Find your level: All tests and target scores · PTE 50 (this page) · PTE 65 · PTE 79
First: what "PTE 50" means now
For years, Competent English meant PTE 50 in each skill. That's still true for tests taken on or before 6 August 2025. For tests taken on or after 7 August 2025, after Pearson updated the test, Home Affairs sets a different minimum for each skill:
| Skill | Competent English (new PTE, minimum) |
|---|---|
| Listening | 47 |
| Reading | 48 |
| Writing | 51 |
| Speaking | 54 |
So for a new test, "PTE 50" is a shorthand, not the real target. Your Speaking needs to be the strongest of your four scores. See the full tables for every level on PTE score requirements for Australia.
Is this the right target for you?
- You're new to PTE, or scoring below 40? Start here. This page is the first step on the ladder.
- You already score in the high 40s or 50s in every skill? Look at the PTE 65 plan, for Proficient English.
- Not sure what your level is? Take a free PTE mock test or our English level test first.
Who needs Competent English? It's the minimum English level for many skilled and employer-sponsored visas. It doesn't give points on the skilled visa points test; Proficient English (10 points) and Superior English (20 points) do. We don't give migration advice: check your visa's page on the Home Affairs website, or talk to a registered migration agent.
What this level looks like
Pearson's CEFR chart places scores around 50 near the start of B2 (B2 is roughly 50 to 75; the ranges are approximate and overlap). At this level you can:
- follow the main points of a clear talk on a familiar topic;
- read a short academic text and find the main idea;
- write a paragraph that answers the question, with some errors;
- speak for 30–40 seconds about a topic without stopping for long.
The jump from the 30s and 40s to around 50 is mostly about control: finishing every task, staying on time and not losing easy marks.
Where to focus: skill by skill
Speaking (the highest minimum)
- Never stop for long. In Read Aloud and Repeat Sentence, a steady pace with a small mistake is better than a long pause. If you lose a word, keep going.
- Use a simple template for Describe Image and Retell Lecture: what it is, two or three key points, one conclusion.
- Answer the situation directly in Respond to a Situation: say who you are talking to, what you want, and one reason, in a natural, polite way.
- Record yourself with the speaking practice recorder and listen for pauses and "um".
Writing
- Hit the word counts. Summarize Written Text and Summarize Spoken Text have strict limits. Count every time.
- Use a clear essay structure for Write Essay: introduction, two body paragraphs, conclusion. Check it with the free essay checker.
- Spell carefully and use one spelling style. Small errors add up.
Listening
- Write from Dictation is short but valuable. Practise typing whole sentences from memory, with correct spelling.
- In Highlight Incorrect Words, follow the text with your cursor and only click when you are sure.
Reading
- In Reading: Fill in the Blanks, check the grammar first: does the gap need a noun, a verb or an adjective?
- In Reorder Paragraphs, find the sentence that can start on its own, then follow the linking words.
Common mistakes at this level
- Leaving tasks unfinished or going over the time. An answer that's cut off loses easy marks.
- Long silences in speaking tasks while searching for a better word.
- Too few or too many words in the summary tasks.
- Guessing in multiple-answer questions. In tasks where wrong choices lose marks, only choose options you are confident about.
- Studying only one skill. Every skill needs to reach its own minimum.
Try 6 questions at this level
Loading questions…
A 5-week plan
| Week | Focus | What to do |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Know the test | Learn every task type on our PTE test format page. Take one mock test and write down your four skill scores. |
| 2 | Speaking fluency | 15 minutes a day of Read Aloud and Repeat Sentence with the recorder. Learn one template each for Describe Image and Retell Lecture. |
| 3 | Writing basics | Two essays a week with the essay checker. Practise both summary tasks and count your words every time. |
| 4 | Listening and reading | Daily Write from Dictation (10 sentences), Fill in the Blanks and Reorder Paragraphs. |
| 5 | Test conditions | One full mock test, then fix your weakest task. Use the study planner if you have more time. |
Check where you stand with the PTE score checker, which compares your scores with each level.
Next step up
When your scores are close to the Competent minimums in every skill, move on to the PTE 65 plan (Proficient English). For every test and level, see target scores for all English tests.
We never promise a score. Requirements change: check the official Home Affairs and Pearson pages before you book or apply.
Answers, explanations and transcripts
Finish the test first, then open each section to check your answers. Every answer has an explanation.
Try 6 questions at this level
Text for question 8: Multiple Choice, Single Answer
Text for question 9: Multiple Choice, Single Answer
Answer key (10 answers)
| # | Question | Answer | Why |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Most libraries allow students to ___ | borrow | After 'allow students to' and 'have to' we need the base form of the verb: 'borrow', 'pay'. You 'lend' something to someone, so 'borrow' fits here. |
| 2 | …books at a time. If a book is returned late, the student may have to ___ | pay | After 'allow students to' and 'have to' we need the base form of the verb: 'borrow', 'pay'. You 'lend' something to someone, so 'borrow' fits here. |
| 3 | Regular exercise has many ___ | benefits | 'Many' needs a plural noun: 'benefits'. After 'can' we need a base verb: 'improve'. |
| 4 | for both the body and the mind. Even a short walk each day can ___ | improve | 'Many' needs a plural noun: 'benefits'. After 'can' we need a base verb: 'improve'. |
| 5 | Public transport is often ___ | cheaper | 'Cheaper than' needs the comparative; 'helps to' needs a base verb; 'the travel time' is uncountable here. |
| 6 | than driving, especially in big cities. It also helps to ___ | reduce | 'Cheaper than' needs the comparative; 'helps to' needs a base verb; 'the travel time' is uncountable here. |
| 7 | traffic on busy roads, and many people use the travel ___ | time | 'Cheaper than' needs the comparative; 'helps to' needs a base verb; 'the travel time' is uncountable here. |
| 8 | What problem with the scheme does the passage mention? | Customers often forget their cups. | The last sentence says some customers 'often forget to bring their cup'. |
| 9 | What is the main idea of the passage? | Learning a few simple phrases can help when travelling. | The passage says a few simple phrases make a trip easier and that effort is appreciated even with imperfect pronunciation. |
| 10 | Reorder Paragraph | (1) Starting a new job can feel stressful for many people. → (2) On the first day, there are new names to remember and new sy… → (3) However, most workplaces expect new staff to ask questions. → (4) As a result, it is better to ask for help early than to make… | The topic sentence comes first; 'On the first day' gives detail; 'However' changes direction; 'As a result' gives the conclusion. |
Frequently asked questions
Is PTE 50 still the score for Competent English?
Only for tests taken on or before 6 August 2025, where Competent English meant at least 50 in each skill. For tests taken on or after 7 August 2025, Home Affairs sets a different minimum for each skill: Listening 47, Reading 48, Writing 51 and Speaking 54. Always check the current Home Affairs page.
Which PTE skill is hardest for Competent English?
For the new PTE, Speaking has the highest minimum (54), followed by Writing (51). Most people at this level gain the most by speaking fluently without long pauses and by writing complete, well-organised answers.
How long does it take to get from 40 to 50 in PTE?
It depends on your starting English and how much you practise. Many learners need several weeks of regular, focused practice on the task types. We never promise a score, but a clear plan and a mock test every week help you see your progress.
Does Competent English give me points for a skilled visa?
No. Competent English is usually the minimum to apply for many skilled visas, but it gives 0 points. Proficient English gives 10 points and Superior English 20. Check the Home Affairs points table for your visa.
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