From November 2014 the Test of English Language as a Foreign Language (TOEFL) and the Pearson Tests of English – Academic (PTE – A) will also be accepted by the Department of Immigration as evidence of English language competency for the purposes of skilled and business skills migration to Australia.

At present the IELTS – International English Language Testing System – test is the only means by which applicants seeking migration to Australia under the general skilled program or as business migrants can verify their English language competency if they want to claim points under the points test that applies to skilled and business skills visas.

Results of a TOEFL are already accepted by Australia’s Department of Immigration for the purpose of student visas, and are accepted for immigration purposes by the United Kingdom’s Border Agency and the United States of America’s Citizenship and Immigration Services.

The PTE Academic is presently approved by the UK Border Agency for certain student visa applications when students are required to demonstrate English language competency.

We anticipate that the tried and trusted IELTS test will remain the chosen pathway for those seeking to validate their English language abilities. However, these new alternatives will provide options, and we anticipate that the advantages of one testing system over the other will become apparent over time.

In the meantime:

> An announcement on the ETS website (Note: ETS administers the TOEFL) is here

> Information about the TOEFL is here

> Information about the PTE – Academic Test is here