New English Language Requirement Changed for Student Visa (subclass 500) & Temporary Graduate visa (subclass 485)

The Australian Government has replaced the New English Language Requirements for Student and Temporary Graduate Visa. This change applies to all Student and Temporary Graduate visa applications lodged on or after 23 Mar 2024.

Student Visa

• The minimum score required for a student visa from an IELTS test score increases from 5.5 to 6 (or its equivalent). Minimum score PTE: overall 50, TOEFL: Total 64, Cambridge English: overall  169, OET: B for each test component.
• The minimum score required to undertake a packaged ELICOS from IELTS increases from 4.5 to 5.0
• For students studying English only through ELICOS, there will be no change.
• The test score required for students undertaking university foundation or pathway programs that deliver reputable English language training will be IELTS 5.5 (or equivalent).Learn more

Temporary Graduate visa (TGV)

• The following minimum English Test score is required for a TGV visa:

     -IELTS: Overall score of at least 6.5 with a minimum score of 5.5 for each band.

      -PTE: Overall score57 and 43 for listening,48 reading, 42 for speaking, 51 for writing.

      -TOEFL: Total score 83 and 7 for listening, 8 for reading, 18 for writing, 16 for speaking. (TOEFL– only accepted if taken on or before 25 July 2023)

      -OET: At least B for each of the 4 parts

      -Cambridge: Overall at least 176 with a minimum score of at least 162 in each of the 4 test components.

• Passport holders from Hong Kong and British National Overseas (BNO) are not required to meet this increased minimum English language requirement. The setting for this cohort remains at IELTS 6.0 (or equivalent), with a minimum score of 5.0 for each component of the test (reading, writing, speaking, and listening).
• The test validity window for a TGV decreases from 3 years to 1 year. TGV applicants now need to provide evidence that they have completed an English Language test within 1 year immediately before the date of the visa application. Learn more

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