No, Australia's Department of Home Affairs does not list PTE Core; for Australian visas, Pearson's accepted test is PTE Academic, taken at a test centre. We checked the Home Affairs English language page on 7 October 2026, and PTE Core does not appear anywhere on it.
That matches how Pearson describes its own tests: PTE Core is built for Canadian immigration. Below are the full Home Affairs list, the rule on at-home tests, what to do if you already hold a PTE Core result, and the tests that appear on both the Canadian and Australian lists.
Does Australia accept PTE Core? What the Home Affairs list says
For tests taken on or after 7 August 2025, Home Affairs says it "accepts test scores from the following tests that are undertaken at a secure test centre". It also names online versions it won't accept. We added a PTE Core row so you can see where it stands.
| Test | Accepted at a secure test centre | Online version named as not accepted |
|---|---|---|
| Cambridge C1 Advanced | Yes | None named |
| CELPIP General | Yes | CELPIP Online |
| IELTS Academic | Yes | IELTS Online |
| IELTS General Training (including One Skill Retake) | Yes | IELTS Online |
| LANGUAGECERT Academic | Yes | LANGUAGECERT Academic Online |
| Michigan English Test (MET) | Yes | MET Digital at-home |
| OET | Yes | OET@Home |
| PTE Academic | Yes | See the at-home section below |
| TOEFL iBT | Yes | TOEFL Home Edition |
| PTE Core | Not on the list | Not applicable |
Source: Home Affairs, English language, checked 7 October 2026.
Pearson appears on the list once, as PTE Academic, and every accepted test must be taken at a secure test centre. If you sat a test before 7 August 2025, check the same page for the older rules; we didn't research them.
Is PTE Core accepted in Australia for PR?
No. The two tests share a brand and a 10 to 90 score scale, but Pearson is clear about who uses which. Its PTE Core page says: "PTE Academic is used for university admissions (including in Canada), and migration visas to Australia and New Zealand. PTE Core is used just for Canadian permanent residency and citizenship visas."
So a PTE Core score report is not one of the results Home Affairs lists, whatever Australian visa you have in mind.
PTE Core vs PTE Academic in brief
Pearson says both are "4-skills tests … taken on a computer at a test center, and use similar scoring methods", and both report scores from 10 to 90. The differences:
- English type. Pearson calls PTE Core "a general English test" and PTE Academic "an academic English test".
- Tasks. PTE Academic has Retell Lecture, Summarize Group Discussion, Write Essay and Highlight Correct Summary. PTE Core has none of these and has Write Email instead. Respond to a Situation appears in both.
- Who accepts it. PTE Core is on IRCC's lists for Express Entry, citizenship and the post-graduation work permit. PTE Academic is on Australia's list but is not one of IRCC's accepted tests for Express Entry, citizenship or PGWP.
For more detail, read PTE Core vs PTE Academic. New to the test? Start with what PTE Core is.
Can I use PTE Core for Australia PR if I already have a score?
Not on the current Home Affairs list. If you've taken PTE Core and now want an Australian visa, you'll need a new result from a listed test:
- PTE Academic. Pearson's price finder listed it at the same price as PTE Core in every country we checked; in Australia that was AUD 499 on 7 October 2026. Whether tax is included isn't stated, and the price shown at booking is final.
- Another listed test. Cambridge C1 Advanced, CELPIP General, IELTS Academic, IELTS General Training, LANGUAGECERT Academic, MET, OET or TOEFL iBT, at a secure test centre.
If you move to PTE Academic, prepare for its own task set. Write Essay, Retell Lecture and Summarize Group Discussion aren't in PTE Core, so your PTE Core practice won't cover them.
Your PTE Core result still counts for Canada. Pearson says it is valid for two years from the test date, and IRCC needs it to be less than 2 years old when you create your Express Entry profile and when you apply. See is PTE Core accepted for Canada PR.
At-home and remote-proctored tests are not accepted
Home Affairs is explicit: "The department does not accept evidence from English language tests that are delivered completely online (also known as 'remote-proctored' or 'at-home')."
On the Pearson side:
- PTE Core has no at-home version. Pearson's page says: "PTE Core cannot be taken at home."
- PTE Academic Online: Pearson's price finder still lists a "PTE Academic Online" at-home version, though its which test is right for me page says "All PTE tests must be taken at a test center". Either way, Pearson's 2024 announcement says "PTE Academic Online is not accepted for work and migration purposes".
For an Australian visa, book PTE Academic at a test centre.
If you need both Canada and Australia
PTE Core and PTE Academic each cover one side: PTE Core is on IRCC's list, and PTE Academic is on the Home Affairs list. Two tests appear on both:
- CELPIP General. IRCC lists CELPIP-General for Express Entry (IRCC language testing), and Home Affairs lists CELPIP General for tests taken at a test centre on or after 7 August 2025. Home Affairs does not accept CELPIP Online. See what CELPIP is.
- IELTS General Training. Also on both lists, with one difference: Home Affairs accepts IELTS One Skill Retake, while IRCC says "We don't accept IELTS One Skill Retake for Express Entry."
Each country sets its own score requirements, so check both before you choose a test.
What score do you need for an Australian visa?
We haven't researched Australian visa score thresholds, so we don't quote any here. Home Affairs publishes them; start from its English language page and the page for your visa.
If Canada is your target, the PTE Core score for each Canadian Language Benchmark is on our score targets and CLB levels page, and you can try the format with PrepAmigo's PTE Core mock tests.
Frequently asked questions
Can I use PTE Core for Australia PR?
No. The Home Affairs English language page lists PTE Academic as Pearson's accepted test and does not mention PTE Core.
Does Australia accept PTE Core for any visa?
Not according to the Home Affairs list we checked on 7 October 2026. Pearson itself says PTE Core is used just for Canadian permanent residency and citizenship, and PTE Academic is the one for Australian and New Zealand migration visas.
Can I take PTE Academic at home for an Australian visa?
No. Home Affairs does not accept tests delivered completely online, also called remote-proctored or at-home tests, and Pearson says PTE Academic Online is not accepted for work and migration purposes. Take PTE Academic at a test centre.
Is PTE Academic more expensive than PTE Core?
In every country we checked on Pearson's price finder on 7 October 2026, the two cost the same. In Australia both were listed at AUD 499. The price shown at booking is final.
Which English test is accepted by both Canada and Australia?
CELPIP General and IELTS General Training appear on both IRCC's Express Entry list and the Home Affairs list when taken at a test centre. IRCC does not accept IELTS One Skill Retake for Express Entry.
What PTE Academic score do I need for Australia?
That depends on your visa, and we have not researched the thresholds. Check the Home Affairs English language page and the page for your visa.
Related guides
Sources and further reading
- Home Affairs, English language, accepted tests from 7 August 2025, online tests not accepted, the at-home rule.
- Pearson, PTE Core, what PTE Core is for, the PTE Core vs PTE Academic FAQ, "cannot be taken at home", score validity.
- Pearson, PTE Academic Speaking & Writing, the PTE Academic task list.
- Pearson, PTE Core launch announcement, PTE Academic Online not accepted for work and migration.
- Pearson, Which test is right for me?, all PTE tests taken at a test centre.
- IRCC, Express Entry language testing, Express Entry English tests and the IELTS One Skill Retake rule.
- IRCC, Express Entry language test, the 2-year validity rule.