Changes to acceptable English tests and minimum English language test scores for subclasses 457
Commencing from 18 April 2015, in addition to IELTS and OET, DIBP will also accept TOEFL iBT, PTE Academic and Cambridge CAE results Temporary Work (Skilled) visa Subclass 457 visa application purpose.
Furthermore, the Subclass 457 visa applicants (other than those requiring higher level of English language proficiency for grant of registration, licence or membership) will be allowed a lower English language test score to enable this visa to be more responsive to Australia’s labour market conditions. This change will allow applicants to apply with an overall minimum English language score and a minimum score for each of the four English test components.
Minimum required overall test score and the minimum required scores for each of the test components:
| English test | Minimum band score | Minimum scores for English test components | |||
| Listening | Reading | Speaking | Writing | ||
| IELTS test | Overall band score 5.0 | 4.5 | 4.5 | 4.5 | 4.5 |
| OET | – | B | B | B | B |
| TOEFL iBT | Total band score 36 | 3 | 3 | 12 | 12 |
| PTE | Overall band score 36 | 30 | 30 | 30 | 30 |
| CAE | Overall band score 154 | 147 | 147 | 147 | 147 |
