How the UCAS Tariff works
The tariff turns Level 3 qualifications into a single points currency: each qualification's size and each grade map to a fixed value in UCAS's official tables, and your total is the simple sum. The defaults above — A*AB at A level plus an A-grade EPQ — total168 points. Two caveats the headline number hides: universities choose whether to make tariff-based or grade-based offers, and an AS level usually stops counting once you hold the full A level in the same subject.
A level, AS and EPQ points
| Grade | A level | AS level | EPQ |
|---|---|---|---|
| A* | 56 | — | 28 |
| A | 48 | 20 | 24 |
| B | 40 | 16 | 20 |
| C | 32 | 12 | 16 |
| D | 24 | 10 | 12 |
| E | 16 | 6 | 8 |
BTEC Nationals and Scottish qualifications
| BTEC Extended Diploma | Points | Scottish | Points |
|---|---|---|---|
| D*D*D* | 168 | Adv Higher A | 56 |
| DDD | 144 | Adv Higher B | 48 |
| DDM | 128 | Adv Higher C | 40 |
| DMM | 112 | Higher A | 33 |
| MMM | 96 | Higher B | 27 |
| PPP | 48 | Higher C | 21 |
The equivalences are deliberate: a triple-Distinction Extended Diploma (DDD,144 points) matches three A-grade A levels, and a Scottish Advanced Higher tracks an A level grade-for-grade. Mixed portfolios — a BTEC alongside an A level, Highers plus an Advanced Higher — are exactly where the points currency earns its keep, and where this calculator's row-by-row structure mirrors how admissions teams tally it.
IB components and the tariff
| IB grade | Higher Level | Standard Level |
|---|---|---|
| 7 | 56 | 28 |
| 6 | 48 | 24 |
| 5 | 32 | 16 |
| 4 | 24 | 12 |
| 3 | 12 | 6 |
UCAS points the IB by its parts, not the 45-point diploma total: each HL and SL certificate carries its own value (an HL 7 equals an A* A level at 56 points), and the Extended Essay and TOK add 12 points each at grade A. Grades 1–2 carry no points. To compute the /45 diploma total itself — and check the pass conditions — use the IB grade calculator. Heading to a UK university with any of these qualifications? Thedegree classification calculator shows how you'll be graded once you're there, and themodule grade calculator handles the credit-weighted marks that follow.
Frequently asked questions
How many UCAS points is an A at A level?
48 points. The full A-level scale: A* = 56, A = 48, B = 40, C = 32, D = 24, E = 16. Three A levels at A*AB therefore carry 56 + 48 + 40 = 144 tariff points.
How many UCAS points do BTECs get?
A BTEC Level 3 National Extended Diploma runs from PPP = 48 up to D*D*D* = 168, with DDD (triple Distinction) at 144 — the same as three A-level A grades. Smaller BTEC sizes scale down: the Extended Certificate tops out at D* = 56, equivalent to one A* at A level.
Does the IB Diploma have a UCAS tariff?
Not as a single award — UCAS assigns points to the components: each Higher Level subject (7 = 56 points, 6 = 48), each Standard Level subject (7 = 28), and the Extended Essay and Theory of Knowledge grades (A = 12 each). A strong diploma commonly totals over 300 points when its certificates are added up.
Do universities actually use UCAS points in offers?
Many don't — plenty of offers are grade-based ('AAB including Maths') rather than tariff-based ('136 points'), and some selective universities ignore the tariff entirely. Points-based offers are common at other institutions and useful for mixed qualifications. Check each university's entry requirements for which currency it uses.