Which English test should I take to migrate to Australia or New Zealand?

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PTE Author
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PTE Academic can help you get there

If you want to migrate to Australia or New Zealand you may be required to sit an English test as part of your visa application. Or you may need to sit a test as part of a  skills assessment or for professional registration.

The question is “which test should I take?”

There are a range of language tests you can choose from. However, the Pearson Test of English Academic (PTE Academic) is the market leader in computer-based English language testing. PTE Academic is delivered entirely on a computer and then scored by a computer, using Pearson’s automated scoring technology.

The PTE Academic English test is accepted by Australia’s Department of Home Affairs (DHA) and Immigration New Zealand (INZ) for all visa applications. This includes Permanent Residency, Employer- Sponsored/Work Visas, and Student Visas.

Further, PTE Academic is accepted by most Australian skills assessment authorities and professional registration bodies including:

  • Australian Health Practitioner Regulation Agency (AHPRA)

  • Australian Nursing and Midwifery Council (ANMAC)

  • Certified Practicing Accountants Australia (CPA Australia)

  • Chartered Accountants Australia and New Zealand

  • Australian Computer Society (ACS)

  • Engineers Australia

How does PTE Academic’s technology help me?

You will sit PTE Academic on a computer in one of Pearson’s secure test centers. Pearson then uses its automated scoring technology to ensure that your English skills are assessed with complete fairness. Your responses are scored objectively and consistently, no matter where in the world the test is taken, so it doesn’t matter where a test taker comes from or what they look like.

The use of the automated scoring technology also allows PTE Academic to deliver test results typically within2 days, in comparison to other English languages tests which take 2-3 weeks.

Where can I take the test?

Booking PTE Academic is a simple online process. Simply choose one of our 240+ test centers in 400+ test centers in 117 countries, then select a convenient test time and date. We test 365 days of the year around the world.

Plus you can also schedule your test up to 24 hours in advance where seats are available.

Interested in studying abroad?

When studying abroad in a course taught in English, you will often need to prove how your English language skills. With PTE Academic you can apply to thousands of universities and colleges around the world including:

  • All universities in Australia, Ireland, and New Zealand, including all New Zealand Institutes of Technology and Polytechnics.

  • All TAFE and Institutes of Technology and Polytechnics in Australia and New Zealand.

  • Prestigious institutions such as Stanford University, Harvard University, and Imperial College London accept PTE Academic scores.

  • In the USA, Canada, UK, Singapore, and Europe, PTE Academic is continuing to grow.

You can view a complete list of institutions that accept PTE Academic on the website.

Learn more

You should always check with government bodies and institutions for the latest score requirements and tests accepted.

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    Smart Prep brings all our free and paid preparation into one convenient place, so you can mix and match to fit your unique needs. Perfect if you have booked your test and are not sure where to start with your preparation journey.

    Here are four top tips to help you get started:

    1. Explore Smart Prep

    All you need to do is set up your free myPTE account, and you will have access to all our free and official prep resources — so everything you need to be ready ace your test is at your fingertips.

    2. Use Scored Practice Tests to track your progress

    As close as you can get to the test without taking the real thing. Our unique Scored Practice Tests are just like a mock test and are marked in the same way as your PTE test. So you can see how you score and then focus on the areas you need to improve.

    With five to choose from, we recommend you use them throughout your prep journey to check your progress.

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    Practice makes perfect and our PTE Academic Question Bank is packed full of questions with model answers, plus samples for speaking and writing. So you have plenty of opportunity to practice before the real thing.

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    Finally, don’t forget to download our free PTE Academic Handbook and Score Guide.

    The handbook covers everything you need to know about taking PTE Academic - from how to prepare and test day policies, to how to retake your test if necessary.

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    PTE is more than an English language test. It’s your ticket to studying abroad.