Everyone's target is different. Some people need a first pass in an English test, some need a higher score for more visa points or professional registration, and some just want to know where they are. Choose your starting point below. Every plan links to the level below and the level above, so you can move up step by step.
Step 1: Find out where you are now
- Not sure of your level? Take the free English level test. It takes about 10 minutes and gives you a guide to your level, from A1 to C2.
- Already preparing for a test? Take a free PTE mock test, an IELTS practice test or the OET practice test and note your score in each skill.
- Look at your lowest skill, not just your overall score. Many requirements need a minimum in every skill, so your weakest skill decides your result.
Step 2: Know what your target means
Many organisations describe English in levels. Australian visas, for example, use five levels, each with a minimum score for every approved test. Here are PTE Academic (tests taken on or after 7 August 2025) and IELTS. For every test, see visa English requirements.
| Level | What it means | PTE (Listening / Reading / Writing / Speaking) | IELTS |
|---|---|---|---|
| Functional | Basic English for everyday life | 24 overall | 4.5 average |
| Vocational | Everyday English for work and life | 33 / 36 / 29 / 24 | 5 in each skill |
| Competent | Confident English for work and study | 47 / 48 / 51 / 54 | 6 in each skill |
| Proficient | Strong, accurate English | 58 / 59 / 69 / 76 | 7 in each skill |
| Superior | Very high, near-expert English | 69 / 70 / 85 / 88 | 8 in each skill |
If you're applying for an Australian skilled visa, Proficient English can earn 10 points and Superior English 20 points on the points test. Check the Home Affairs points table. We don't give migration advice: for your own situation, talk to a registered migration agent.
Step 3: Choose your plan
Building your English first
If your level test shows A1 or A2, a test plan will feel very hard. Start here instead, then come back:
- The Complete English Course: a free, step-by-step course from beginner (A1) to intermediate (B1), about 20 minutes a day.
- Everyday English: 30 short lessons for daily life.
- The Listening Room: real conversations with slow audio and a transcript.
Functional and Vocational English
The first visa levels. You need everyday English that people can understand, and a pass in every skill.
- Functional English: what it is and the scores for every test.
- Vocational English: the scores and what to practise.
Competent English: PTE 50, IELTS 6
Clear, mostly accurate English for work and study. This is a common minimum for skilled visas and many courses.
Proficient English: PTE 65, IELTS 7, OET grade B
Strong, accurate English in all four skills. Often needed for visa points, professional registration and postgraduate study.
- How to get PTE 65 (Proficient)
- How to get band 7 in IELTS
- How to get OET grade B (for health professionals)
Superior English: PTE 79, IELTS 8
The highest level. Very few mistakes, a wide range of language, and fluent, natural speaking.
Taking TOEFL?
TOEFL iBT moved to a new 1–6 score scale in January 2026. See TOEFL score targets for what each level needs and where to focus.
Not taking a test for a visa?
Universities, employers and professional bodies set their own scores. Find the exact requirement on their website (overall and for each skill), then match it to the closest plan above. If you're choosing between tests, try our 1-minute quiz: which test should I take?
Tips that work at every level
- Work on your weakest skill first. One low skill can stop you reaching your target, even if the others are high.
- Practise a little every day. Twenty minutes a day beats a long session once a week. Try our daily practice.
- Practise speaking out loud. Record yourself with the speaking recorder and listen back.
- Learn from every mistake. Keep a list of your mistakes and read it before each practice session.
- Take a full mock test every week or two, so you know how your scores are moving.
Frequently asked questions
What score do I need?
It depends on why you're taking the test. A visa, a university, an employer and a professional body can each ask for different scores, sometimes a minimum in each skill as well as overall. Find the exact requirement first, then choose the plan for that level on this page.
I'm a beginner. Is this page for me?
Yes. Start with the free English level test to see where you are. If you're below the level your test needs, build your everyday English first with our free course, then move to test practice. Most people improve faster this way.
How long does it take to go up one level?
It depends on your starting point, how much you practise and which skills are holding you back. Writing and speaking usually take longer than listening and reading. Each plan on this page gives a 4–6 week focus, which you can repeat.
Are PTE 65 and PTE 79 still the Proficient and Superior scores?
Only for PTE tests taken on or before 6 August 2025. For tests taken on or after 7 August 2025, Home Affairs sets a different minimum for each skill, and the speaking and writing minimums are higher than listening and reading. See the PTE plans below and our PTE score requirements page.
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