You’ve decided to apply for a Graduate visa 485. This is a great decision! The Graduate visa 485 offers many benefits, including the ability to live and work in Australia for up to four years.
One of the most important things you need to do when applying for a Graduate visa 485 is to prove that you have competent English skills. In this article, we’ll discuss the 485 visas’ English requirement in more detail and also provide some tips on how to improve your English skills so you can meet the requirements of this visa.
English Language:
The subclass 485 visa English requirement is another important aspect of the temporary graduate visa eligibility criteria. This criterion applies to the temporary graduate visa’s Graduate Work stream and Post Study Workstreams.
To meet the English requirement for a subclass 485 visa in Australia, you must have either completed a specified English test and achieved the minimum prescribed test result or hold a valid passport from a prescribed list of countries. If you need to take an English language test, you can select from a list of test providers. This includes the IELTS requirement for the subclass 485 visa as well as the PTE requirement for the subclass 485 visa.
The subclass 485 visa requirements, as well as the various test requirement options available, emphasise the importance of understanding the graduate visa requirements before applying.
What Are the English Language Requirements?
In order to be eligible for the graduate stream of the 485 visa application process, you will need to demonstrate that you have met the English language requirement. This will be assessed by demonstrating that you have achieved an International English Language Testing System (IELTS) score of at least 6.5, with no band score lower than 6.0.
If you have not yet taken the IELTS, you may provide alternative evidence of your English language proficiency. This could include an academic transcript from a university where the language of instruction is English, or a letter from your employer stating that you have been working in an English-speaking environment for at least two years.
Overview of the 485 Visa and Its English Requirements
The 485 Visa is a great opportunity for international students who have recently slot completed a graduate or postgraduate degree in Australia. It offers a path to permanent residency, and as such, the English requirements are quite stringent.
In order to be eligible for the 485 Visa English language requirement, you must first meet the basic requirements. This includes being younger than 50 years of age, having competent English language skills, and having an occupation on the Skilled Occupations List.
If you meet all of these requirements, then you must next pass an English test that is administered by the Department of Immigration and Border Protection.
This test is known as the IELTS General Test, and it measures your ability to listen, speak, read and write in English. The test has four sections, and you must achieve a band score of 6 in each section.
What Types of Evidence Can Be Used to Demonstrate English Proficiency?
When applying for a Graduate visa (subclass 485), you will need to provide evidence of your English language proficiency. This can come in the form of an IELTS or TOEFL score, or by providing evidence of your academic study in English.
If you have not taken either of these tests, you can still provide other forms of evidence to demonstrate your English skills. This may include documents such as:
-Your academic transcripts, which show that your course was taught in English
-A letter from your university or college, confirming that the teaching was delivered in English
-A statement from a recent employer, verifying your work was carried out in English
-Evidence of completed English language studies (including certificates and diplomas)
What Are the Different Types of 485 Visas?
There are three types of 485 visas:
The first type is the Graduate Visa (subclass 485). This visa is for international students who have recently graduated from an Australian educational institution. To be eligible for this visa, you must have completed a degree, diploma or trade qualification in Australia.
The second type is the Temporary Graduate 485 Visa (subclass 485). This visa is for international students who have completed a degree, diploma or trade qualification in Australia but don’t meet the requirements for the Graduate Visa.
The third type is the Skilled Regional Visa (subclass 489). This visa is for people who want to live in a regional area of Australia. To be eligible for this visa, you must have a skill assessment that’s in demand in Australia.
What Are the English Language Assessment Options?
When you submit your application for a Graduate visa (subclass 485), you’ll need to provide evidence that you meet the English language requirements.
There are a few different ways to do this, so let’s take a closer look at each option. The first option is to provide an academic IELTS score. You’ll need to achieve an overall band score of 6.5, with no individual band score below 6.0.
The second option is to provide a TOEFL score. You’ll need to achieve an overall score of 80, with no individual score below 20.
The third option is to provide a Pearson Test of English (PTE) Academic score. The pte requirement is to achieve a minimum English score of 58, with no score below 50 in any component.
Checklist for English Requirements of a 485 Visa
So, do you think you’ve got what it takes to meet the English requirements of a 485 visa? Let’s go through a quick checklist to make sure you’re on the right track.
– First, you’ll need to have an IELTS score average of 6.0 in each band or equivalent.
– Secondly, you must have completed at least 5 years of full-time study in English, with no less than 2 years at the high school level.
– Thirdly, you’ll need to provide evidence of completing an Australian tertiary qualification, or equivalent, that was delivered entirely in English.
– And lastly, if you’re applying for the Skilled—Recognized Graduate (Temporary visa) subclass 476 visa, you’ll need to provide evidence of having completed an academic qualification from a university listed on the CRICOS.
If you can tick all those boxes, then congratulations—you’re one step closer to meeting the 485 visa English requirements.
How to Prepare for the English Test?
The best way to prepare for the test is to find a course that offers the specific type of training you need to pass. Make sure the course is accredited by C EA and offers a wide range of resources, including practice tests.
IELTS test is the most popular test for the Graduate visa 485, but you may also be able to take the TOEFL or PTE if you prefer. The main thing is to make sure you choose a course that will help you reach your desired score.
Preparation for an IELTS Test
If you’re planning on taking the IELTS exam, there are a few things you can do to prepare. First of all, make sure you understand the format of the exam.
There are two types of IELTS exams: the Academic exam and the General Training exam. The Academic exam is for people who want to study at a university, while the General Training exam is for people who want to work, train, or study at a lower level.
Once you’ve decided which type of exam you need to take, it’s time to start studying! There are a lot of great resources out there, so it’s just a matter of finding what works best for you. I personally recommend using a combination of official IELTS study materials and practice tests, as well as unofficial materials like YouTube videos and blog posts.
And finally, don’t forget to practise your English as much as possible leading up to the exam. The more you can immerse yourself in the language, the better chance you’ll have of doing well on the test.
Tips for Meeting the English Language Requirements of a 485 Visa
Here are a few tips to help you meet the English requirements of a 485 visa:
– Make sure you have an overall score of at least 6 on each band of the IELTS, with no score below 5 on any band.
– If you’re taking the PTE, aim for an overall score of at least 50, with no score below 36 on any band.
– If you’re taking the TOEFL, aim for an overall score of at least 80, with no score below 20 on any section.
– Take a look at the list of accepted English tests and make sure you’re taking one that’s on there.
– If you’re not sure which test to take, the IELTS is generally the most accepted.
– Make sure you meet the required scores before you apply for your visa, as you won’t be able to get it without meeting the English requirements.
Conclusion
So, to sum up, if you want to apply for the Graduate visa 485, you will need to provide evidence that you have the required level of English language skills.
If you meet the English language requirements, you will be able to stay in Australia for up to 18 months, and you can apply for a visa extension if you want to stay longer. You can also use your Graduate visa 485 to travel in and out of Australia as many times as you like.
The English language proficiency requirements for a 485 visa are the same as those for a student visa (subclass 500). You must meet the English language requirements of the Australian Qualifications Framework (AQF) for the level of qualification you are seeking.
You can improve your English language skills by studying at an English language school, or by studying an English language course as part of your Australian studies.
If you have any questions about the English language requirements for the Graduate visa 485, please don’t hesitate to get in touch with our team. We’re happy to help!
FAQs on the Graduate Visa 485 Language Requirements
You might be wondering:
– Is an English test required?
– What if I have a degree from an English-speaking country?
Here are the answers to some frequently asked questions about the language requirements for the Graduate visa 485.
Is an English test required?
If you’re not a native English speaker, you’ll need to take an approved English language test. The test must have been taken no more than three years before you apply for the visa, and you’ll need an average score of:
– 6 for Special Tertiary Admissions Test (STAT) 155 or above in all components
– 7 for International English Language Testing System (IELTS test) – score at least 7 in each band
– 7 for Overseas Higher Education Sector Test (OET) – at least B in each part
– 8 for Test of English as a Foreign Language internet-based test (TOEFL iBT) – at least 24 in each section.
What if I have a degree from an English-speaking country?
If you’ve completed at least two years of full-time study in a bachelor’s or higher degree at a secondary institution where the language of instruction was English, you may be exempt from taking an English language test.
