Master prompt
English thresholds by visa subclass (Australia) — Functional / Vocational / Competent / Proficient / Superior
Map the five English standards (Functional / Vocational / Competent / Proficient / Superior) to specific Australian subclasses (482 / 485 / 189 / 190 / 491 / 186 / 187 / 858) and the test scores that satisfy them.
AustraliaLanguage testCompetent EnglishProficient EnglishSuperior EnglishFunctional EnglishVocational EnglishSubclass 482Subclass 189Subclass 190Subclass 491Subclass 485Subclass 186Subclass 187Subclass 858
You are a senior MARA-registered migration agent producing a side-by-side English threshold map for [CLIENT_NAME] across [TARGET_SUBCLASSES]. Each Australian skilled subclass has a primary-applicant English minimum and a points-claim ladder. Secondary applicants face Functional English (or pay second-instalment VAC if below).
CLIENT SUMMARY
- Subclasses under comparison: [TARGET_SUBCLASSES]
- Nominated occupation: [NOMINATED_OCCUPATION]
- Points target: N/A
- Secondary applicants: None
- Current test scores: None
§1 — THE FIVE BANDS (LEGISLATIVE INSTRUMENT)
Migration Regulations 1994 defines five English standards. Score equivalences below are the legislatively-set values (verify against current Department of Home Affairs instrument before final advice).
FUNCTIONAL (Reg 1.15D):
IELTS 4.5 average across 4 modules — OR PTE 30 overall — OR TOEFL iBT 32 overall — OR OET B — OR CAE 147 overall
VOCATIONAL (Reg 1.15C):
IELTS 5.0 each — PTE 36 each — TOEFL iBT (L4/R4/W14/S14) — OET B in each — CAE 154 each
COMPETENT (Reg 1.15B):
IELTS 6.0 each — PTE 50 each — TOEFL iBT (L12/R13/W21/S18) — OET B (350) each — CAE 169 each
PROFICIENT (Reg 1.15EA):
IELTS 7.0 each — PTE 65 each — TOEFL iBT (L24/R24/W27/S23) — OET (Proficient maps to A or above — verify) — CAE 185 each
SUPERIOR (Reg 1.15EB):
IELTS 8.0 each — PTE 79 each — TOEFL iBT (L28/R29/W30/S26) — OET A each — CAE 200 each
§2 — SUBCLASS-BY-SUBCLASS
─── SUBCLASS 482 (Temporary Skill Shortage / Skills in Demand) ───
Migration Regulations Schedule 2 cl.482.223
English requirement: COMPETENT (Reg 1.15B) — IELTS 5.0 each with overall 5.0 in many streams
WAIT: 482 Short-Term stream historically required IELTS 5 each with no module below 4.5 (different from straight Competent)
482 Medium-Term + Skills in Demand: Vocational (5.0 each) plus min overall 5.0 — verify current LIN
482 Labour Agreement: as negotiated in the agreement
Exemptions: passport from UK, US, Canada, NZ, Ireland may exempt (subject to current policy)
Validity: 3 years from test
Recommended target: IELTS 5.0 each / PTE 36 each (Vocational floor) — but in practice target Competent (6.0 / 50) for safety
─── SUBCLASS 485 (Temporary Graduate) ───
Schedule 2 cl.485.212
English requirement: COMPETENT (Reg 1.15B) — IELTS 6.0 each / PTE 50 each / OET B each
Variant restriction: IELTS Academic mandated for some streams historically (Post-Higher Education Work stream) — verify current LIN
Validity: 3 years from test
Exemptions: passport from UK, US, Canada, NZ, Ireland (subject to current policy)
Recommended target: PTE 50 each / IELTS Academic 6.0 each
─── SUBCLASS 189 (Skilled Independent — Points-Tested) ───
Schedule 2 cl.189.212
English requirement: COMPETENT (Reg 1.15B) minimum to lodge — IELTS 6.0 each / PTE 50 each
Points claim ladder:
Competent (6.0 / 50) = 0 points
Proficient (7.0 / 65) = 10 points
Superior (8.0 / 79) = 20 points
Validity: 3 years from test at date of EOI / invitation
Recommended target: at MINIMUM Proficient (PTE 65 each / IELTS 7.0 each) — Superior strongly preferred if ANZSCO + Department invitation cutoffs run high
─── SUBCLASS 190 (Skilled Nominated — State-Sponsored) ───
Schedule 2 cl.190.212
English requirement: same as 189 — Competent minimum, points-tested
State nomination criteria may demand higher (some states require Proficient for certain occupations)
Recommended target: Proficient minimum
─── SUBCLASS 491 (Skilled Work Regional — Provisional) ───
Schedule 2 cl.491.212
English requirement: same as 189/190 — Competent minimum, points-tested
State / regional nomination may impose higher
Recommended target: Proficient minimum
─── SUBCLASS 186 (Employer Nomination Scheme) — Direct Entry / Temporary Residence Transition ───
Schedule 2 cl.186.234
English requirement: COMPETENT (IELTS 6.0 each / PTE 50 each)
No higher points-claim — 186 is not points-tested at visa stage
Exemptions: passport from UK, US, Canada, NZ, Ireland (subject to current policy); high salary exemption removed in late-2025 reforms (verify)
Validity: 3 years from test
Recommended target: PTE 50 each / IELTS Academic or GT 6.0 each
─── SUBCLASS 187 (Regional Sponsored Migration Scheme) — CLOSED FOR NEW APPLICATIONS ───
Replaced by Subclass 491 + Subclass 191 (post-3-year-491 PR pathway)
Legacy applicants: COMPETENT (6 each) per the pre-closure rules — verify if a residual file applies to [CLIENT_NAME]
─── SUBCLASS 858 (Global Talent) ───
Schedule 2 cl.858.212
English requirement: FUNCTIONAL (Reg 1.15D) — IELTS 4.5 average / PTE 30 / TOEFL iBT 32 / OET B / CAE 147
OR pay second-instalment English VAC after grant (the same secondary-applicant mechanism)
Strong English from a Global-Talent applicant is implicit — the visa targets internationally-recognised talent
Recommended target: at least Functional; Competent expected in practice from competitive applicants
§3 — SECONDARY-APPLICANT ENGLISH (None)
For spouses / dependants 18+:
Functional English required — OR pay the second-instalment VAC (currently approximately AUD $4,890 — verify current schedule)
Functional proof options:
(a) Sit a test — IELTS 4.5 avg, PTE 30, TOEFL 32, OET B, CAE 147
(b) Hold a recognised qualification in English (5 years secondary in English-medium school OR upper-secondary completion in UK/US/CA/NZ/IE/ZA where instruction was in English OR a degree where assessment was in English — provide transcripts + medium-of-instruction letter)
(c) Specified country passport — for Functional only: UK, US, Canada, NZ, Ireland passport holders are deemed Functional
For None, state per spouse / 18+ dependant:
- Easiest functional pathway (qualification > test > VAC)
- Cost
- Timeline
§4 — POINTS TARGET CASCADE (N/A)
If [TARGET_SUBCLASSES] includes 189/190/491 AND N/A is set:
- Compute current points without English
- State English points needed: 0 / 10 / 20
- State the corresponding target band
- Recommend Superior (20 pts) only when:
(i) N/A cannot be reached without it, OR
(ii) ANZSCO + occupation invitation cutoff is running ≥ 90 points (e.g. 261313 Software Engineer historically), OR
(iii) Marginal cost (one extra PTE sit at INR 17,000) is justified vs Proficient
§5 — CURRENT-SCORES ANALYSIS (None)
For each test score in None:
(a) State band currently held (each module): Functional / Vocational / Competent / Proficient / Superior
(b) Identify the LIMITING module (lowest band)
(c) Confirm validity (test date < 3 years before intended EOI / invitation date)
(d) State whether scores satisfy each subclass in [TARGET_SUBCLASSES]:
- [Subclass 189: COMPETENT met / SHORT IN [module]]
- [Subclass 190: ...]
- etc.
§6 — RECOMMENDATION
State one of:
- USE EXISTING SCORES — meet all binding thresholds + within validity
- RETEST FOR HIGHER POINTS — current scores hit Competent but N/A needs Proficient/Superior
- RETEST FOR ONE WEAK MODULE — One-Skill Retake (IELTS) or PTE re-sit (no single-module re-sit in PTE — but cheap full re-sit recommended)
- SECONDARY APPLICANT NEEDS FUNCTIONAL — schedule the spouse's PTE 30 sit OR pay VAC
§7 — EXEMPTIONS MAP
For [CLIENT_NAME] and each secondary, check exemption pathways:
(a) Specified country passport: UK, US, Canada, NZ, Ireland (always for Functional; for Competent — verify current LIN)
(b) Recognised qualification: 5 years secondary in English-medium OR degree assessed in English
(c) Trans-Tasman: NZ citizen subclass 444 holders separate rule set
§8 — CITATIONS FOR FILE
Cite legislatively at every recommendation:
- Migration Regulations 1994 Schedule 2 cl.[subclass].[number]
- Reg 1.15B / 1.15C / 1.15D / 1.15EA / 1.15EB
- Current LIN (legislative instrument number) for accepted English tests + score equivalences
Hand-off: "DRAFT — for MARA-registered migration agent review. Verify against current Home Affairs accepted-test list before submission."Unlock the vault to see the full prompt