A Level UCAS Points Calculator

This calculator works out your total UCAS tariff points from your A-level grades instantly. Below you will find the full grade to points table, how the calculation works, common grade combinations and what your total typically means for university offers.

A Level UCAS Points Calculator: Grade to Points Table

Each A-level grade is worth a fixed number of UCAS tariff points. The table below shows the current points value for each grade under the tariff introduced in 2017, which remains in use for 2026 entry.

These values apply to single A-levels in any subject. The tariff does not vary by subject, so an A grade in Mathematics is worth the same 48 points as an A grade in History or Art.

How A-Level UCAS Points Are Calculated

UCAS tariff points are worked out using two factors: the size of the qualification and the grade achieved. A single A-level has a size value of 4. Each grade is also given a value, ranging from 14 for an A* down to 4 for an E. The points total is the size value multiplied by the grade value.

For an A* at A-level, this is 14 multiplied by 4, giving 56 points. For an A, the grade value is 12, giving 48 points when multiplied by the size value of 4. The same calculation applies down to an E, where a grade value of 4 multiplied by the size value of 4 gives 16 points.

You do not need to do this calculation yourself. The UCAS points calculator for A levels above and the table give you the result directly. If you want to know how to calculate UCAS points from A levels by hand, understanding this formula is mainly useful for working out points for less common qualifications where a ready-made table might not be available, or for checking that a figure you have seen elsewhere is correct.

A-Level Grade Combinations and Their UCAS Points

Most students apply with three A-levels, so the table below shows the UCAS points total for the most commonly searched three-subject grade combinations, ordered from highest to lowest.

Several different grade combinations can produce the same total. For example, 128 points can come from ABB or from AAC, and 120 points can come from BBB or from ABC. If a university gives you an offer in points rather than specific grades, this gives you flexibility in how you reach that total.

Worked Example: Adding an EPQ to Your A-Levels

Suppose a student is studying three A-levels and is also completing an EPQ. If their predicted grades are AAB at A-level and a B at EPQ, the calculation would be as follows. AAB at A-level gives 48 plus 48 plus 40, which is 136 points. The EPQ at grade B is worth 20 points. Adding these together gives a total of 156 points.

You can check this combination yourself using the UCAS point calculator A level tool at the top of this page. Select A-Level three times with grades A, A and B, then add a fourth row, select EPQ, and choose grade B. The total will update to 156 automatically.

Why A* Used to Be Worth More

If you have seen older guides, forum posts or information from before 2017, you may have seen an A* at A-level listed as worth 140 points rather than 56. This is not a mistake in either source, it reflects a change UCAS made to the tariff system in 2017.

Before 2017, the tariff used a much wider points scale, where an A* was worth 140, an A was worth 120, and so on down to an E at 40. In 2017, UCAS recalibrated the entire tariff to use smaller, more proportionate numbers, with an A* now worth 56 and an E worth 16. The relative value of each grade compared to the others has stayed broadly similar, but the numbers themselves are much smaller.

If you come across a UCAS points figure anywhere that looks unusually high, for example a total in the several hundreds for three A-levels, it is likely based on the old pre-2017 tariff and should not be used for 2026 applications. The values on this page and in the calculator above are all based on the current tariff.

AS-Levels and A-Levels: What Counts

AS-levels also carry UCAS tariff points, worth roughly half the value of an A-level in the same subject. An A grade at AS-level is worth 20 points, compared with 48 points for an A grade at full A-level.

The important rule is that AS-level and A-level points cannot be combined for the same subject. If you have an AS-level and a full A-level in the same subject, only the A-level points count towards your total. The AS-level result is not added on top.

This becomes relevant for students who took four subjects to AS-level and then dropped one to continue only three to full A-level, which is a common pattern in England. In this case, the dropped subject’s AS-level result can still count towards your UCAS total as a separate qualification, since it is in a different subject from your three A-levels.

For example, if a student has AAB at A-level across three subjects, worth 136 points, and also completed a fourth subject to AS-level only with a B grade, worth 16 points, their total would be 136 plus 16, giving 152 points. The AS-level only adds to the total because it is a separate subject, not a duplicate of one of the A-levels.

A-Level Double Award Explained

An A-level Double Award, sometimes seen in subjects such as Applied Science, counts as two full A-levels in terms of size for UCAS tariff purposes. This means the points value for a given grade is doubled compared with a single A-level.

For example, a single A-level at grade A is worth 48 points. An A-level Double Award at grade A is worth 96 points, since it has a size value of 8 rather than 4, multiplied by the same grade value of 12 for an A.

If you are studying a Double Award alongside other A-levels, you can use the calculator above by selecting A-Level and choosing your grade, then doubling the resulting points figure to reflect the Double Award value, or by entering it as two separate rows with the same grade if your specific Double Award subject is not listed individually.

What Your A-Level Points Mean for University Offers

Using the UCAS points for A levels calculator above gives you a single figure, but it helps to know what that figure typically means. UCAS tariff totals are often grouped informally into bands that correspond to the typical entry requirements of different universities. These bands are a general guide only, since individual courses and universities set their own specific requirements.

AAB, worth 136 points, sits within the range commonly seen for Russell Group offers on courses just below the most competitive subjects such as Medicine, Law and Dentistry. AAA, worth 144 points, is a common requirement for those top-tier courses themselves. ABB, worth 128 points, and BBB, worth 120 points, are widely seen across a broad range of courses at both high-tariff and mid-tariff universities.

Many universities, particularly the most selective, make offers based on specific grades rather than total points. In these cases the UCAS points figure is informative but the grade combination itself is what matters for meeting the offer.

Retaking or Adding an A-Level

If you are retaking an A-level, only your final, certificated grade counts towards your UCAS tariff total. An earlier attempt that resulted in a lower grade does not affect your total once you have a higher grade on record for that subject.

Some students choose to add an additional A-level, often during a gap year, either to strengthen their application or to meet a specific subject requirement they were missing. An additional A-level adds its own points to your total in the same way as any other A-level. For example, a student with AAB at A-level, worth 136 points, who adds a fourth A-level at grade B, worth 40 points, would have a total of 176 points across four subjects.

How many A-levels are calculated for UCAS points depends on the university. Some institutions only count your three highest-scoring A-levels regardless of how many you hold, while others will count every A-level you present. It is worth checking with your chosen universities directly to confirm how additional subjects affect your total.

A-Levels Universities Don’t Always Count

While the UCAS tariff assigns points to all A-level subjects equally, individual universities are not obliged to count every subject towards their entry requirements. Some institutions publish lists of subjects they do not accept as part of a tariff-based offer, or that they will not count if studied alongside a closely related subject.

Subjects sometimes treated differently include General Studies, Critical Thinking, and certain combinations such as Further Mathematics alongside Mathematics, where a university may only count one of the two for tariff purposes even though both carry points individually.

If you are relying on a specific subject to reach a points total, it is worth checking the entry requirements page for your chosen course directly, or contacting the university’s admissions team, to confirm whether that subject will be counted as part of any points-based offer.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I Use This A Level UCAS Points Calculator for Any University?

Yes. This tool uses the official UCAS tariff, which applies across all UK universities and colleges that use the tariff system. The figure it gives you reflects your UCAS tariff total, though you should always check the specific entry requirements published by each university and course, since some make offers based on grades rather than total points.

Do all universities use A-level UCAS points the same way?

No. Some universities and courses make offers based on total UCAS points, allowing flexibility in how you reach a figure, while others make offers based on specific grades regardless of the points total. Many use a combination of both, stating a minimum points total alongside required grades in particular subjects.

Can I combine A-level points with GCSE results?

No. GCSEs do not carry UCAS tariff points. The tariff only applies to Level 3 qualifications, which in England means qualifications typically studied after GCSEs, such as A-levels, AS-levels, BTECs and the EPQ.

What if I’m missing the grades for my points-based offer?

If your final grades give you fewer points than your offer required, contact your chosen university directly, as they may still accept you depending on how close you are and their remaining places. You can also explore options through UCAS Clearing, where many universities advertise courses with their current entry requirements for students who did not meet their original offer.

Do resit grades count differently from first-attempt grades?

No. UCAS tariff points are based on your final certificated grade for a subject, regardless of whether it was achieved on a first attempt or a resit. There is no reduction in points value for a grade achieved through a resit.

Is an A-level worth more UCAS points than a BTEC unit?

UCAS points are designed so that qualifications of a similar size and level carry similar point values, regardless of whether they are an A-level or a BTEC. A BTEC Extended Diploma, for example, is designed to be broadly equivalent in size to three A-levels and carries a comparable points range. The exact comparison depends on the specific BTEC qualification and grade.

Do international students’ A-level equivalents carry the same points?

UK A-levels taken at international schools carry the same UCAS tariff points as A-levels taken in the UK, since the qualification itself is the same regardless of where it is studied. Other international qualifications, such as the International Baccalaureate, have their own separate tariff tables rather than being converted into A-level equivalents.

How many A-levels do I need for university?

Most undergraduate courses in England are designed around applicants holding three A-levels, though some courses accept two A-levels alongside other qualifications such as a BTEC or EPQ. The minimum requirement depends entirely on the course and university, so check the specific entry requirements for each course you are considering.