UCAS Tariff Points Calculator: How to Convert Your Grades

UCAS Tariff Points Calculator: How to Convert Your Grades

Checking whether you meet a university offer gets confusing fast when your grades come from different qualification types. A-level letters, BTEC grade combos, and IB scores out of 45 do not compare directly. This guide gives you the exact conversion method and the full points table.

What Is a UCAS Tariff Points Calculator?

A UCAS tariff points calculator is a free online tool that converts exam grades, including A-levels, BTECs, IB, and Scottish Highers, into a single UCAS points total. You then compare that total against a course's published entry requirements.

The system exists because these qualifications are not naturally comparable. An A-level grade and a BTEC Distinction measure very different things. The tariff gives universities one common scale to work with.

UK and international applicants, parents, and school advisors all use tariff calculators when shortlisting courses. Not every course sets a tariff points requirement. Oxbridge and most medicine courses ask for specific grades instead, so always check the course page directly.

How Do You Convert A-Levels to UCAS Points?

An A* is worth 56 points, an A is 48, a B is 40, a C is 32, a D is 24, and an E is 16. Add the points from every A-level you are counting toward your application.

The table below shows the full A-level scale plus AS-level values, which carry roughly 40 percent of the full A-level weight.

Grade	A-Level Points	AS-Level Points
A*	56	Not applicable
A	48	20
B	40	16
C	32	12
D	24	8
E	16	4

Three A-levels at ABB give you 48 plus 40 plus 40, which totals 128 points. Only count qualifications your target course actually accepts. Our A-level subjects guide can help if you are still deciding which subjects to keep.

UCAS Points Table and Values for All Qualifications

Tariff values differ by qualification type and grade, even at the top band. The table below compares the highest grade in each common Level 3 qualification side by side.

Qualification	Top Grade	UCAS Points
A-level	A*	56
BTEC Extended Certificate	D*	56
IB Higher Level subject	7	56
Scottish Advanced Higher	A	56
Scottish Higher	A	33
EPQ	A*	28

Values change occasionally, so always cross-check with UCAS's official tariff tables before submitting an application. An EPQ adds bonus points on top of your main qualifications rather than replacing them.

How Do You Calculate BTEC and IB UCAS Points?

BTEC Extended Diplomas convert grade by grade, so D*D*D* equals 168 points. IB points come from a separate subject-by-subject table rather than your overall 45-point Diploma score. The two systems are not calculated the same way.

BTEC Diploma and Extended Diploma Conversion

BTEC size matters as much as grade. A Diploma is sized like two A-levels, while an Extended Diploma is sized like three.

Grade Combination	Diploma (2 A-Level Size)	Extended Diploma (3 A-Level Size)
PP / PPP	32	48
MM / MMM	64	96
DM / DMM	80	112
DD / DDD	96	144
D*D* / D*D*D*	112	168

DDD on an Extended Diploma equals 144 points, the same total as AAA at A-level. A single grade shift, say DMM to DDM, moves your total by 16 points.

IB Diploma Points Conversion

Each Higher Level subject, each Standard Level subject, and your combined Theory of Knowledge and Extended Essay grade all score separately. Your headline Diploma score out of 45 is not used directly.

Grade	Higher Level Points	Standard Level Points
7	56	28
6	48	24
5	32	16
4	24	12
3	12	6

Your TOK and Extended Essay core grade adds points too, from 12 for an A down to 4 for an E. CAS earns no tariff points, even though it is required to pass the Diploma. Browse our IB Diploma subject options if you are still building your subject combination.

How Many UCAS Points Do You Need for University?

Requirements vary hugely by course and institution. Competitive courses often ask for 160 or more points, while some accept under 100. Many universities set grade-specific offers instead of a tariff total altogether.

• Selective universities: often 112 to 168 points, or grade-specific offers like AAB
• Post-92 universities: frequently 64 to 112 points
• Clearing: point requirements shift daily based on remaining course places

A grade-specific offer, such as AAB, cannot always be satisfied by an equivalent points total from a different mix of qualifications. Always read the exact wording on the course page.

How Do You Use a UCAS Tariff Calculator Correctly?

Follow these steps to build an accurate total without common mistakes.

1. Select each qualification type you are counting, one at a time.
2. Enter your predicted or confirmed grade for every qualification.
3. Let the calculator generate the points value for each entry automatically.
4. Add every generated value together for your running total.
5. Compare that total against your target course's published requirement.

Two mistakes trip students up most often. Counting an AS-level in a subject you carried through to full A-level double counts points that no longer apply. Including a qualification your course does not accept on the tariff also inflates your total inaccurately.

Predicted grades work for early planning, but only confirmed results count toward a firm or insurance offer. Update your calculator entries the moment results day results land.

Conclusion

UCAS tariff points give every qualification type a common currency, but they are not a guarantee of a place. Course-specific and grade-specific requirements still apply on top of your points total.

Run your own predicted or confirmed grades through a calculator now. Then cross-check that total against your target course's entry page well before application deadlines.