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A-Level UCAS Points

The official 2017-reform UCAS Tariff values for GCE A-Levels and AS-Levels for the 2025 and 2026 application cycles. Exact grade-by-grade lookup table, half-scale AS-Level points, visual A-Level equivalence charts across BTEC and IB, and the counting rules most applicants get wrong.

Short answer: A-Level UCAS points range from 16 for a grade E up to 56 for an A*, per subject. A typical three-A-Level offer of AAA equals 144 points on the current scale, A*A*A* equals 168 points, ABB equals 128 points and BBC equals 112 points. AS-Levels are tariffed at exactly half the A-Level scale and can be stacked with full A-Levels only in different subjects.

Calculate your total now Open full Tariff table

A-Level UCAS Points Grade-by-Grade Table

Every linear A-Level grade maps to a fixed UCAS Tariff value on the 2017 reform scale. The right column shows the total Tariff points when a grade is taken three-times as the standard three-A-Level offer.

A-Level grade to UCAS Tariff points lookup table — 2017 reform scale
A-Level gradePoints per subjectThree-subject totalTypical course benchmark
A*56A*A*A* = 168Competitive for medicine, Oxbridge, law, top STEM
A48AAA = 144Russell Group standard non-vocational baseline
B40BBB = 120Mid-tariff post-1992 university standard
C32CCC = 96Common foundation year and extended degree threshold
D24DDD = 72Clearing lower band and select FE to HE routes
E16EEE = 48Minimum tariffed threshold for three passes

AS-Level UCAS Points (Half-Scale)

AS-Levels are tariffed at exactly 50% of the corresponding full A-Level value — compare grade A AS (24) against grade A A-Level (48) to confirm. AS results can be counted towards the Tariff alongside A-Levels only if the subjects are different.

AS-Level to UCAS Tariff points
AS gradePoints per subjectFull A-Level equivalent
A24Matches A-Level A = 48 (roughly one grade lower when converting AS to full)
B20Matches A-Level B = 40 (roughly one grade lower when converting AS to full)
C16Matches A-Level C = 32 (roughly one grade lower when converting AS to full)
D12Matches A-Level D = 24 (roughly one grade lower when converting AS to full)
E8Matches A-Level E = 16 (roughly one grade lower when converting AS to full)

How A-Levels Compare to BTEC and IB UCAS Points

The bar chart below visualises a single A-Level sized unit, so you can directly compare one A-Level grade, one BTEC Subsidiary Diploma grade letter and one IB Higher Level grade number on the same 16–56 points scale.

  • A-Level A*56 pts
  • BTEC Subsidiary D* / IB HL 756 pts
  • A-Level A / BTEC D / Adv Higher A Band-1 / IB HL 648 pts
  • A-Level B / BTEC M / IB HL 540 pts
  • A-Level C / BTEC P / IB HL 432 pts
  • A-Level D / Higher A Band-224 pts
  • A-Level E / EPQ C16 pts

A-Level Tariff Rules and Common Counting Gotchas

Why was the 2017 A-Level Tariff reform introduced?

Before September 2017 UCAS used a much larger numeric scale where an A-Level A* was worth 140 points and AAA equalled 360 points. That old scale is now retired. In the 2017 reform every qualification was rescaled proportionally down so A* became 56 points, with all other grades following step-by-step 8-point intervals (56, 48, 40, 32, 24, 16). All 2025 and 2026 entry uses the compressed 2017 reform scale, so never mix figures from the two scales — it will massively inflate your total.

Which A-Level combinations cannot be double-counted?

  • Same subject AS + full A-Level: UCAS takes the larger value only. If AS Maths B (20) becomes full A-Level Maths B (40), only the 40-point result counts — not both added together.
  • Certificate of Financial Studies (CeFS) / similar Level 2/3 overlaps: A few legacy qualifications share units with Level 2 certificates — UCAS lists prohibited combinations in the full Tariff guide, and the university holds the final decision.
  • Creative / performing arts graded unit awards: Graded music and LAMDA certificates do have Tariff values, but Russell Group and high-tariff courses frequently exclude them from counting towards a formal offer even though they are tariffed by UCAS.

Do universities count every A-Level result or only the best three?

Most UK universities count your best three A-Level results as the core academic baseline. A fourth A-Level, an EPQ, Core Maths, a fourth AS (in a different subject) or a graded music qualification may or may not be accepted as additional contribution. A high Tariff total alone never guarantees an offer — subject-specific requirements (for example A-Level Chemistry at grade A for medicine) usually override a raw points total.

A-Level UCAS Points — Frequently Asked Questions

How many UCAS points is an A-Level A* grade?

An A-Level A* grade is worth exactly 56 UCAS Tariff points on the 2017 reform scale used for 2025 and 2026 entry. This replaces the old pre-2017 figure of 140 points per A* — any site showing 140 points for an A-Level A* is using the retired scale.

Do AS-Levels count if I continue to full A-Level in the same subject?

No. If you take the same subject from AS-Level to full A-Level, UCAS only counts the larger value (the A-Level grade). You cannot stack or double-count the AS and full A-Level Tariff values for the same subject. Different subjects at AS and full A-Level can both be counted normally.

How many UCAS points is AAA at A-Level and what is the maximum with three subjects?

AAA at A-Level equals 144 UCAS Tariff points (48 + 48 + 48). The maximum possible Tariff total with three linear A-Levels is A*A*A* = 168 points (56 + 56 + 56). Adding an EPQ A* (28) typically takes a strong three-A-Level profile up to 196 points total.

Are A-Level resits and retakes counted differently in the UCAS Tariff?

No. UCAS counts the highest awarded grade per subject regardless of whether it was a first sit or a retake, and the Tariff points value is identical. There is no weighting, penalty or 'retake badge' applied to A-Level resit results in the UCAS Tariff table itself — however a university can choose to set resit rules separately for an individual course offer.