IELTS and PTE Online: Accepted for an Australian Visa?

Background: online English testing is increasingly common

After the COVID-19 pandemic, many English-test providers launched at-home or online versions as an alternative to the traditional test-centre exam. This raises an important question for anyone preparing an Australian migration application: are online test results accepted by the Department of Home Affairs?

The short answer is: it depends on the specific format — not all online versions are accepted.

IELTS: the current versions

IELTS currently has several versions:

IELTS Academic and IELTS General Training (at a test centre):

This is the standard version, sat at an authorised test centre
Fully accepted by the Department for all migration visa types
Available both as a paper-based test and as a computer-delivered test at the centre
Both are accepted by the Department

IELTS Indicator (at home):

Launched during the COVID-19 period as a temporary solution
Sat at home on a computer, remotely supervised via webcam
Not accepted by the Department for Australian migration purposes
IELTS Indicator was designed to help universities admit students during the pandemic, not for migration purposes

IELTS Online (if available):

Any IELTS version not sat at an authorised test centre is unlikely to be accepted by the Department
Check directly with the Department or its official website

PTE: the current versions

PTE (the Pearson Test of English) also has several versions:

PTE Academic (at a test centre):

The standard version, sat at an authorised Pearson VUE test centre
Fully accepted by the Department for all migration visa types
Entirely computer-based, scored by an AI system — there is no human examiner
Results are usually available within 48 hours

PTE Academic UKVI (at a test centre):

A version specific to UK visas (UKVI — UK Visas and Immigration)
Also sat at an authorised test centre
Not specifically needed for an Australian visa — standard PTE Academic is sufficient

PTE Academic (at home — if available):

In some markets, Pearson has trialled an at-home version
This version is not accepted by the Department for Australian migration visas
Like IELTS Indicator, the at-home format is not recognised for migration purposes

Why doesn’t the Department accept at-home tests?

The Department does not accept at-home versions for several reasons related to integrity and authentication:

Security: An at-home test makes the test environment harder to control — there is no physical supervision at the test site.
Identity verification: Traditional test centres have stricter procedures for verifying a candidate’s identity.
International standards: The Department relies on results recognised through the strictest quality-control processes.

This is the Department’s policy, not the test providers’ — IELTS and PTE still recognise their at-home results for many other purposes.

Computer-based at a test centre — different from online

It is important to distinguish clearly:

Computer-delivered at a centre: ACCEPTED
- IELTS Computer-Delivered at a test centre
- PTE Academic at a Pearson VUE centre
- TOEFL iBT at a test centre
At-home/remote testing: NOT accepted
- IELTS Indicator
- Any other “at-home” version

The key difference: the test location — a physically supervised centre versus a remotely supervised home.

Practical recommendations

If you are preparing to sit an English test for an Australian migration visa:

Only sit at an authorised test centre: Whether IELTS or PTE, register to sit at a centre with physical supervision.
Check the version when you register: When registering for IELTS, choose “IELTS Academic” or “IELTS General Training” — not “IELTS Indicator” or another online version.
Check for updates to the Department’s policy: Policy can change. Before registering, visit the Department’s website to confirm that the version you plan to sit is accepted.
Consult a migration agent: If you are unsure, a MARA-registered migration agent can advise on your specific situation.