For tests taken from 23 April 2026, AHPRA registration (including nursing and midwifery) requires PTE Academic overall 63, with Listening 58, Reading 59, Writing 60 and Speaking 76. National Boards say the change reflects updated score research from test providers, not a change in the level of English required.
Speaking 76 is the score most nurses find hardest. This guide explains the requirement and how to prepare for it.
AHPRA PTE requirements at a glance
| Skill | Minimum score (tests from 23 April 2026) |
|---|---|
| Overall | 63 |
| Listening | 58 |
| Reading | 59 |
| Writing | 60 |
| Speaking | 76 |
Tests taken before 23 April 2026 are assessed against the older table. Check the current English language skills standard on the AHPRA or Nursing and Midwifery Board website before you submit your results.
The two-sitting rule
AHPRA allows you to use results from up to two test sittings within a 12-month period, as long as you meet the conditions set out in its standard. Special rules apply when the two sittings fall either side of the April 2026 change, so read the official guidance or ask the Board before relying on two results.
Why Speaking 76 is the real target
Your overall score of 63 cannot make up for Speaking below 76. Speaking in PTE is scored mostly on oral fluency and pronunciation, and on content. Nurses with excellent clinical English often lose marks because they speak carefully, pause to correct themselves, or slow down at the end of sentences.
- Describe Image: the biggest speaking task, at 31% of Speaking by Pearson's question weightings. Follow a clear order in your own words and aim for about 25 seconds, not the full 40. See our Describe Image template.
- Repeat Sentence: 16% of Speaking, and it also counts towards Listening. See our Repeat Sentence guide.
- Retell Lecture and Summarize Group Discussion: take key-phrase notes and speak with a clear structure in your own words, so you never stop mid-answer. See our Retell Lecture template and Summarize Group Discussion guide.
- Respond to a Situation: new in 2025 and very close to real workplace communication. See our Respond to a Situation guide.
- Read Aloud: 9% of Speaking. Start within one second and keep an even pace. See our Read Aloud routine.
A 3-week plan for nurses working shifts
- Week 1: one scored mock test, then 30 minutes a day of Read Aloud and Repeat Sentence recordings.
- Week 2: add Describe Image, Retell Lecture, Summarize Group Discussion and Respond to a Situation, each with a clear structure in your own words. Record and replay.
- Week 3: two full mocks under test conditions, with feedback on every speaking response.
If you work night shifts, short daily sessions beat long weekly ones. Fluency is a motor skill and improves with repetition.
Frequently asked questions
What PTE score do nurses need for AHPRA?
For tests from 23 April 2026: overall 63, with Listening 58, Reading 59, Writing 60 and Speaking 76.
Is PTE accepted by AHPRA?
Yes. PTE Academic is one of the English tests AHPRA accepts for registration.
Is the AHPRA PTE requirement easier than before?
The numbers changed in April 2026, but the Boards say the English level required is the same. The scores were adjusted to match newer research comparing the tests.
Nurses with tight schedules can book one-on-one classes at times that fit around shifts. See courses or message us on WhatsApp with your current scores.