UCAS Points Calculator: Work Out Your Tariff Points (2027)

“How many UCAS points do I have?” It is one of the first questions every student asks when university offers start to feel real — and one of the most common questions parents ask us. The good news: the system is simpler than it looks. Every qualification you take after GCSEs is worth a set number of points. An A* at A Level is worth 56. Add your qualifications together, and you have your total.

Use the calculator below to work out your number in seconds. Then read on for every points table, how universities actually use your total, and the three rules that catch students out.

What are UCAS points?

UCAS points — the full name is UCAS Tariff points — are a scoring system run by UCAS, the organisation that manages university applications in the UK. Each qualification you take after GCSEs is given a points value, based on its size and the grade you achieve.

Why does this matter to you? Because universities use points in two ways:

• To set entry requirements. A course might ask for “112 UCAS points” instead of naming exact grades — which gives you more than one route in.
• To compare different qualifications fairly. Points put a student with a BTEC and a student with A Levels on the same scale, so neither route closes doors.

One important exception before we go further: not every university uses points. Many of the most selective courses — including all courses at Oxford and Cambridge — make offers in grades only, such as A*AA. Always check the entry requirements for your exact course, not just the university.

A Level UCAS points table

This is the table most students need. The values have not changed since 2017, so they apply whether you are applying for 2026 or 2027 entry.

Notice the pattern: each grade is worth 8 points more than the one below. That means a single grade boundary — one B that becomes an A — moves your total by 8 points. Small improvements add up fast.

Meet Maya. She is predicted ABB: 48 + 40 + 40 = 128 points. Keep her total in mind — we will follow it through this guide.

AS Level UCAS points

An AS Level is worth less than half a full A Level. One rule to remember: if you complete the full A Level in the same subject, only the A Level counts. You cannot add both.

EPQ UCAS points

The Extended Project Qualification is worth exactly half an A Level at every grade — and it can work twice for you. The points add to your total, and some universities also make a lower grade offer to students who complete a strong EPQ.

Back to Maya. She adds an EPQ at grade A: 128 + 24 = 152 points. Her A Level predictions have not changed, but her total now clears a “144 points” offer with room to spare.

One check before you rely on this: some universities do not count EPQ points towards a points offer. The course page will say so — read it carefully.

BTEC UCAS points

BTEC Nationals come in three sizes, and each size has its own table. Find yours below.

BTEC Extended Certificate (the size of one A Level)

BTEC Diploma (the size of two A Levels)

BTEC Extended Diploma (the size of three A Levels)

What this means for BTEC students: DDD at Extended Diploma (144 points) equals AAA at A Level. In points terms, the routes are equal. One honest caveat — some selective courses still ask for specific A Level subjects alongside or instead of points, so check the course page before you count on your total alone.

International Baccalaureate (IB) UCAS points

The IB Diploma does not receive one single Tariff score. Instead, each subject earns points based on its level and grade.

A useful comparison for IB students: a 7 at Higher Level carries the same 56 points as an A* at A Level. In practice, though, most UK universities make IB offers as a total Diploma score — for example, “36 points with 6,6,5 at Higher Level” — rather than UCAS points. If you study the IB, check each course page for the offer style it uses.

Scottish Highers and Advanced Highers

An Advanced Higher at grade A matches an A* at A Level — 56 points. Scottish students applying to universities across the UK are on an equal footing.

T Level UCAS points

A T Level is the size of three A Levels, so a single T Level can carry your whole total.

Do GCSEs count towards UCAS points?

No — and this surprises many families. UCAS points only apply to Level 3 qualifications, the ones you take after GCSEs. Your GCSEs still matter in a different way: many courses set minimum GCSE grades, often in English and Maths. So GCSEs can open or close a door, but they never add to your points total.

How universities actually use your points

Offers come in two styles, and knowing which one you are facing changes how you plan:

• Grade offers: “AAB at A Level.” The most selective universities use this style. Here, your points total does not matter — only the exact grades do.
• Points offers: “112 UCAS points from at least two A Levels.” This style rewards flexibility. Maya’s 152 points could come from ABB plus an EPQ — but a classmate could reach 112 with BBC, or with a BTEC and one A Level, and both meet the same offer.

Three rules that catch students out every year:

1. Only your highest qualification in a subject counts. AS Maths followed by A Level Maths? Only the A Level counts.
2. Some offers exclude certain qualifications. A points offer might not count your EPQ, or might exclude a named subject. The wording on the course page is the final word.
3. Points offers can hide grade conditions. “120 points including a B in Biology” means the B in Biology is not optional — 120 points without it is not enough.

Why your total matters most on results day

Points do their most important work in Clearing — the process that matches students to courses with places still open after results day. Clearing listings usually show a points number, not grades. Students who already know their exact total can judge their options and act within hours. Students who do not can lose a day working it out — and in Clearing, places go quickly. Work out your number before August, and results day gets calmer.

Frequently asked questions

All points values in this guide follow the official UCAS Tariff for 2026–27 entry. For the official tool, see the UCAS Tariff calculator.

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