# TOEFL for Australian Visas 2026: Tests and Scores | topin On this page ## Which TOEFL counts for an Australian visa? Home Affairs is blunt about it: results not registered under the "Taking TOEFL for Australia" pathway are not eligible for Australian visa purposes. ETS describes the TOEFL iBT Australia test as recognised for visas, taken at an authorised test centre, and about two hours long. __ETS and Home Affairs, checked 4 October 2026.__ | Your result | University admission | Australian visa | | ------------------------------------- | ---------------------------- | ---------------------------------------- | | TOEFL iBT Australia (test centre) | If the university accepts it | Yes, if the scores meet your visa's rule | | Main TOEFL iBT on the 1–6 scale | If the university accepts it | No, unless registered for Australia | | TOEFL iBT Home Edition | Some universities | No; at-home tests aren't accepted | | TOEFL taken 26 July 2023 – 4 May 2024 | Check the university | No; not an approved test then | Your university and the visa are two separate checks. An offer letter that accepts your TOEFL doesn't make the result valid for the visa, and some applicants (by passport or previous study) don't need a test at all. Check your visa's exemptions before you pay. ## How to book it * Confirm your visa subclass needs English test evidence. * Register with ETS and select "Taking TOEFL for Australia" before you confirm. * Choose an authorised test centre, not Home Edition. * Save the booking confirmation showing the Australia pathway. * Note every score your visa needs, and when results must be in. Home Affairs states its TOEFL thresholds on the old 0–120 total and 0–30 section scale. ETS's Australia page doesn't spell out the test's format or scale, so prepare with the materials ETS labels for Australia, and don't try to [convert a 1–6 band](/articles/toefl-score-conversion) from the main test into visa scores yourself. ## Student visa (subclass 500) scores The Student visa has its own table of overall scores, separate from the English levels below. These apply to tests taken on or after 7 August 2025. __Home Affairs, Student visa subclass 500, checked 4 October 2026.__ | Your course package | TOEFL total | IELTS overall | | ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- | ----------- | ------------- | | Standard | 67 | 6.0 | | With at least 10 weeks of ELICOS, a Foundation programme or an eligible Pathway programme | 51 | 5.5 | | With at least 20 weeks of ELICOS | 37 | 5.0 | TOEFL isn't your only option. Home Affairs lists these minimums for the same three Student visa packages, so you can [compare tests](/articles/toefl-vs-ielts-2026) before you book: __Home Affairs Student visa minimums for tests taken on or after 7 August 2025 (standard / 10 weeks ELICOS or pathway / 20 weeks ELICOS), checked 4 October 2026.__ | Test | Standard | 10 weeks | 20 weeks | | ---------------------------------- | -------- | ------------ | ------------ | | TOEFL iBT (Australia pathway) | 67 | 51 | 37 | | IELTS Academic or General Training | 6.0 | 5.5 | 5.0 | | PTE Academic | 47 | 39 | 31 | | CELPIP General | 7 | 6 | 5 | | LANGUAGECERT Academic | 61 | 54 | 46 | | MET | 53 | 49 | 44 | | OET | 1210 | 1090 | 1020 | | C1 Advanced | 161 | Not accepted | Not accepted | ELICOS means English Language Intensive Courses for Overseas Students. The lower scores only apply if your enrolment actually includes that package, not if you just plan to improve after you arrive. For tests taken on or before 6 August 2025, the figures were 64, 46 and 35. Your test must also fall within the evidence window: Home Affairs ties it to the two years before you apply, or before a decision where the department has requested evidence. And if your university asks for more than the visa does, you still need [the university's score](/articles/toefl-university-requirements). ## Functional, Vocational, Competent, Proficient and Superior English Skilled, graduate and other visas usually name an English level instead. Every section minimum must be met: a strong Reading score can't make up for a low Writing score. __Home Affairs, tests taken on or after 7 August 2025, checked 4 October 2026\. TOEFL sections out of 30: L = Listening, R = Reading, W = Writing, S = Speaking.__ | English level | TOEFL (Australia pathway) | IELTS | | ------------- | ------------------------- | ----------------------- | | Functional | Total of at least 26 | Average of at least 4.5 | | Vocational | L 8, R 8, W 9, S 14 | At least 5 in each | | Competent | L 16, R 16, W 19, S 19 | At least 6 in each | | Proficient | L 22, R 22, W 26, S 24 | At least 7 in each | | Superior | L 26, R 27, W 30, S 28 | At least 8 in each | Home Affairs accepts both [IELTS Academic and General Training](/articles/ielts-academic-vs-general) for these levels. A university may insist on Academic for admission, so check both before choosing. ## Your test date decides which table applies Two dates matter. Tests from 7 August 2025 use the new thresholds above. Tests from 21 January 2026 must also be registered under the Australia pathway. Older results follow the earlier table. __Home Affairs TOEFL section minimums before and after the August 2025 change.__ | Level | Tests on or before 6 August 2025 | Tests on or after 7 August 2025 | | ---------- | -------------------------------- | ------------------------------- | | Competent | L 12, R 13, W 21, S 21 | L 16, R 16, W 19, S 19 | | Proficient | L 24, R 24, W 27, S 23 | L 22, R 22, W 26, S 24 | | Superior | L 28, R 29, W 30, S 26 | L 26, R 27, W 30, S 28 | Results from tests on or before 6 August 2025 can be used until 6 August 2028 for most levels, depending on the visa. For Functional English that window ended on 6 August 2026\. No TOEFL taken from 26 July 2023 to 4 May 2024 counts at all. ## Why a high total can still fail Take a Competent English candidate with L 23, R 25, W 18, S 24\. The total is 90, but Writing is one below the 19 needed, so the result doesn't qualify. For Proficient, L 24, R 25, W 25, S 26 adds up to 100 yet misses Writing 26. So when you ask an adviser whether your result qualifies, send all four section scores, the test date and proof of the Australia pathway, not just "I got 100". If you're short, put your practice into the section that blocks you rather than the ones that are already safe. topin's [free full-length TOEFL mock](/toefl/practice-test) is a quick way to see your section profile before you book. ## Before you pay or submit * The booking shows the Australia pathway, not just a TOEFL appointment. * The test is at an authorised centre, not at home. * The test date sits inside your visa's evidence window. * Every required section or total is met under the right date table. * The university's own test and score rules are met separately. Rules change; this page was checked on 4 October 2026\. Reread the Home Affairs page for your visa before booking and again before you lodge. ## Try a full TOEFL mock free Timed like test day, every section scored, every answer explained. [Take the free mock ](/toefl/login) ## FAQs Is the new 1–6 TOEFL accepted for Australian visas? Only if you selected "Taking TOEFL for Australia" when registering and sat it at a test centre. A main-test result without that registration isn't eligible. Can I use TOEFL Home Edition for an Australian visa? No. Home Affairs doesn't accept fully online or at-home tests, and names TOEFL iBT Home Edition specifically. What TOEFL score do I need for an Australian Student visa? 67 overall for tests taken on or after 7 August 2025\. It drops to 51 or 37 if your course comes packaged with at least 10 or 20 weeks of ELICOS. What TOEFL score is Competent English? At least 16 in Listening, 16 in Reading, 19 in Writing and 19 in Speaking, for tests from 7 August 2025. Does TOEFL 100 meet Proficient English? Not on its own. Proficient needs at least 22, 22, 26 and 24 in Listening, Reading, Writing and Speaking, whatever the total. Are TOEFL scores from 2023–2024 accepted in Australia? Not if the test was taken between 26 July 2023 and 4 May 2024; TOEFL wasn't an approved test then. ## Sources (checked 4 October 2026) * [ETS: TOEFL iBT Australia](https://www.ets.org/toefl/test-takers/ibt/where-to-study/study-in-australia.html) * [ETS: preparing for TOEFL iBT Australia](https://www.ets.org/toefl/test-takers/ibt/prepare-australia.html) * [Home Affairs: Student visa subclass 500](https://immi.homeaffairs.gov.au/visas/getting-a-visa/visa-listing/student-500) * [Federal Register of Legislation: Student visa English evidence instrument 2025](https://www.legislation.gov.au/F2025L00906/asmade) * [Home Affairs: Functional English](https://immi.homeaffairs.gov.au/help-support/meeting-our-requirements/english-language/functional-english) * [Home Affairs: Vocational English](https://immi.homeaffairs.gov.au/help-support/meeting-our-requirements/english-language/vocational-english) * [Home Affairs: Competent English](https://immi.homeaffairs.gov.au/help-support/meeting-our-requirements/english-language/competent-english) * [Home Affairs: Proficient English](https://immi.homeaffairs.gov.au/help-support/meeting-our-requirements/english-language/proficient-english) * [Home Affairs: Superior English](https://immi.homeaffairs.gov.au/help-support/meeting-our-requirements/english-language/superior-english) ## Related articles [All TOEFL study guides ](/toefl) * [TOEFLFormat & test dayOld vs new TOEFLStudied for the old TOEFL? 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