New data from Pearson’s PTE Academic Australia Bound Testing Report 2025 reveals a globally diverse but migration-driven cohort of test takers targeting Australia, with India remaining the leading nationality and migration the dominant motivation.
The report shows PTE Academic continues to expand its global footprint, operating across 539 test centres in 121 countries in 2025, up from 526 centres in 119 countries the previous year. Test takers represented 180 nationalities in 2025, with an average age of 27.5
Migration outweighs study
Perhaps the most pertinent finding for Australia’s policy debate is that 56.0 per cent of Australia-bound test takers in 2025 sat PTE for migration or work purposes, compared with 35.9 per cent for study
This reinforces a broader structural shift in English testing demand, where skilled migration and temporary work pathways now account for the majority of candidates, including Work and Holiday visa makers
For a sector often focused on student flows, the data is a reminder that English testing is increasingly tied to labour market mobility as much as higher education.
India remains dominant source market
India was again the leading nationality among test takers in 2025
Among Australia-bound candidates, the top source markets included:
- India
- Nepal
- China
- Vietnam
- Bangladesh
- Pakistan
- Philippines
- Sri Lanka
- Türkiye
- South Korea
This mix highlights both the continued dominance of South Asia and the growing diversity of Australia’s pipeline.
Who is sitting PTE?
Australia-bound test takers broadly mirror global gender patterns, with a slight male majority at 51.8 per cent. In terms of current situation, 35.6 per cent identified as university or college students, while 34.2 per cent were working full time . Smaller segments included high school students, part-time workers and those undertaking English language study.
Among those taking the test for skilled migration or work purposes, the leading occupational backgrounds for Australia-bound candidates were:
- Health and Social Services (14.0%)
- Education (12.0%)
- Construction Industries (10.0%)
- Technical and Scientific roles (6.0%)
This distribution closely aligns with Australia’s ongoing workforce shortages in health, education and construction.
Study demand concentrated in key disciplines
For candidates taking PTE for study, postgraduate and master’s degrees remain the dominant level of study for Australia-bound test takers.
In terms of programs, the top intended fields for Australia-bound candidates were:
- Education (26.0%)
- Business and Management (19.0%)
- Health (13.0%)
- Information Technology / Computer Sciences (8.6%)
- Engineering (6.0%)
The prominence of Education and Health is particularly notable given domestic workforce policy settings and teacher and healthcare professional shortages.
Key institutional recipients
The report also identifies leading Australian recipients of applicants presenting PTE Academic in 2025, including:
- The University of Newcastle
- Monash University
- Curtin University
- La Trobe University
- Deakin University
- Edith Cowan University
- Victoria University
- Central Queensland University
- Engineers Australia
- Australian Health Practitioner Regulation Agency (AHPRA)
The inclusion of Engineers Australia and AHPRA further underscores the migration and professional registration dimension of English testing demand.
Word of mouth still king
Interestingly, the primary information channel for Australia-bound test takers was friends or family (39.6%), followed by internet search (19.1%) and the Australian Department of Home Affairs (19.9%). Education agents accounted for just 4.2 per cent.
For institutions and policymakers, this highlights the enduring power of peer networks in shaping mobility decisions.
Overall, the 2025 data paints a clear picture: Australia’s English testing pipeline is large, globally diverse and increasingly migration-driven. For a sector navigating visa reform, labour shortages and international competition, the intersection between education, migration and workforce planning has never been more visible.
The report can be seen here.
