The Department of Immigration and Border Protection in Australia (DIBP) will begin accepting Cambridge English: Advanced scores as proof of English language ability under a range of visa categories.

The test, developed by Cambridge English Language Assessment, has been accepted for student visa programmes since 2011. Under the new changes, Cambridge English: Advanced will also be recognised for Temporary Graduate, Skilled, Former Resident and Work and Holiday visa programmes.

The news follows an announcement earlier in the year from DIBP regarding their decision to accept alternative English language tests for a range of visa categories. Cambridge English: Advanced is an in-depth English language exam accepted by more than 5,000 educational institutions, businesses and government departments around the world as proof of high-level achievement.

‘Cambridge English: Advanced helps people around the world develop the language skills they need to successfully study, work and live in English speaking countries,’ commented Daniel Yuen, Regional Manager, Australia and New Zealand. ‘The exam is recognised by thousands of organisations around the world and this new acceptance by the DIBP is really good news and shows the importance they place on high-level English language skills.’

The new acceptance from DIPB will be implemented from 1 January 2015 and coincides with the launch of the Cambridge English Scale, which is a new clearer way of reporting Cambridge English test results. This single scale for reporting results across the Cambridge English exams will be launched for Cambridge English: First, First for Schools, Advanced and Proficiency in January and phased in for other Cambridge English exam during 2015.

Notes:

The following visa subclasses will accept Cambridge English: Advanced (CAE) test scores from January 2015:

Distinguished Talent (Australian support) (subclass 124)
Business Talent (subclass 132)
Former Resident (subclass 151)
Business Owner (provisional) (subclass 160)*
Senior Executive (provisional) (subclass 161)*
Investor (provisional) (subclass 162)*
State/Territory Sponsored Business Owner (provisional) (subclass 163)*
State/Territory Sponsored Senior Executive (provisional) (subclass 164)*
State/Territory Sponsored Investor (provisional) (subclass 165)*
Employer Nomination Scheme (subclass 186)
Regional Sponsored Migration Scheme (subclass 187)
Business Innovation & Investment (provisional) (subclass 188)
Skilled – Independent (subclass 189)
Skilled – Nominated (subclass 190)
Work and Holiday (temporary) (subclass 462)
Skilled – Recognised Graduate (subclass 476)
Temporary Graduate (subclass 485)
Skilled – Regional (provisional) (subclass 489)
Distinguished Talent (subclass 858)
Skilled – Regional (subclass 887)
Business Innovation and Investment (permanent) (subclass 888)
Business Owner (Residence) (subclass 890)
Investor (Residence) (subclass 891)
State/Territory Sponsored Business owner (Residence) (subclass 892)
State/Territory Sponsored Investor (Residence) (subclass 893)