PTE Requirement for 485 Visa: 2026 Practical Guide + Fast Prep Plan with YoushowPTE - 优秀PTE博客

If you searched "pte requirement for 485 visa", you probably want one thing: a straight answer, not a legal novel with side quests.

So here it is first, then we go deeper.

Quick Answer: PTE Requirement for 485 Visa (As of February 13, 2026)

For most applicants for the Temporary Graduate visa (Subclass 485), if your test was taken on or after August 7, 2025, the PTE Academic requirement is:

Overall: 55
Listening: 40
Reading: 42
Writing: 41
Speaking: 39

And yes, the score must be from a test taken within 12 months before you lodge your visa application.

If you read only one section in this article, read that one. If you want to avoid expensive mistakes, keep going.

Why This Keyword Matters: Search Intent Behind "pte requirement for 485 visa"

Most people searching this keyword are in one of these situations:

You are close to graduation and trying to avoid a visa timing disaster.
You already took PTE and want to check if your score is still valid.
You are choosing between IELTS and PTE for the 485 application.
You are confused because different websites still show old numbers.

This confusion is normal. Rules changed over time, and old blog posts keep floating around the internet like that one group assignment member who never leaves the chat.

The goal of this guide is simple:

Give you the current score requirement clearly.
Explain what changed and what still catches applicants out.
Show you how to prepare efficiently with YoushowPTE so you can hit the target without burning six months.

Official Score Snapshot You Should Save

Standard applicant (test taken on/after August 7, 2025)

Test	Overall	Listening	Reading	Writing	Speaking
PTE Academic	55	40	42	41	39
IELTS Academic/General	6.5	5.5	5.5	5.5	5.5
TOEFL iBT	81	12	12	14	17
OET	1310	260	280	260	310
CELPIP General	8	6	6	6	6
LANGUAGECERT Academic	67	49	54	56	62
MET	58	53	51	51	43

Hong Kong / British National (Overseas) passport holders

For eligible HK/BNO passport holders, lower thresholds apply. For PTE Academic:

Overall: 47
Listening: 33
Reading: 36
Writing: 29
Speaking: 24

Passport exemptions

You generally do not need to provide a test score if you hold a valid passport from:

Canada
New Zealand
Republic of Ireland
United Kingdom
United States

Important: exemption logic depends on the visa rule itself, so always check your stream details before assuming you are exempt.

What Changed (And Why People Still Get It Wrong)

The short version:

English testing settings for 485 were updated, with current requirements tied to tests taken on or after August 7, 2025.
485 evidence window is 1 year, not the old multi-year assumption many people still repeat.
At-home/fully remote versions are generally not accepted as visa evidence.

The practical impact is huge:

A score that looked “fine” in 2024 advice may be incomplete for your 2026 lodgement.
A valid score can still fail if one component is below minimum.
Early test booking without timeline planning can make your result expire before you lodge.

This is why “I got overall 55, I’m done” is dangerous thinking. You are done only when both overall and component minimums are met and your test date still sits inside the 12-month window.

Most Common 485 English Mistakes (That Cost Time and Money)

1) Ignoring component minimums

You can have overall 58 and still be refused if one component misses the floor. For example, speaking at 38 is still below the required 39 for the standard PTE pathway.

2) Confusing test date with result date

For visa validity, what matters is usually the test date, not when your score report arrived or when your cousin finally opened your screenshot.

3) Using old comparison tables

There are still pages showing old PTE 57/50-style structures or mixed transitional values without context. If a page does not clearly separate timelines (before/after August 7, 2025), treat it carefully.

4) Taking an online-at-home format

For visa purposes, fully online remote-proctored options are not accepted in many cases. If your only plan says “I’ll do it from my bedroom,” pause and verify test format first.

5) No prep system, only random practice

PTE rewards targeted repetition. Randomly doing whichever question appears first is how people spend 6 weeks feeling busy and still panic-book a retake.

Is PTE the Best Option for 485 Applicants?

For many students, yes, and not because it is magically easy.

PTE is often practical for 485 timelines because:

Test availability is frequent.
Results are usually fast.
The format is consistent and trainable.
You can improve quickly when feedback is specific.

That last point is where most prep fails. People hear “practice more,” but what they need is practice with accurate feedback loops.

If your current prep loop is:

do 30 questions
feel emotionally complicated
watch one motivational reel
call it a day

...you need a better loop.

A Practical 4-Week Plan Using YoushowPTE

YoushowPTE is useful when you want structure, not guesswork. The platform is built around AI-assisted scoring, exam-like practice, and high-frequency question drilling.

Here is a realistic plan if your target is the 485 threshold.

Week 1: Baseline and gap diagnosis

Take a full mock to map your current level.
Record scores by skill, not only overall.
Identify whether your risk is content, pronunciation/fluency, dictation accuracy, or time control.

In YoushowPTE, start with:

Full mock simulation to establish your baseline.
Speaking tasks with immediate scoring breakdown.
Writing tasks with section-level feedback.

Output of week 1: one clear list of weaknesses, ranked by impact.

Week 2: High-yield modules first

Focus on tasks that move multiple score areas together.

Typical priority stack:

RA (Read Aloud)
RS (Repeat Sentence)
WFD (Write From Dictation)
SWT (Summarize Written Text)

Why this order works:

These modules influence core scoring dimensions heavily.
They are trainable through repetition and review.
You get visible gains fast when errors are tracked properly.

In YoushowPTE, use question pools and hit-rate style prioritization so you do high-value items first, not random items forever.

Week 3: Timed integration and pressure training

Now combine skills under time pressure.

Do section-based timed sets.
Keep an error log: spelling, word order, pauses, pronunciation patterns.
Re-do only the mistakes that repeat.

This is the week where confidence becomes data-driven. You stop saying “I think I improved” and start saying “my speaking floor is now above requirement across three mocks.”

Week 4: Mock, patch, stabilize

Take multiple full mocks.
Patch only the remaining weak points.
Keep daily short drills for fluency and dictation accuracy.
Book your test date strategically so results stay valid for visa lodgement timing.

By this stage, the target is not a lucky one-time score. The target is repeatability.

If your mock performance swings wildly, you are not ready yet. If your mock trend is stable above floor thresholds, you are close.

How YoushowPTE Specifically Helps 485 Candidates

A lot of tools say “AI-powered.” Useful tools show you what to do next. YoushowPTE focuses on the second part.

1) AI scoring feedback you can act on

Instead of generic “good job,” you can see where points leak in speaking and writing. That lets you fix causes, not symptoms.

2) Exam-style mock workflow

Full simulations reduce surprise on test day. The less cognitive shock you have in the real exam, the better your score stability.

3) High-frequency question practice

When prep time is limited, practicing by priority is smarter than trying to “complete the internet.”

4) Efficiency for short timelines

Many 485 applicants are balancing study completion, work, and visa documents. You need a focused process, not a full-time hobby.

5) Cost-effective preparation

Compared with repeated test fees or high coaching costs, a clear self-practice system often gives better ROI for candidates who can execute a plan.

If you want to test your level now, start here: YoushowPTE

FAQ: PTE Requirement for 485 Visa

Can I use PTE Academic Online (at home) for 485 visa?

For visa evidence, fully online remote-proctored formats are generally not accepted. Use an accepted in-person format.

I got overall 55 but one section is below minimum. Is it still valid?

No. You must meet both overall and each required component minimum.

How old can my PTE score be for 485?

For the 485 pathway covered here, test evidence needs to be within 12 months before application lodgement.

Is IELTS One Skill Retake relevant for 485?

IELTS OSR is accepted for eligible visas. For 485 details, always verify current visa-specific settings before relying on a retake strategy.

Should I choose IELTS or PTE for subclass 485?

Choose the test you can prepare for most predictably within your timeline. Many candidates pick PTE for speed, availability, and trainable format.

Final Checklist Before You Lodge

Use this mini checklist:

PTE overall reaches required threshold.
Every component meets minimum.
Test date is inside 12-month validity window.
Test format is visa-accepted (not fully online-at-home).
Passport/exemption status confirmed correctly.
Evidence files are ready for upload.

If one box is missing, fix it before lodgement. Visa applications are not the best place for “maybe this is fine.”

Closing Thought

The keyword "pte requirement for 485 visa" sounds simple, but the real challenge is timing + detail + execution.

The good news: this is manageable with a structured plan.

If you want a focused path, use YoushowPTE to baseline, train, and verify your score trend before test day. It is much easier to pass once than to retake while explaining to your future self why you ignored component minimums.

Start your prep here: https://pte.youshowedu.com

Sources

Federal Register of Legislation: Migration (English Language Requirements for Subclass 485 (Temporary Graduate) Visas) Instrument 2025 (LIN 25/089): https://www.legislation.gov.au/F2025L00907/asmade
Department of Home Affairs (English language overview and online test restrictions): https://immi.homeaffairs.gov.au/help-support/meeting-our-requirements/english-language/competent-english