UCAS Tariff & UK university entry

A-Level Grades to UCAS Points

Convert your A-Level grades to UCAS Tariff Points instantly. Includes the full 2024 UCAS Tariff table, multi-subject calculator, university offer benchmarks, and a complete guide to how UCAS Points work. For a deeper walkthrough of tariff math, see our guide on how UCAS Points are calculated.

A* = 56 points

The highest single A-Level UCAS value

AAA = 144 points

Russell Group three-A profile (48 + 48 + 48)

Enter Your A-Level Grades

Add up to five subjects and select each grade to calculate UCAS Tariff Points

A-Level subjects

Subject 1#1

Subject 2#2

Subject 3#3

Quick examples

Result

UCAS Tariff Points

Select a grade for each subject you want to include in your UCAS Points total.

A-Level to UCAS Points Conversion Table

The UCAS Tariff is the points system used by universities and colleges in the UK to translate different types of qualifications into a common numerical scale. For A-Levels, the tariff is straightforward: each grade maps to a fixed point value. These values are set by UCAS and have been stable since the 2017 tariff reform. The table below shows the current (2024 entry) values. You can cross-check wider qualifications on our full UCAS Tariff Table page or use the dedicated UCAS Points Calculator when you mix A-Levels with BTECs or the IB.

A-Level grades and UCAS Tariff Points with UMS ranges
A-Level Grade	UCAS Points	UMS % Range	Classification	Notes
A*	56	90–100%	Outstanding	Highest A-Level grade; introduced in 2010
A	48	80–89%	Excellent	Strong pass; equivalent to first-class standard
B	40	70–79%	Very Good	Upper-second equivalent
C	32	60–69%	Good	Lower-second equivalent
D	24	50–59%	Satisfactory	Minimum for many foundation years
E	16	40–49%	Pass	Minimum passing grade
U	0	0–39%	Unclassified	Not a pass; carries no tariff points

These values are based on the 2017 UCAS Tariff reform and apply to A-Levels awarded by AQA, Edexcel, OCR, WJEC, and CCEA. AS-Level grades carry half the points of the equivalent A-Level grade (A* not available at AS-Level). EPQ (Extended Project Qualification) carries separate tariff points: A* = 28, A = 24, B = 20, C = 16, D = 12, E = 8.

Common A-Level Grade Combinations and UCAS Points

Most university conditional offers are expressed as a combination of three A-Level grades. The table below shows the UCAS Points total for the most common three-A-Level combinations, along with the typical university tier those points correspond to. If you also need a US-style summary, open our A-Level to GPA converter in another tab.

Grade Combination	UCAS Points	Typical University Tier	Example Degree Types
AAA*	168	Elite (Oxbridge / Imperial / UCL)	Medicine, Mathematics, Law at top universities
AAA	160	Russell Group Top 5	Engineering, Natural Sciences, Economics
A*AA	152	Russell Group	Medicine, Dentistry, Veterinary Science
AAA	144	Russell Group / Top Universities	Law, Computer Science, Architecture
AAB	136	Russell Group / Red Brick	Psychology, Business, Biomedical Science
ABB	128	Red Brick / Modern Universities	Nursing, Education, Social Sciences
BBB	120	Modern Universities	Business Management, Sport Science
BBC	112	Post-92 Universities	Media, Creative Arts, Foundation entry
BCC	104	Post-92 / Further Education	Access and foundation programmes
CCC	96	College / Foundation Year	Foundation and access routes

Actual university offers are expressed as grade conditions (e.g. AAB), not points totals alone. UCAS Points become relevant when universities accept them through their tariff-based Clearing offers or when comparing qualifications from different awarding bodies.

How to Calculate Your UCAS Points from A-Level Grades

The formula

Sum tariff points for each full A-Level grade

Total UCAS Points = Sum of UCAS Points for each A-Level grade
(A* = 56, A = 48, B = 40, C = 32, D = 24, E = 16, U = 0)

Predicted grades on your UCAS application are converted to points automatically. Use the calculator above to rehearse totals before you submit — and read how UCAS Points are calculated if you want the step-by-step logic.

Worked example — Arts & Humanities

English Literature (A), History (A), French (B)

Step 1. English Literature A = 48 points

Step 2. History A = 48 points

Step 3. French B = 40 points

Step 4. Total = 48 + 48 + 40 = 136 points

Result: 136 UCAS Points — AAB profile. This is competitive for Russell Group universities and meets the standard conditional offer for most humanities degrees including Law (Durham, Bristol, Exeter), English (Manchester, Leeds), and History (Edinburgh, Newcastle).

Worked example — STEM

Mathematics (A*), Physics (A), Chemistry (A)

Step 1. Mathematics A* = 56 points

Step 2. Physics A = 48 points

Step 3. Chemistry A = 48 points

Step 4. Total = 56 + 48 + 48 = 152 points

Result: 152 UCAS Points — A*AA profile. This exceeds the entry requirement for most engineering degrees (120–136 points) and meets standard conditional offers for Medicine at many UK medical schools (136–152 points). Strong for Imperial College London, UCL, and Edinburgh.

Worked example — Including EPQ

Business Studies (B), Economics (B), Mathematics (B), plus EPQ (A)

Step 1. Business Studies B = 40 points

Step 2. Economics B = 40 points

Step 3. Mathematics B = 40 points

Step 4. EPQ A = 24 points

Step 5. Total = 40 + 40 + 40 + 24 = 144 points

Result: 144 UCAS Points. Note: Not all universities count EPQ points in their standard offer. Always confirm with the admissions team of your target university whether EPQ is included in their tariff calculation.

What Is the UCAS Tariff?

History and purpose. The UCAS Tariff was introduced in 2001 to allow universities to compare students holding different qualifications — A-Levels, BTECs, Scottish Highers, Irish Leaving Certificate, Cambridge Pre-U, and others — on a single numerical scale. It was reformed significantly in 2017 to better reflect the demands of modern qualifications. International pathways also map into the same currency: see our IB to UCAS Points overview when you need Diploma-level context.

What the Tariff is NOT. The Tariff is a comparison tool, not an absolute measure of ability. Most universities still make conditional offers in grades (e.g. AAB), not points. UCAS Points become decisive mainly in Clearing and Adjustment, when universities fill remaining spaces and may accept applicants based on points totals rather than specific grade combinations.

Clearing and UCAS Points. During Clearing (typically August, after results day), universities publish vacancies with points thresholds rather than specific grade requirements. This is when knowing your exact UCAS Points total is most valuable. A student with 128 points (ABB) may qualify for courses requiring "120 points" even if the grade combination differs from what was originally specified.

AS-Levels and EPQ. AS-Levels have their own tariff lines (see the AS-Level table below): A = 20, B = 16, C = 12, D = 10, E = 6 — there is no AS-Level A* grade. The Extended Project Qualification (EPQ) carries its own tariff: A* = 28, A = 24, B = 20, C = 16, D = 12, E = 8. Many universities reduce their standard A-Level offer by one grade if the student achieves an A or A* in the EPQ.

International Baccalaureate and UCAS. IB Diploma points also convert to UCAS Points. A total IB score of 45 (maximum) converts to 768 UCAS Points. A score of 38 converts to approximately 600 points. This is covered in detail on the IB to UCAS Points page.

Qualifications that carry UCAS Points

Representative list — always confirm the latest tariff for your exact award

A-Levels, AS-Levels, EPQ
BTEC Nationals
Cambridge Pre-U
Scottish Highers and Advanced Highers
International Baccalaureate
Welsh Baccalaureate
Core Maths
Cambridge Technical

UCAS Points Bands and University Entry Benchmarks

Use these bands as a quick sanity check against your total. They are not substitutes for course-level requirements on UCAS — always verify the grades or points listed for each programme.

Points range	Label	Typical entry level
160–168	Elite	Oxbridge, Imperial, top Russell Group — Medicine, Law, Natural Sciences
144–159	Excellent	Russell Group — competitive degrees
128–143	Very Good	Russell Group and Red Brick — most degree courses
112–127	Good	Modern universities — full range of undergraduate courses
96–111	Satisfactory	Post-92 and further education colleges — foundation access
80–95	Pass Band	Access programmes and some HND/HNC courses
Below 80	Below Standard	Foundation year routes; individual assessment required

These bands represent general benchmarks only. Individual universities set their own entry requirements. Always check the specific UCAS course page for the exact conditional offer for your chosen course and institution.

When Do You Need to Know Your UCAS Points?

UCAS Application

When you submit your UCAS application, your UCAS Points are calculated automatically from your predicted grades. Universities use them to filter applicants and set conditional offers. Knowing your points helps you gauge which courses are realistic and which are ambitious targets.

Clearing and Adjustment

On A-Level results day, students who did not meet their offer — or who exceeded it — can enter Clearing or Adjustment. In both cases, UCAS Points totals are frequently used to determine eligibility for vacancies. Having your total ready on results day saves critical time.

Comparing Qualifications

If you hold a mix of A-Levels, BTECs, and an EPQ, converting everything to UCAS Points gives you a single number to work with when evaluating courses. This is especially useful when comparing your profile to UCAS course entry data published each year.

International University Applications

Some Canadian and Australian universities that accept UK students ask for a UCAS Points equivalent when evaluating non-domestic applicants. Knowing your points total and its percentage equivalent gives you two data points to present. See the A-Level to Canadian GPA page and A-Level to Australian ATAR page for further guidance.

Scholarship and Bursary Applications

Several UK scholarship programmes — including the Sutton Trust and university merit awards — use UCAS Points as an initial eligibility threshold. Confirming your points total before applying ensures you meet the minimum criteria.

AS-Level UCAS Points (2024 Tariff)

AS-Levels are standalone qualifications or the first year of an A-Level. They carry their own UCAS Tariff points, though at half the value of a full A-Level. Note that many universities no longer consider AS-Levels as part of conditional offers, but they still contribute to total UCAS Points.

AS-Level Grade	UCAS Points	A-Level Equivalent Grade	Notes
A	20	A (48) at A-Level	No AS-Level A* grade exists
B	16	B (40) at A-Level	—
C	12	C (32) at A-Level	—
D	10	D (24) at A-Level	—
E	6	E (16) at A-Level	—

AS-Level points are included in the UCAS Tariff but many universities explicitly state they do not count AS-Levels in their entry requirements since the 2017 decoupling of AS from A-Level. Always verify with individual universities.

Frequently Asked Questions

More A-Level tools on SmartCGPA

Want to express results as a percentage for tutoring targets? You can convert your grades to a percentage. Heading Stateside? The A-Level to GPA converter uses the same grade letters — handy alongside this tariff view.

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