UCAS Points Calculator
Add your qualifications and grades to calculate your total UCAS Tariff Points and see if you meet university entry requirements.
How UCAS Points Are Calculated
UCAS Tariff Points are a standardised numerical value assigned to each grade in every UK qualification. Adding them together gives your total points, which universities use as one factor when assessing your UCAS application.
Total Points = A Level Grade Points + AS Level Points + BTEC Points + …
// A Level examples:
A* = 56 pts | A = 48 pts | B = 40 pts | C = 32 pts | D = 24 pts | E = 16 pts
// Example: A in Chemistry + B in Maths + C in History
Total = 48 + 40 + 32 = 120 UCAS points
// BTEC example: D*D* Extended Diploma = 168 pts
Total = 168 UCAS points (equivalent to three A* at A Level)
Full UCAS Tariff Points Reference
| Qualification | Grade | UCAS Points |
|---|---|---|
| A Level | A* | 56 |
| A Level | A | 48 |
| A Level | B | 40 |
| A Level | C | 32 |
| A Level | D | 24 |
| A Level | E | 16 |
| AS Level | A | 20 |
| AS Level | B | 16 |
| AS Level | C | 12 |
| AS Level | D | 10 |
| AS Level | E | 6 |
| BTEC National Extended Diploma | D*D*D* | 168 |
| BTEC National Extended Diploma | D*D*D | 160 |
| BTEC National Extended Diploma | D*DD | 152 |
| BTEC National Extended Diploma | DDD | 144 |
| BTEC National Extended Diploma | DDM | 128 |
| BTEC National Extended Diploma | DMM | 112 |
| BTEC National Extended Diploma | MMM | 96 |
| Scottish Higher | A | 33 |
| Scottish Higher | B | 27 |
| Scottish Higher | C | 21 |
| Scottish Higher | D | 15 |
| Scottish Advanced Higher | A | 56 |
| Scottish Advanced Higher | B | 48 |
| Scottish Advanced Higher | C | 40 |
| IB Diploma | 45 | 168 |
| IB Diploma | 38 | 128 |
| IB Diploma | 32 | 96 |
| EPQ | A* | 28 |
| EPQ | A | 24 |
Table of Truth: Common Grade Combinations and Their Points
| Qualifications | Grades | Total Points | Typical entry level |
|---|---|---|---|
| 3 A Levels | A*AA | 152 | Top Russell Group (medicine, law, Oxbridge) |
| 3 A Levels | AAA | 144 | Competitive Russell Group |
| 3 A Levels | AAB | 136 | Russell Group / strong pre-92 |
| 3 A Levels | ABB | 128 | Mid-tier universities |
| 3 A Levels | BBB | 120 | Most pre-92 and newer universities |
| 3 A Levels | BBC | 112 | Many universities |
| 3 A Levels | BCC | 104 | Post-92 universities |
| 3 A Levels | CCC | 96 | Lower-tariff universities |
| BTEC Extended Diploma | DDD | 144 | Equivalent to AAA |
| BTEC Extended Diploma | DMM | 112 | Equivalent to BBC |
Do Universities Actually Use UCAS Points?
This is a more complicated question than most students expect. Some universities and courses specify entry requirements in UCAS Tariff Points (for example, “120 points from three A Levels”). Others specify entry requirements using specific grade combinations (for example, “ABB”) without mentioning points at all.
When points matter
Points-based requirements are most common at newer universities and post-92 institutions, which use the tariff as a flexible gateway for students with mixed qualification types. A student with BTEC qualifications, Scottish Highers, and an AS Level might find points-based requirements easier to meet than grade-specific ones.
When points do not matter
Many Russell Group universities specify required grade combinations rather than points. Oxford and Cambridge, and medical schools, typically list exact grade requirements by subject. Having 160 points does not help if the offer requires A*AA and you have three Bs plus a distinction.
BTEC and Mixed Qualification Entry
Students with BTEC qualifications can calculate their UCAS points using this calculator and compare them directly to A Level equivalents. A BTEC Extended Diploma with DDD is 144 points, equivalent to three A grades at A Level. This makes it competitive for the same courses as AAA A Level applicants on points-based entry criteria.
However, not every course accepts BTECs. Law and medicine at competitive universities typically require A Levels. Always check the specific course entry requirements on the UCAS course search tool.