NAATI CCL Languages: What's Offered and What to Know Per Language

What's the same across every language

It's worth stating this clearly first, because it's the most common misconception: the CCL test fee ($814 AUD), the format (two ~300-word dialogues, 90 marks total), the pass mark (63/90 overall with a 29/45 floor per dialogue), the marking criteria (accuracy, language quality, delivery), and the 5 migration points on offer are all identical no matter which of NAATI's offered languages you sit. There is no 'easier' language on the points table itself — the difficulty is entirely a function of your own fluency and preparation, not the language you choose.

Confirming your language is offered

NAATI's own CCL page lists 55 languages as at the date this guide was checked against naati.com.au (August 2026). All nine of the languages below — Hindi, Punjabi, Nepali, Mandarin, Vietnamese, Urdu, Tamil, Telugu and Arabic — are confirmed present on NAATI's current language policy page. Language availability can and does change over time, so if you're reading this well after August 2026, confirm your specific language is still listed before committing to preparation or a fee.

Hindi, Punjabi and Nepali

All three are offered. Punjabi is tested as the Eastern variant specifically — NAATI's language policy does not offer a separate Western Punjabi (Lahnda) CCL option, so if your Punjabi background is specifically Western/Lahnda-influenced, this is worth checking directly with NAATI before booking. Hindi and Nepali carry no comparable variant note on NAATI's policy page.

Because CCL is a spoken-only test, script differences (Gurmukhi for Punjabi, Devanagari for Hindi and Nepali) are irrelevant to the assessment — nothing is read or written during the test.

Mandarin, Vietnamese and Urdu

All three are offered. Mandarin is tested as a distinct language option from Cantonese — the two are not interchangeable, and NAATI treats them as separate Chinese-language listings, so confirm you're booking the correct one for your actual spoken variety. Vietnamese and Urdu carry no comparable variant split on NAATI's current policy page.

For Urdu specifically, the test's everyday-register content (health, government services, education) means comfort with both the more formal register used in official interactions and everyday spoken Urdu matters more than literary or classical vocabulary.

Tamil, Telugu and Arabic

All three are offered. Tamil and Telugu carry no variant note on NAATI's policy page — each is tested as one listing regardless of regional dialect within India or diaspora communities. Arabic is also offered as one listing on NAATI's page without a published dialect split, though real-world spoken Arabic varies considerably by region (Gulf, Levantine, Egyptian, Maghrebi and others) — since NAATI's dialogues are scripted centrally, the safest preparation approach is practising with NAATI's own free downloadable Arabic materials (covered in the preparation guide, linked below) to get a direct sense of the register and vocabulary actually used, rather than assuming your specific regional Arabic maps perfectly onto the test content.

What genuinely does vary by language: test date availability

While the test itself is identical across languages, NAATI releases test sessions per language rather than on one shared public calendar, and booking for any given session closes one week before the test date. In practice this means how soon you can actually sit the test — as distinct from whether your language is offered at all — depends on current scheduling for that specific language at the time you apply. Check the live calendar in your own myNAATI account once your application is approved, rather than assuming a session will be available on short notice.

Next steps by language

Whichever of these nine languages applies to you, the process from here is the same: confirm your language on NAATI's current list, work through NAATI's four free practice dialogues in that language, and — since the points value and pass mark don't change by language — run a points calculator to see what those 5 points actually change for your case. Whether CCL is the right lever for your specific position is a call worth making with a MARA-registered migration agent rather than a language-specific coaching site, and on Migratio you describe your situation once and compare consultation fees from MARA-registered agents (comparing is free; consults are typically $150–$300 and you pay only if you book).

Does the CCL test cost more for some languages than others?

No. The $814 fee, the format, and the pass mark are identical across every language NAATI offers.

Is Nepali offered for the NAATI CCL test?

Yes, confirmed on NAATI's current language policy page as at August 2026.

Is Telugu offered for the NAATI CCL test?

Yes, confirmed on NAATI's current language policy page as at August 2026, tested as one listing with no published dialect split.

Which Punjabi variant does NAATI test?

Eastern Punjabi. NAATI's language policy does not currently list a separate Western Punjabi (Lahnda) CCL option — check directly with NAATI if this affects you.

Are Mandarin and Cantonese the same CCL listing?

No — NAATI treats them as separate Chinese-language options. Confirm you're booking the one matching your actual spoken variety.

Does Arabic have separate regional-dialect test options?

No — NAATI's language policy lists Arabic as one option without a published regional-dialect split, even though real-world spoken Arabic varies considerably by region.

Where can I check if my specific language is still offered?

NAATI's own language policy page, which it updates directly — the safest source, since availability can change over time.