UCAS Tariff Points Calculator

UCAS Tariff points are a uniform numerical system used by UK universities to compare Level 3 qualifications from different awarding bodies. Every tariffed qualification grade is assigned a points value — for example an A-Level A* is worth 56 points and a BTEC National D* grade is also worth 56 points per A-Level-sized unit — so applicants with A-Levels, BTEC, IB, Scottish Highers, T-Levels, Access to HE, EPQ or Cambridge Technicals can all be compared on the same scale. Most UK undergraduate courses list either a grade offer (e.g. AAA) or a Tariff threshold (e.g. 128 points) as their entry requirement, and clearing vacancies are almost always advertised in Tariff points.

Under the current 2017 reform UCAS Tariff scale (the only active scale for 2025 and 2026 entry): A*A*A* = 168 points, A*A*A = 160, A*AA = 152, AAA = 144 points, AAB = 136, ABB = 128, BBB = 120, BBC = 112 and BCC = 104 points. 144 (AAA) is the typical baseline Russell Group minimum for non-vocational courses; 128 (ABB) is the mid-tariff benchmark; 112 (BBC) is the common lower-tariff and clearing threshold. Russell Group and STEM courses may also list subject-specific grade minima alongside the points total, so a Tariff score alone is not always sufficient.

Yes, for direct grade-for-grade equivalence the scaling is identical where the qualification size matches. A BTEC National Extended Diploma (1080 GLH) counts as three A-Level sized units, so a D*D*D* Extended Diploma = 168 points — exactly the same as A*A*A* at A-Level. A BTEC National Diploma = two A-Level sized units, Subsidiary Diploma = one A-Level sized unit and the 90-credit Certificate = a half unit. Individual BTEC grade letters map 1:1 per unit: D* = 56, D = 48, M = 40, P = 32 per A-Level-sized unit. This 1:1 mapping was confirmed by the 2017 UCAS Tariff reform and still holds for the 2025 and 2026 application cycles.

The difference is substantial and calculators still showing the old scale are incorrect. Before 2017 entry UCAS used a much larger numeric scale where an A-Level A* was worth 140 points and AAA equalled 360 points. In September 2017 UCAS introduced the compressed reform scale still used today: the same A-Level A* is now 56 points and AAA is 144 points. Every qualification value was rescaled proportionally. If another calculator shows an A* as 140 points or AAA as 360 points, it is using the retired pre-2017 table and will massively overstate your Tariff total. UCASCalculator.com always uses the 2017 reform values, cross-checked against the official 2025/2026 published table.

Common Tariff thresholds and their closest three-A-Level equivalents in the 2017 reform scale are: 96 points = CCC; 104 points = BCC; 112 UCAS points = BBC (the widely quoted clearing baseline); 120 UCAS points = BBB; 128 UCAS points = ABB (typical mid-tariff course); 136 = AAB; 144 UCAS points = AAA (Russell Group baseline); 152 = A*AA; 160 = A*A*A; 168 UCAS points = A*A*A* (A-Level theoretical ceiling for three subjects). Equivalent BTEC Extended Diploma values are DDD = 112, DMM = 96, MMM = 80, D*D*D = 152, D*D*D* = 168.

Yes, unlike A-Levels the UCAS Tariff splits every Scottish Higher and Advanced Higher grade into Band-1 and Band-2 sub-grades because SQA publishes raw mark bands. A Higher A Band-1 = 36 points, Higher A Band-2 = 33 points; Higher B Band-1 = 30 points, B Band-2 = 28 points. An Advanced Higher A Band-1 = 56 points (A-Level A* equivalent), Advanced Higher A Band-2 = 54 points; Advanced Higher B Band-1 = 48 points (A-Level A equivalent), B Band-2 = 45 points. Because almost every other UK qualification uses whole grades only, many generic UCAS calculators omit the Band-1 / Band-2 split entirely — UCASCalculator.com includes the full granular split for all four Higher plus Advanced Higher grade letters.

An Extended Project Qualification (EPQ) is fully tariffed by UCAS: EPQ A* = 28, A = 24, B = 20, C = 16, D = 12, E = 8 points. The Welsh Baccalaureate Advanced Skills Challenge Certificate is also tariffed at A* = 28 down to E = 8 on the same per-grade scale as the EPQ. However, whether a university will accept an EPQ or Welsh Bacc towards a specific course offer is entirely at that university's discretion. Russell Group and high-tariff STEM courses frequently exclude EPQ points from their formal requirement, while mid-tariff, post-1992, humanities and clearing courses commonly accept it. Always check the individual course page on the university website before relying on EPQ contribution.

For UK undergraduate clearing 2025 and 2026 entry, the most commonly advertised lower-tariff thresholds cluster in the 96 to 112 UCAS points band. 112 points (BBC at A-Level or DMM / BTEC Extended Diploma MMM+ context dependant) is the headline clearing baseline widely cited across mid-tariff post-1992 universities. Competitive clearing courses or unfilled Russell Group vacancies may list 120 (BBB), 128 (ABB) or higher; foundation year and extended degree programmes frequently advertise 80 or 64 point entry thresholds. Clearing Tariff cut-offs vary day-by-day in August and are published directly by each university, not centrally by UCAS, so figures here are indicative only.

UCAS itself does not publish a global maximum Tariff score, because the theoretical combination of multiple extra qualifications (EPQ, Core Maths, graded music exams, LAMDA, MOOCs etc.) is unbounded. In practice, however, almost every UK undergraduate course caps what they will count towards an offer. The typical rule accepts the equivalent of three full A-Level sized qualifications (for example three A-Levels, or one BTEC Extended Diploma = 3 units), plus optionally an EPQ, Welsh Bacc or Core Maths as an additional contribution. The realistic ceiling for a standard three-A-Level-plus-EPQ applicant is approximately 196 Tariff points (A*A*A* 168 + EPQ A* 28). Very few university offers require or reward scores above the 200 point band.