IELTS 7.0 each band at Proficient level. Many students find it easier to achieve PTE 79 than IELTS 7.0 each band, because PTE's AI scoring is more consistent and there is no human examiner variability in Speaking. For a complete cross-test comparison, see our score conversion mega-table.

Why PTE Over IELTS for Australia?

Both PTE and IELTS are accepted equally by Australia DHA. The choice comes down to personal fit:

Choose PTE if: You prefer typing over handwriting, you are comfortable with AI-scored speaking (microphone recording), you need fast results (48 hours), you want unlimited free score sends, you are an IT professional or engineer comfortable with computer-based testing, and you want frequent test dates with quick retake availability (5-day wait).

Choose IELTS if: You prefer face-to-face speaking with a human examiner, you want the One Skill Retake option (available for IELTS), you are targeting multiple countries where IELTS has wider acceptance, or you perform better on paper-based tests.

EEC teaches both: We offer both PTE coaching and IELTS coaching at ₹7,500 each. Your initial counselling session includes a diagnostic test to determine which format suits your strengths. Read our PTE vs IELTS for Australia comparison for the full analysis.

“I failed IELTS Speaking three times — always 6.0 when I needed 7.0. With PTE, there is no examiner. I just spoke into the microphone, focused on clarity and fluency, and scored 82 in Speaking. The AI does not judge your accent.”

— Meera S., PTE 79, Australia Subclass 190 — Nursing

EEC PTE Coaching + FREE Australia PR Counselling at Every Branch

EEC is Gujarat's largest PTE + Australia immigration consultancy, with 26 centres across 12 cities. Every PTE student receives:

PTE Coaching (₹7,500): Complete coverage of all 20 item types, targeted practice for your score goal (65/79/90), mock tests, templates, Write from Dictation sentence bank, speaking recording with feedback, and unlimited WhatsApp support.

FREE Australia PR Counselling: Skills assessment guidance (ACS, Engineers Australia, AHPRA, CPA), EOI preparation and filing, state nomination advice (190/491), visa lodgement support, document checklist, and pre-departure orientation. This counselling is included free with every PTE coaching enrollment — saving you ₹15,000-30,000 vs standalone immigration agents.

Visit Ahmedabad (8 centres), Surat (5 centres), Vadodara (4 centres), or join online from anywhere.

Frequently Asked Questions

The most asked questions about PTE for Australia, answered by EEC's PTE + immigration team: