Last checked: 3 September 2026. English-test rules can change. Always check the current requirements of your education provider and the Australian Department of Home Affairs before booking a test or lodging an application.
Planning to study in Australia often leads to one deceptively simple question: which English test should I take? The answer depends on two separate decisions—what your school, college or university accepts for admission, and what evidence may be required for a Student visa.
The quick answer
For Student visa purposes, tests taken at a secure test centre on or after 7 August 2025 may include Cambridge C1 Advanced, CELPIP General, IELTS Academic, IELTS General Training, LANGUAGECERT Academic, Michigan English Test, OET, PTE Academic and TOEFL iBT. However, being on the visa list does not mean every provider or course accepts that test.
Important: Check both the admission requirement and the visa requirement. They are related, but they are not the same test.
Two checks you need to make
1. Your provider’s admission requirement
Each provider can set its own English entry standard. The required test, overall score and minimum score in each skill can also vary by course. Nursing, teaching, law and other professionally regulated fields may have higher or additional requirements.
2. Student visa English evidence
Home Affairs applies separate rules to Student visa applications. The evidence requested can depend on your circumstances and the result shown in the Document Checklist Tool. Some applicants may fall within an exemption, while others need a valid approved test result.
English tests currently accepted for Student visa purposes
| Test | What to know before choosing it |
|---|---|
| Cambridge C1 Advanced | An academic English test accepted for Student visa evidence. Confirm provider acceptance. Under the current Student visa instrument, it is not listed for the reduced-score ELICOS or eligible pathway columns. |
| CELPIP General | Added to the approved list for tests taken from 7 August 2025. Check whether your intended provider accepts it for admission. |
| IELTS Academic | Commonly requested for academic admission. IELTS One Skill Retake may be accepted for visa purposes where current conditions are met, but the provider must also accept it. |
| IELTS General Training | Appears on the visa-approved list, but many academic programs require IELTS Academic instead. Never assume General Training will meet course admission rules. |
| LANGUAGECERT Academic | Added from 7 August 2025. Confirm both the secure test-centre format and provider acceptance. |
| Michigan English Test (MET) | Accepted from 7 August 2025, including Single Section Retake under current rules. Provider acceptance may differ. |
| Occupational English Test (OET) | Designed around healthcare communication. It may suit some health applicants, but course and professional-registration rules need separate checking. |
| PTE Academic | A computer-based academic test widely used by students. It must be taken in an accepted secure test-centre format. |
| TOEFL iBT | When registering for a test intended for Australian visa use, select Taking TOEFL for Australia; otherwise Home Affairs warns the result may not be accepted. |
Source: Department of Home Affairs—English language requirements and the current Student visa English tests instrument.
Are online or at-home English tests accepted?
For Australian visa purposes, Home Affairs does not accept tests completed fully online or at home. Examples include IELTS Online, TOEFL iBT Home Edition, OET@Home, CELPIP Online and other remote versions. Book the correct test at a secure test centre and verify the exact test name before paying.
What if you took your test before 7 August 2025?
Transitional rules may apply to results from the earlier approved list. For a Student visa, the current instrument generally requires the test result to fall within the relevant two-year period—measured before application when supplied at lodgement, or before decision when supplied later. Do not rely only on a test provider’s general validity statement; check the current Student visa rules for your dates.
Does everyone need to submit an English test?
Not necessarily. Current rules include exemptions for some applicants, such as certain passport holders, students in specified course types, some sponsored or exchange students, and people who meet particular previous-study conditions. Eligibility is specific to the individual. Use the official checklist and obtain registered migration or Australian legal advice if you need help interpreting visa law.
What about Duolingo English Test or another provider-approved test?
Some education providers may accept Duolingo or another assessment for admission, packaging or internal placement. Duolingo is not named in the current approved Student visa test list. If a provider accepts it, ask what separate evidence—if any—you will need for the visa. Written confirmation from the provider can prevent costly misunderstandings.
How to choose the right test
- Shortlist your course and provider before booking.
- Check the exact test and score required for admission, including minimum skill scores.
- Check the current Student visa evidence requirement for your circumstances.
- Confirm the test date, secure-centre format and result timing.
- Choose a test format that matches your strengths—computer or paper availability, speaking format, typing confidence and local test dates.
- Build a study plan, then use official sample materials and reliable free practice resources.
If your English is below the course requirement
A lower score does not automatically end your study plan. Depending on the provider and your circumstances, options may include English preparation, an ELICOS package, an eligible pathway program, choosing a later intake or improving first and retesting. Read Can You Study in Australia If Your English Is Not Yet Strong? for a realistic overview.
For practice options, see our guide to free English practice websites for studying in Australia. If you are still at the beginning, start with our pillar guide: How to Start Studying in Australia.
How Pynch Education can help
Pynch Education can help you compare course and provider entry requirements, understand education pathways and prepare an education application in English or Thai. We are not a migration agent and do not provide immigration legal advice or guarantee admission, a visa, work or permanent residency outcomes.
This article provides general education information only. Requirements can change and individual circumstances differ. Check the current official sources and your provider before acting.
Once you have chosen a test, see What English Score Do You Need to Study in Australia? for common study-entry levels, current Student visa minimums and options below the target.