Australia · Study

IELTS score for the Australian Student visa (subclass 500)

When English evidence is required for a Student visa, the minimum is an overall IELTS score of 6.0. A lower score is accepted if your main course is packaged with English language study (ELICOS). Your education provider may ask for more.

Set by Department of Home Affairs (Australia). Checked against the official source on 23 October 2026.

Scores required

Test: IELTS Academic or General Training

Overall
6.0

Scores are minimums: the score in each skill must be at least the figure shown, as well as the overall band.

What else to know

  • Overall 5.5 if the main course comes with at least 10 weeks of ELICOS, a Foundation programme or an eligible Pathway programme.
  • Overall 5.0 if the main course comes with at least 20 weeks of ELICOS.
  • These are overall scores only; the visa sets no minimum for each component.
  • The test must have been taken within the 2 years before you apply. Fully online or at-home tests, including IELTS Online, are not accepted.
  • Some applicants are exempt, for example passport holders from listed countries. Use the Home Affairs Document Checklist tool.

Recent and announced changes

Separate score tables apply to tests taken on or before 6 August 2025 and on or after 7 August 2025; the IELTS figures are the same in both.

Official sources

Figures confirmed by hand on 23 October 2026; sources last checked automatically on 23 October 2026. Requirements change: the official source always decides.

Preparing for this score

This requirement is for IELTS Academic. Writing is usually the hardest score to reach, so practise full Task 1 and Task 2 answers under time and check where you lose marks.

See how close you are to the score you need

Take a timed mock test and get estimated band scores for each skill, with the errors that are costing you marks.

Try a mock test

Other requirements in Australia

This page summarises a published requirement. It is not immigration or legal advice, and we cannot advise on individual cases: for that, use the official body or a regulated adviser. IELTS is a registered trademark. IELTS Prep Studio is not affiliated with or endorsed by the British Council, IDP: IELTS Australia, or Cambridge Assessment English.