The short answer
It's not CCL or PTE. English tests earn English-proficiency points (10 for Proficient, 20 for Superior); the NAATI CCL earns 5 points in a separate category that you claim on top. For most bilingual candidates, the CCL is the easiest extra 5 points on the board — because it tests a language you already speak, not near-native academic English.
How Australia's points work (the part people mix up)
The skilled-migration points test rewards several things separately — age, qualifications, work experience, English, and a few "bonus" categories. Two of those categories matter here:
| Points category | What you need | Points |
|---|---|---|
| Competent English | ~IELTS 6 / PTE ~50 in each component (this is usually an eligibility baseline) | 0 |
| Proficient English | ~IELTS 7 / PTE ~65 in each component | 10 |
| Superior English | ~IELTS 8 / PTE ~79 in each component | 20 |
| Credentialed community language (NAATI CCL) | Pass the CCL test in your language | +5 |
The key point: the CCL's 5 points sit in their own category. Claiming them does not stop you also claiming your English-proficiency points. So a very common, strong combination is Proficient English (10) + CCL (5) = 15 points.
English score bands and points are set by the Department of Home Affairs and the test providers, and PTE's component minimums were adjusted in 2026 — always confirm current requirements on the official Home Affairs and test-provider sites.
Why the CCL is usually the easiest 5 points
Compare the two realistic ways to add points to a typical bilingual profile:
- Push English from Proficient to Superior (+10 points): you need roughly IELTS 8 / PTE ~79 in every component. That's a genuinely high bar — most test-takers who are comfortably "Proficient" still find "Superior" hard, and it can take many expensive attempts.
- Add the CCL (+5 points): you interpret short everyday dialogues between English and your community language — a skill you likely use with family every day. One test, one skill set, and the preparation is concrete and learnable.
Twenty points beats five, so if Superior English is genuinely within reach for you, it's worth chasing. But for the large number of candidates for whom Superior is a stretch, the CCL is the cheaper, faster, more reliable way to add points.
CCL vs PTE, side by side
| NAATI CCL | PTE Academic (for PR) | |
|---|---|---|
| What it tests | Interpreting dialogues between English and your community language | Academic English: speaking, writing, reading, listening |
| Points | 5 (own category) | 10 (Proficient) or 20 (Superior) |
| Typical difficulty for a bilingual | Moderate — a learnable, specific skill | Proficient: achievable · Superior: hard |
| Cost | A$814 (2025–26) | Around A$400 per attempt |
| Attempts | One sitting per booking; you can rebook | Retake as often as you like |
| Best for | Adding 5 points you can reliably earn | Your core English points (needed anyway) |
In practice, most people take an English test regardless — you generally need at least Competent English to be eligible. The real question is just whether to also take the CCL for 5 more points. For bilingual applicants, the answer is usually yes.
So which should you do?
If Superior English is realistic for you
Chase it — 20 points is more than 5. Then take the CCL as well for an easy 5 on top. There's no reason to leave those points on the table.
If you're comfortably Proficient but Superior is a stretch
This is most people. Lock in Proficient English (10) and add the CCL (5). That 15-point combination is the efficient path, and the CCL is the more reliable of the two extra steps.
If you're short of Competent English
Fix that first — it's usually an eligibility requirement. Then the CCL becomes a straightforward way to add points.
Get the CCL 5 points the reliable way
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