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Home » Immigration » Australia » General Skilled Migration » Points test requirements

Points test requirements

Call the London Office on +44 (0)20 7842 0800 for a consultation or an appointment.

You are awarded points for the following:

Skill level

You receive points for the occupation you nominate as long as the relevant assessing authority determines that your skills are suitable for this occupation.

Skill level Points
For most occupations where training is specific to the occupation1 60
For more general professional occupations2 50
For other general skilled occupations3 40

1 - To obtain 60 points for your nominated occupation, you most likely need to have a degree or trade certificate and experience that meet Australian standards and that are specifically related to your occupation. If necessary, you must meet any registration requirements in Australia. In some cases, experience without formal qualifications may be accepted.

2 - To obtain 50 points for your nominated occupation, you must have earned a qualification equal to an Australian Bachelor degree or higher qualification, but it does not necessarily have to relate to the occupation you nominate.

3 - To obtain 40 points for your nominated occupation, you must have a qualification equal to an Australian diploma or advanced diploma which does not necessarily have to relate to the occupation you nominate.

You should see the Australian Skilled Occupations List (SOL) to check whether or not the occupation you wish to nominate is on SOL and to find out how many points your occupation is worth.

Before you apply, you must have your skills assessed by the relevant assessing authority for your nominated occupation. The skills assessment and the documents provided to the assessing authority must be included with your application.

Age

You are awarded points for your age.

Age Points
18-29 years 30
30-34 years 25
35-39 years 20
40-44 years 15

Before you apply you should provide evidence of your age, for example, by your birth certificate.

English language ability

English language ability is assessed as either proficient, competent, or vocational.

English language ability Points
Proficient (you must be able to use and comprehend complex language well and understand detailed reasoning.) 25
Competent (you must be able to use and understand fairly complex language, especially where used in a familiar situation) 15
Vocational (you must have a reasonable command of English, coping with overall meaning of the language in the most situations) 15

If you hold a passport from one of the following countries listed below, you will not be required to sit the IELTS test to demonstrate that you meet the English language threshold:

Specific work experience

This differs from the basic requirement of recent work experience, without which you can not make a valid application. The number of points you are awarded for this factor vary. It depends on the number of points for your nominated occupation and the period of time you have worked in your nominated occupation, closely related occupation or skilled employment.

Specific work experience Points
in your nominated occupation which is worth 60 points or in a closely related occupation, for at least 3 of the 4 years before submitting your application 10
in your nominated occupation which is worth 40 or 50 points or in a closely related skilled occupation for at least 3 of the 4 years before submitting your application 5

Occupation in demand (and job offer)

There are some occupations that are in demand in Australia. If you claim points for this your nominated occupation should be on the Migration Occupations in Demand List (MODL). You can be awarded extra points if you have a job offer for your nominated occupation.

Occupation in demand Points
Occupation in demand and employed as such for one year out of the last four years, with no job offer 15
Occupation in demand and employed as such for one year out of the last four years, with a job offer from a company that has employed 10 people on a full-time basis for at least two years
 20

Before you apply you should check whether your nominated occupation at the time of your application is on the MODL and obtain documentary evidence of the job offer if you claim points for occupation in demand with job offer.

Australian qualifications

You can be awarded points for this factor if you have completed an Australian qualification from an Australian educational institution.

Australian qualifications Points
Met the two year study requirement while in Australia 5
Undergraduate Degree with honours (second class, division 1) from an Australian education institution as a result of study lasting three years while present in Australia
 15
Second class Honours degree (division 1 or higher) from an Australian education institution after undertaking study lasting three years -- while in Australia -- from which one year of study resulted in the degree
 15
Master's degree from an Australian education institution after undertaking study lasting three years --while in Australia -- from which one year of study resulted in the degree 15
Doctorate degree with min. 2 consecutive years of full-time study while present in Australia 25

Before applying you should obtain certified copy of your qualifications, if you claim points for this factor.

Spouse skills

You are awarded points for this factor if your spouse also satisfies the basic requirements and has obtained a suitable skills assessment from the relevant assessing authority.

Spouse skills Points
If applicable 5

Before submitting a migration application you should obtain proof that your spouse satisfies the basic requirements and obtain a skills assessment for your spouse's skills from the relevant assessing authority.

Australian Work Experience

Australian skilled work experience.

Australian Work Experience
 Points
If applicable
 5

Language Skills

Language skills in one of Australia's designated community languages.

Language Skills
 Points
If applicable
 5

Regional Study

Met the two-year study requirement while living and studying in a "regional Australia/low population growth metropolitan area" in Australia.

Regional Study
 Points
If applicable
 5

Sponsored Category

If you apply under the Skilled Sponsored category you may receive extra points for being sponsored by an Australian state or territory government.

State/Territory Sponsorship
 Points
If applicable 10

Pass mark and Pool mark

You must gain sufficient points to reach the pass mark in effect at the time your application is assessed.

Please, be advised on the current pass mark for the following categories:

Pass mark Pool mark
Skilled Independent 120 100
Skilled Sponsored 100 80

You should check the pass mark in effect at the time of your application, since it might have changed.

Applications that achieve a score below the pass mark but above another mark called the 'pool mark' will be held in reserve for up to 2 years after assessment. If the pass mark is lowered at any time during that 2-year period and if your score is equal to, or higher than, the new pass mark, your case will be processed further.