Is PTE Core the same as PTE Academic?

No. Same 10–90 scale, different purpose. For Australia, only PTE Academic is used for visas and uni admissions.

Is PTE Core accepted for Australia?

No for visas. DHA’s current list (for tests taken on/after 7 Aug 2025) names PTE Academic — Core isn’t on it.

Is PTE Core accepted for PR?

Not for Australia PR. Use PTE Academic and check your visa level requirements.

Is PTE Core easy to pass?

There’s no pass/fail — both give scores. But for Australia, Core’s “ease” doesn’t matter since it isn’t accepted.

Is PTE Core harder than Academic?

Different style, but irrelevant for Australia. Focus on PTE Academic tasks and scoring.

How much does PTE Academic cost in Australia?

Commonly ~AUD $475, depending on center and date. Check your local test center at booking. .

What happens if I “fail” PTE Academic?

No fail — just a score. If you’re below your visa’s level, rebook and train the specific weak skills. DHA lists valid tests and timing rules.

What is a good PTE Academic score for Australia?

“Good” = meets your visa level (e.g., Competent/Proficient) and your uni’s minimum. Always check both the visa subclass page and your course entry page.

PTE Core vs PTE Academic: Key Differences for Study & PR in Australia

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Staring at the same fork in the road: “Should I take PTE Core or PTE Academic?”

That choice steers your study plans, post-study work, and Australia PR.

At PickMyUni, we’ve mapped the exact questions students ask us most — score use, acceptance, and which test actually feels easier — with Australia front and center.

What is PTE Core?

PTE Core is a general-purpose English test. It checks everyday communication across Speaking, Writing, Reading, Listening on a 10–90 scale. Pearson positions Core for migration settings outside the university context. It’s not the test Australia uses for visas or admissions.

Australia focus: The Department of Home Affairs (DHA) does not list PTE Core among accepted tests for visas taken on or after 7 August 2025.

What is PTE Academic?

PTE Academic measures academic readiness using campus-style tasks (summaries, lectures, integrated skills). Scores run 10–90 and align with CEFR bands used by universities.

DHA accepts PTE Academic for Australian visa purposes (tests taken at secure centers).
Australian universities also use PTE Academic for course admissions.

PTE Core vs PTE Academic — the differences

Feature	PTE Core	PTE Academic
Purpose	General proficiency; not tied to Australian admissions or visas	Academic readiness for Australian universities and accepted by DHA for visas
Test format	Speaking & Writing, Reading, Listening (10–90 scale)	Speaking & Writing, Reading, Listening (10–90 scale; academic-style tasks)
Acceptance in Australia	Not accepted for Australian visas; not used by unis	Accepted for visas (DHA list) and by Australian universities
Score interpretation	Used with non-Australian frameworks	Interpreted with CEFR; DHA reads PTE Academic scores against visa English levels (Functional/Competent/Proficient/Superior)
Use case	Not suitable for Australian study/PR	Suitable for Australian study, work, and PR pathways

Sources: DHA accepted tests list and Pearson materials.

PTE Core vs PTE Academic — Which is easy?

From student calls and mock tests, a few patterns show up:

PTE Academic feels “studylike” — summarising lectures, handling academic texts.
PTE Core reads more like daily life prompts — but that doesn’t help in Australia if it isn’t accepted.

PickMyUni’s take: stress drops when the test matches the decision-maker. For Australia, that’s universities and the DHA — both read PTE Academic. So “easy” isn’t the headline; fit is.

PTE Academic vs PTE Core for Australia PR

From 7 August 2025, DHA’s accepted list for tests taken on/after that date includes PTE Academic (and other named tests). PTE Core is not listed.
For migration points or PR streams, plan prep around PTE Academic score bands required at Competent/Proficient/Superior English levels (visa-specific).

How we help: PickMyUni matches your visa plan and course list to a PTE Academic target that covers admissions now and PR later, so you aren’t re-testing mid-application.

PTE Core vs PTE Academic — Score comparison

Both tests report 10–90 overall and per-skill scores.
Australia reads PTE Academic only. DHA sets visa English levels (e.g., Functional, Competent, Proficient, Superior) with minimum PTE Academic scores per skill; thresholds vary by visa and level and apply to tests taken on/after 7 Aug 2025. Always check your visa subclass page.
No official Core→Academic converter for Australia. If you prepare for Australia, use PTE Academic guides and DHA tables, not Core mappings.

Quick decision flow (Australia-only):

Studying in Australia? Take PTE Academic — it’s accepted by Australian universities and DHA.
Eyeing Australia PR later? Train for the visa level you’ll need (e.g., Competent vs Proficient) and give yourself a cushion above the minimums. Updates kicked on 7 Aug 2025; plan headroom.
Book smart: standard PTE Academic fee in Australia is ~AUD $475 at many centers — budget for resits only if you must.

Student snapshots we’ve seen:

Master’s applicants who aimed for one band above their university minimum rarely got stuck on GTE or COE timing.
Temporary Graduate (485) planners who pre-targeted the right DHA level (e.g., Competent or above) avoided last-minute resits after policy shifts.

Contact PickMyUni. We’ll set a PTE Academic target that covers your offer letter and visa in one plan.