IB to UCAS Points Converter
Convert your IB Diploma total score (24-45) to UCAS Tariff Points. Includes the full IB to UCAS table, IB subject-grade comparison, UK offer context, and Clearing guidance.
IB 45 = 768 UCAS Points, far above A*A*A* 168-point tariff
IB 38 = 640 UCAS Points, a very strong competitive profile
IB 24 = 280 UCAS Points, above BBB tariff totals
IB tariff totals are structurally higher because the diploma is treated as one holistic qualification. Universities usually issue IB-point conditional offers, not UCAS-threshold offers, outside Clearing contexts.
UCAS Points
640
IB Diploma Total Score to UCAS Points - Full Conversion Table
Official tariff values for IB diploma totals are shown below. The diploma is treated as one qualification with score-based tariff mapping.
| IB Total Score | UCAS Points | GPA (4.0) | % Equivalent | A-Level Comparison | Classification | UK University Tier |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 45 | 768 | 4.00 | 100.0% | Above A*A*A* | Exceptional+ | Top Russell Group |
| 44 | 752 | 3.97 | 97.8% | Above A*A*A* | Exceptional+ | Top Russell Group |
| 43 | 728 | 3.94 | 95.6% | Above A*A*A* | Exceptional+ | Top Russell Group |
| 42 | 704 | 3.90 | 93.3% | Above A*A*A* | Exceptional+ | Top Russell Group |
| 41 | 688 | 3.87 | 91.1% | Above A*A*A* | Very Good+ | Top Russell Group |
| 40 | 672 | 3.84 | 88.9% | Above A*A*A* | Very Good+ | Top Russell Group |
| 39 | 656 | 3.81 | 86.7% | Above A*A*A* | Very Good+ | Russell Group / Red Brick |
| 38 | 640 | 3.78 | 84.4% | Above A*A*A* | Very Good+ | Russell Group / Red Brick |
| 37 | 624 | 3.74 | 82.2% | Above A*A*A* | Very Good+ | Russell Group / Red Brick |
| 36 | 608 | 3.71 | 80.0% | Above A*A*A* | Satisfactory+ | Russell Group / Red Brick |
| 35 | 592 | 3.68 | 77.8% | Above A*A*A* | Satisfactory+ | Russell Group / Red Brick |
| 34 | 576 | 3.65 | 75.6% | Above A*A*A* | Satisfactory+ | Most universities |
| 33 | 560 | 3.62 | 73.3% | Above A*A*A* | Satisfactory+ | Most universities |
| 32 | 544 | 3.59 | 71.1% | Above A*A*A* | Satisfactory+ | Most universities |
| 31 | 528 | 3.55 | 68.9% | Above A*A*A* | Satisfactory+ | Most universities |
| 30 | 512 | 3.52 | 66.7% | Above A*A*A* | Satisfactory+ | Most universities |
| 29 | 496 | 3.49 | 64.4% | Above A*A*A* | Diploma minimum | Foundation / access routes |
| 28 | 480 | 3.46 | 62.2% | Above A*A*A* | Diploma minimum | Foundation / access routes |
| 27 | 464 | 3.43 | 60.0% | Above A*A*A* | Diploma minimum | Foundation / access routes |
| 26 | 448 | 3.39 | 57.8% | Above A*A*A* | Diploma minimum | Foundation / access routes |
| 25 | 432 | 3.36 | 55.6% | Above A*A*A* | Diploma minimum | Foundation / access routes |
| 24 | 280 | 3.33 | 53.3% | Above BBB (120 pts) | Diploma minimum | Foundation / access routes |
Why IB Diploma UCAS Points Are Much Higher Than A-Level Points
Single-qualification tariffing: The full IB diploma is tariffed as a complete award tied to total score.
Per-subject A-Level tariffing: A-Level points are added subject by subject, usually across three awards.
Numerical asymmetry: Resulting totals are not directly comparable despite similar academic competitiveness.
Offer mechanics: Universities issue IB-point and HL-condition offers rather than UCAS-point targets for IB applicants.
Practical use: UCAS points are most useful for Clearing thresholds and cross-system form fields.
How UK Universities Make Conditional Offers to IB Students
IB points offers: Offers are issued as totals out of 45, not UCAS-point conditions.
HL conditions: Many offers include required HL grades in key subjects and these conditions are mandatory.
SL conditions: Some courses also include minimum SL expectations, especially in broad-entry pathways.
Tier benchmarks: Typical ranges run from 38-42 at elite tiers to 24-28 at broad-entry tiers.
Subject certificates: IB certificates are evaluated differently from full diploma offers.
IB Subject Grade to A-Level UCAS Points Comparison
This reference table compares individual IB grades to equivalent A-Level tariff benchmarks. It is for interpretive context, not diploma tariff calculation.
| IB Grade | IB Descriptor | A-Level Equivalent | A-Level UCAS Points | GPA (4.0) | UMS % | IB % Midpoint | Comparison Note |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 7 | Excellent | A* | 56 | 4.0 | 90-100% | 88% | Top grade alignment |
| 6 | Very Good | A | 48 | 3.7 | 80-89% | 73% | Strong alignment |
| 5 | Good | B | 40 | 3.3 | 70-79% | 60% | Good performance |
| 4 | Satisfactory | C | 32 | 3.0 | 60-69% | 52% | Mid-range pass |
| 3 | Mediocre | D | 24 | 2.3 | 50-59% | 40% | Below average |
| 2 | Poor | E | 16 | 1.7 | 40-49% | 28% | Minimum pass zone |
| 1 | Very Poor | U | 0 | 1.0 | 0-39% | 15% | Fail equivalent |
Typical IB Requirements at UK Universities
These are broad benchmark ranges; always confirm latest UCAS course-entry pages for exact year-specific requirements.
| Programme | University Tier | Typical IB Offer | Typical HL Conditions | A-Level Equivalent | UCAS Points (IB) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Medicine | Top medical schools | 38-42 | HL 7,6,6 | A*A*A to A*A*A* | 640-704 |
| Law | Oxbridge / Russell Group | 35-42 | HL 7,6,6 or 6,6,5 | A*AA to A*A*A | 592-704 |
| Engineering | Top Russell Group | 35-40 | HL Maths and Physics 6+ | AAA to A*A*A | 592-672 |
| Computer Science | Top universities | 36-40 | HL Maths 6+ | A*AA to AAA | 608-672 |
| Economics | LSE / Oxbridge | 38-42 | HL Maths 7/6 | A*AA to A*A*A | 640-704 |
| Business | Russell Group | 33-36 | HL 5,5,5 | ABB to AAA | 560-608 |
| Nursing | Modern universities | 28-32 | HL Biology preferred | BBB to ABB | 480-544 |
IB Diploma Students and UCAS Clearing
IB vs A-Level UCAS Points - Side-by-Side Comparison
This table highlights structural tariff differences while preserving comparable academic-tier interpretation.
| IB Score | IB UCAS Points | Comparable A-Level Profile | A-Level UCAS Points | Academic Equivalence | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 45 | 768 | A*A*A* | 168 | Outstanding | IB tariff much higher numerically |
| 42 | 704 | A*A*A* | 168 | Exceptional | Structural tariff difference |
| 38 | 640 | A*AA | 152 | Excellent | Comparable tier, different scale |
| 35 | 592 | AAA | 144 | Very Good | Structural difference persists |
| 33 | 560 | AAB | 136 | Good | Comparable competitiveness |
| 30 | 512 | ABB | 128 | Satisfactory | Comparable mid-tier entry |
| 28 | 480 | BBB | 120 | Satisfactory | Broad-entry competitive |
| 24 | 280 | CCC | 96 | Minimum diploma | Still above many base thresholds |
Worked Examples: IB to UCAS Points
IB 38 maps to 640 UCAS Points, about 84.4% by score proportion and roughly 3.80 GPA.
This profile is typically competitive for many Russell Group pathways with relevant HL requirements met.
IB 30 maps to 512 UCAS Points and around 3.53 GPA with 66.7% proportional score.
Useful for broad-entry and Clearing strategy, where subject-level conditions still matter in calls.
Notional subject equivalents can total lower than diploma tariff mapping because they serve different purposes.
Use diploma total mapping for official UCAS tariff and subject mapping only for interpretive comparison.
Related UCAS and Conversion Tools
Use IB to GPA converter, IB to Percentage, and IB and A-Level to GPA for cross-system context.
For tariff planning, check UCAS Points Calculator, UCAS Tariff Table, and how to calculate UCAS Points.
Compare equivalent workflows with A-Level to UCAS Points, A-Level to GPA, and UCAS Points to GPA.