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

PTE Author
PTE Author
Image- Cornell university 800px
Reading time: 3 minutes

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.

Related Content

  • [Asset] Canada flag man running
    Choosing the right General English test: How PTE Core compares
    By PTE Author

    PTE Core, our brand new general English test, is approved by the Canadian Government (IRCC) for all economic visa categories, including citizenship and permanent residency.  

    Choosing the right English test for you is important. A core factor in your decision will be how the test meets the score requirements set by the IRCC.   

    We have carried out comprehensive research to ensure that PTE Core correlates to the Canadian Language Benchmarks (CLB). You can take a closer look in our alignment report (PDF, 833KB).

    However, there are many other things to consider when finding the best test for you. For example, how quickly you need to receive your results? Are you in a rush to take your test? Do you want your speaking skills to be assessed by a human examiner or not?  

    So, to make it easier for you to decide which test is right for you, we have put together a handy summary of how PTE Core compares to IELTS General and CELPIP.  

    Booking a test

    PTE Core is the fastest way to prove your English language skills. Book quickly, up to 24 hours in advance. There are frequent test dates and 475+ test centers around the world.

  • PTEA-test-center-opening-thailand.png
    Pearson test of English demand in Thailand soars
    By PTE Author
    Reading time: 2 minutes

    Two new test centers opening in Chang Mai and Chon Buri

    Bangkok, THAILAND, July 6 2022: Pearson, the world’s leading learning company, is meeting renewed demand from Thai students for English language testing for scholarships and international study visas with the opening of two new test centers in universities in Chang Mai and Chon Buri.

    UK Honorary Consul of Chiang Mai, Mr. Ben Svasti Thomson MBE today officially opened the Pearson test center at the Payap University Language Enhancement Center (LEC) in Chang Mai.

  • What you need to know about Working Holiday visas in Australia - Thumbnail asset
    What you need to know about Working Holiday visas in Australia
    By PTE Author
    Reading time: 2 minutes

    Working Holiday/Work and Holiday visas (subclass 417 & subclass 462) 

    Are you looking for a visa that provides an incredible opportunity for self-discovery, growth and learning? Travel to Australia and you'll meet new people, learn about a variety of cultures and develop new skills and interests. 

    The Working Holiday and Work & Holiday visas allow people from 18 to 30 years old (or 35 years old for some countries) to have an extended holiday in Australia and work to help fund their trip (not accompanied by dependent children). 

    As part of your visa application, you will need to provide proof of your English language skills. PTE Academic is accepted by the Australian Government Department of Home Affairs for all visa categories, including Working Holiday Maker program visa applications. 

    The cost of applying for either the Working Holiday visa or the Work and Holiday visa is AUD 650. If you choose to extend your visa (for up to a second or third year), you must pay another AUD 650 each time. Note: Extensions are available if you meet specific work requirements in regional Australia.

    Learn more about the Working Holiday Maker Program and the visas:

    If you're Malaysian, check here for more information on the Australian Work and Holiday Visa and the application for the Certificate of Good Conduct from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

    If you are in Thailand, please refer to the Department of Children and Youth for more information on the application process.

    *Price as of publication in December 2024. Please check the Australian Government website for latest information.

    Last updated 20 December 2024.