UCAS points: what your A-Level grades are worth (2027 entry table)

Under the UCAS point system, an A* at A-Level is worth 56 points and an E is worth 16, with 8 points between each grade. Three A-Levels at AAA add up to 144 points, and three at CCC add up to 96. The official name is the UCAS Tariff, and it turns your grades into a single number that universities can compare across different qualifications. Some courses ask for points, many ask for grades, and the tables below show you how to work out where you stand for 2027 entry.

How many UCAS points is each A-Level grade worth?

Each A-Level grade has a fixed value. UCAS sets the points by the size of the qualification and the grade you get, so a full A-Level is worth more than an AS, and an A* is worth more than a B.

Source: UCAS Tariff points and the 2027 Tariff tables. Last checked: 12 November 2026.

To get your total, add up the points for each qualification. Three A* grades give you 168 points, which is the most you can get from three A-Levels. GCSEs don't carry UCAS points, so only your Level 3 qualifications count.

AS, EPQ, BTEC and IB tariff points

Other qualifications sit on the same scale, which is the whole point of the Tariff. A standalone AS is worth a bit less than half an A-Level. The Extended Project Qualification (EPQ) is worth exactly half.

Source: UCAS Tariff tables. Last checked: 12 November 2026.

BTEC Nationals use Distinction*, Distinction, Merit and Pass. The BTEC Extended Diploma is the same size as three A-Levels, so its top grade matches three A* grades.

Source: Pearson BTEC UCAS points, for applications from 2017 onwards. Last checked: 12 November 2026.

Pearson lists the newer 2025 BTEC Nationals separately, so if you're taking one of those, check the exact version on your certificate against that page.

For the International Baccalaureate, UCAS gives points to each subject rather than to the Diploma total out of 45. A Higher Level 7 is worth 56 points, the same as an A* at A-Level. A Standard Level 7 is worth 28, the same as an A* in the EPQ. The Extended Essay and Theory of Knowledge carry points too. Scottish Highers, T Levels and many other qualifications are all in the Tariff calculator.

Worked examples: different grades, same UCAS points

Because points add up, very different grade mixes can land on the same total. This matters when a course asks for, say, 96 or 112 points.

Source: worked from the UCAS Tariff tables. Last checked: 12 November 2026.

The last row shows why the EPQ is worth thinking about. On a points-based offer, a B in the EPQ adds a little more than raising two A-Level grades from C to B. Two grade jumps add 16 points, and the EPQ adds 20.

A higher total doesn't always meet an offer, though. A*CD and BBC both give 112 points, but if the course also says "including a B in biology", only one of those students might get in. Always read the full entry requirements on the UCAS course search.

How universities use the UCAS point system in offers

When a course uses the Tariff, it usually gives a number or a range, such as 104 to 112 points. You'll often see a subject condition attached, or a list of qualifications the university will count.

UCAS also points out that a university can use Tariff points and still accept qualifications that have no points at all. So if your qualification isn't in the tables, ask the admissions team directly.

Most offers are conditional: the university makes them based on your predicted grades, and you meet them with the grades you actually get in August.

Which universities don't use UCAS tariff points?

Many selective universities make offers in grades only. Your total doesn't matter to them. What matters is whether you got the grade they asked for in each subject.

• Oxford sets its offers as A-Level grades and doesn't count Tariff points. An offer of AAA needs at least an A in each of three subjects, so A*AB wouldn't meet it, even though it adds up to the same 144 points.
• Cambridge colleges state offers as grades too. Peterhouse, for example, lists a typical offer of AAA for arts and humanities and AA*A for sciences.
• LSE says it doesn't use the UCAS Tariff and sets offers as specific A-Level grades.

If you're aiming for courses like these, it helps to think in grades per subject, not totals. AAA at Oxford and 144 points elsewhere look the same on paper, but only one lets a strong A* make up for a weaker B.

Key UCAS dates for 2027 entry

Your predicted grades go on your application, so they need to be in place before you apply.

Source: UCAS key dates for the October deadline and January deadline. Last checked: 12 November 2026.

Schools usually set their own internal deadlines a few weeks earlier, so check yours. For what happens once results are out, our guide to A-Level results day walks through UCAS confirmation and Clearing.

How to raise a predicted grade before offers come in

Your school sets your predicted grades, usually from mocks, classwork, coursework and your teachers' judgement. If you're applying by 13 January 2027 and your school hasn't finalised your predictions yet, the next few weeks still count.

1. Ask each subject teacher what your current prediction is and what evidence they're using. Then ask what would move it up a grade.
2. Find the topics losing you the most marks. Go through your last mock or assessed piece and list where the marks went.
3. Practise exam questions on those topics and check your answers against the mark scheme for your exam board.
4. Get feedback on longer answers, where marks for structure and analysis are easy to miss on your own.
5. Hand in your best coursework or NEA draft on time. It's often some of the strongest evidence a teacher has.
6. Show the improvement. A strong end-of-unit test or mock gives your teacher a clear reason to raise the prediction.

If you have a mock coming up soon, our two-week mock plan breaks the revision down day by day. Much of the advice on whether mocks matter applies in Year 13 too: a lower result tells you exactly where to focus while there's still time to improve.

Medly AI covers A-Level for AQA, Edexcel, OCR, WJEC/Eduqas, CCEA and Cambridge, including Further Maths. You can practise exam-style questions and get each answer marked with feedback on how to reach the next mark. Medly's free plan includes 5 marked questions, 20 AI tutor messages and 1 uploaded paper a day, with no card needed.

Frequently asked questions

How many UCAS points is AAA?

AAA is worth 144 UCAS points, because each A is worth 48. AAA is worth 152, and AAA is worth 168.

How many UCAS points do I need for university?

It depends on the course. Points-based offers are often given as a range, such as 104 to 112 points, and many selective universities ask for specific grades instead. Check each course's entry requirements on UCAS.

Do GCSEs count towards UCAS points?

No. GCSEs don't carry UCAS Tariff points, although universities still look at them and some courses ask for particular GCSE grades in English and maths.

Is the EPQ worth UCAS points?

Yes. An EPQ is worth up to 28 points for an A*, which is half the value of an A* at A-Level. It only adds to your total if the course uses Tariff points.

Are UCAS points based on predicted or actual grades?

Both, at different stages. Universities use your predicted grades to decide whether to make an offer, and your actual results in August decide whether you meet it.

Do all universities use the UCAS point system?

No. Oxford, Cambridge and LSE set offers in grades, and many other courses do the same. If a course lists grades, a higher points total won't make up for missing a required grade.

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