If you are applying for Australia’s Skills in Demand visa, the PTE score for 482 visa applicants is based on separate Listening, Reading, Writing and Speaking scores. For current PTE Academic tests, the minimum scores are 33 in Listening, 36 in Reading, 29 in Writing and 24 in Speaking. These scores apply to the main applicant in the Core Skills and Specialist Skills streams unless an exemption applies.
On This Page
- Current PTE Score for 482 Visa Applicants
- Why Older Websites Still Show PTE 36 for the 482 Visa
- Why the Test Date Matters
- Is an Overall PTE Score Required for the 482 Visa?
- Which 482 Visa Streams Use These Scores?
- Core Skills Stream
- Specialist Skills Stream
- Labour Agreement Stream
- Who Can Be Exempt From the 482 English Requirement?
- Passport-Based Exemption
- Five Years of English-Medium Study
- Professional Registration or Licensing
- Certain Overseas Business Employees
- How Recent Must Your PTE Result Be?
- Check the Score
- Check the Date
- Can You Use a Single-Skill Retake?
- Can You Take PTE Academic From Home?
- Is the 482 English Requirement the Same as Competent English?
- What Score Should You Aim for in Practice?
- Focus on the Weakest Skill
- What If You Want Permanent Residence Later?
- Final Thoughts
- Frequently Asked Questions
Current PTE Score for 482 Visa Applicants
For a PTE Academic test taken under the current rules, the minimum scores are:
| PTE Academic skill | Minimum score |
|---|---|
| Listening | 33 |
| Reading | 36 |
| Writing | 29 |
| Speaking | 24 |
There is no separate overall score requirement in the current 482 visa PTE requirement. Each skill is checked on its own. If you are preparing for the test, the PTE Score Calculator can help you review your four skills separately rather than focusing only on an overall result.
Why Older Websites Still Show PTE 36 for the 482 Visa
The 482 English test rules changed from 13 September 2025.
Before that date, PTE Academic generally required:
- an overall score of at least 36
- at least 36 in each component
Under the current rule, the score pattern is different:
Listening 33, Reading 36, Writing 29 and Speaking 24.
That is why older articles may still mention “36 each.” That advice relates to the previous rule, not to someone taking PTE now.
Why the Test Date Matters
Your test date determines which set of rules applies. If your PTE was taken before the current rule started, the older score table may still be relevant if the result also meets the timing requirements. For a new test, use the current score table.
Is an Overall PTE Score Required for the 482 Visa?
No, The current PTE requirement for 482 visa applicants is based on the four individual skills.
For example:
| Skill | Example score | Meets requirements? |
|---|---|---|
| Listening | 42 | Yes |
| Reading | 39 | Yes |
| Writing | 31 | Yes |
| Speaking | 23 | No |
This result would not meet the requirement because Speaking is below 24. A stronger score in another skill does not make up for a weaker component.
Which 482 Visa Streams Use These Scores?
The standard score table applies to the:
Core Skills Stream
Applicants in the Core Skills stream must meet the English requirement unless an exemption applies.
Specialist Skills Stream
The same published PTE component scores apply to the Specialist Skills stream.
Labour Agreement Stream
The Labour Agreement stream can work differently. The relevant agreement may contain its own English concession or occupation-specific arrangement. If your nomination is under a Labour Agreement, check the agreement itself rather than relying only on the standard 482 score table.
Who Can Be Exempt From the 482 English Requirement?
Some applicants do not need to sit an English test.
Passport-Based Exemption
An exemption can apply if you are a citizen of and hold a valid passport from:
- Canada
- New Zealand
- the Republic of Ireland
- the United Kingdom
- the United States of America
Five Years of English-Medium Study
You may also qualify if you completed at least five years of full-time study at secondary or higher education level where instruction was delivered in English.
Professional Registration or Licensing
An exemption may apply where your nominated occupation requires registration, licensing or membership and you already had to prove an equivalent or higher level of English to obtain it.
Certain Overseas Business Employees
Some employees of an established overseas business can also qualify for an exemption if the relevant sponsorship and earnings conditions are met. If you think an exemption applies, check the official Home Affairs Subclass 482 English requirements before booking a test.
How Recent Must Your PTE Result Be?
The test day generally needs to fall within the accepted three-year period for the visa evidence.
So there are two checks:
Check the Score
Make sure the result meets the score table that applied when you took the test.
Check the Date
Make sure the result is still recent enough for your Subclass 482 application. A result can have the right score and still be unusable if it falls outside the relevant evidence period.
Can You Use a Single-Skill Retake?
The current migration rule allows a later retake of one component where the approved English test offers that option. For PTE Academic, however, Pearson currently uses a full-test retake system rather than a one-skill retake product. That means if you miss one PTE component, you would normally need to sit PTE Academic again.
Can You Take PTE Academic From Home?
No, For Australian visa purposes, fully online or remote-proctored English tests are not accepted. PTE Academic is computer-based, but it is taken at a secure test centre.
Pearson describes the test as a computer-based English exam covering Speaking, Writing, Reading and Listening in one session. You can check the current test information directly on Pearson PTE Academic.
If you want to practice before taking the test, you can use the PTEClasses Practice Portal to prepare with PTE practice questions and mock tests.
Is the 482 English Requirement the Same as Competent English?
No, The Skills in Demand visa English requirement is its own visa-specific standard. The current 482 PTE scores are lower than the Competent English thresholds used in many permanent migration pathways.
If you are thinking about permanent residence later, this distinction matters. A PTE result that is enough for Subclass 482 may not be enough for another visa. For a broader comparison, see the PTEClasses guide to PTE for Australia PR.
What Score Should You Aim for in Practice?
The legal minimum is:
- Listening 33
- Reading 36
- Writing 29
- Speaking 24
But aiming to sit exactly on the minimum is risky. If your Speaking scores move between 22 and 25, you are not consistently above the requirement yet.
Focus on the Weakest Skill
If your Reading, Listening and Writing scores are already comfortably above their minimums, put more preparation time into the one section holding you back. The goal is not to get the same score in every module. It is to get all four scores safely above their required thresholds.
What If You Want Permanent Residence Later?
A Subclass 482 visa can form part of a longer migration pathway, but the English requirement for a future permanent visa may be higher. That means your current PTE Academic 482 visa score may be enough for this visa but not for a later PR application.
If PR is part of your longer-term plan, review the broader PTE requirements for Australian PR before deciding whether you only want to target the 482 minimum.
Final Thoughts
If you are taking current PTE Academic tests for 482 visas in both streams of Core Skills and Specialist Skills, the relevant PTE scores for Core Skills and Specialist Skills are 33 in Listening, 36 in Reading, 29 in Writing and 24 in Speaking. A score is given for each skill on its own. Find out the date of your test, if any part of your test is exempt and which stream of your 482 visa you are lodging an application for before using the Score table.
Frequently Asked Questions
Find clear answers to common questions about this topic.
Can I use IELTS instead of PTE for a 482 visa?
Yes, Home Affairs accepts several approved English tests for Subclass 482. Each test has its own score requirements.
Does PTE Core meet the 482 visa English requirement?
No, The approved Pearson test for this purpose is PTE Academic.
Do higher PTE scores give extra points on a 482 visa?
No, Subclass 482 is not a points-tested visa, so higher English scores do not give extra migration points for the 482 visa itself.
Are the PTE scores different for different occupations?
The standard Core Skills and Specialist Skills scores do not change simply because the occupation changes. Separate professional registration requirements can still apply.
Does my partner need the same PTE score?
No, The published Subclass 482 English-test requirement applies to the primary applicant, not automatically to every family member included in the application.
Can I use an older PTE result?
Possibly, The result must meet the rules that applied when you took the test and still fall within the accepted evidence period.
