A-Level Grades UCAS Points: A*-E Tariff Table

A university course asks for tariff points. Your predicted grades are letters. Suddenly, a simple entry requirement feels like two different languages.

The A-level grades UCAS points conversion is straightforward: an $A^{\ast }$ is worth $56$ points, an $A$ is worth $48$, and each lower passing grade is worth $8$ fewer points. Add the values for the qualifications a course accepts to find your potential total.

The arithmetic is easy. The important part is checking whether your chosen course uses tariff points at all.

A-level tariff points table

The current UCAS Tariff gives the following values to a standard full A Level:

These values apply across subjects and recognised A-level exam boards, including AQA, Pearson Edexcel, OCR, Eduqas and CCEA. An $A$ in Mathematics has the same tariff value as an $A$ in another A-level subject, although a university may still require a particular subject or grade.

A student converts a letter grade into tariff points

How to calculate your UCAS Tariff total

Use this short checklist:

• Write down each accepted Level $3$ qualification.
• Find the tariff value of each achieved or predicted grade.
• Add the values together.
• Check whether the course limits which qualifications count.
• Read the full entry requirements for subject and GCSE conditions.

For A Levels alone, the calculation can be represented as:

$$Total\; tariff\; points=points\; from\; subject1+points\; from\; subject2+\cdots$$

Do not assume every qualification on your application will automatically count. A course might consider only your highest-scoring qualifications, reject duplicated content or require tariff points from particular subjects.

What UCAS points do and do not tell you

UCAS Tariff points turn eligible post-$16$ qualifications into a common numerical measure. Some universities, colleges and conservatoires use that measure when stating entry requirements.

However, tariff points are not a universal admissions currency. Universities set their own requirements, and many courses make grade-based offers such as specific A-level grades instead. Others combine a total tariff requirement with a condition such as a particular grade in Mathematics.

That distinction matters. A sufficient total does not override a named subject requirement.

A student chooses between grade and tariff entry routes

Do GCSE grades earn UCAS points?

GCSEs are Level $2$ qualifications, so they do not receive UCAS Tariff points. Yet they can still influence an application because courses may ask for specific GCSE results, often including English language and mathematics.

For students currently preparing for GCSEs, this creates a useful distinction:

• GCSE grades may satisfy separate course-entry conditions.
• A Levels and other eligible Level $3$ qualifications may contribute tariff points.
• Your sixth-form or college entry requirements may also affect which A Levels you can take.

Your immediate task is therefore still your GCSE revision. Use the GCSE Maths revision hub to choose Edexcel, AQA, OCR or Eduqas resources, then build confidence with GCSE mini tests and exam-board past papers.

Planning from GCSE to A Level

Tariff tables can make the future look like a neat calculation. Real progress is less tidy. It comes from collecting marks topic by topic, correcting errors and returning to difficult questions.

If you are considering A-level Mathematics, explore the GCSE-to-A-Level curriculum guide and the A Level Maths revision resources. Later, timed Edexcel A Level past papers, mark schemes and worked solutions can show where grades are being won or lost.

Remember that tariff values are fixed, but raw mark requirements are not. Grade boundaries can vary between exam series because papers differ in difficulty. Check MathsGenie's GCSE, IGCSE and A Level grade boundaries rather than assuming that one percentage always guarantees one grade.

Common mistakes when converting grades

Using the old tariff scale

Older resources may show much larger figures. Use the current table, where an $A^{\ast }$ at A Level is worth $56$ points.

Giving GCSEs tariff points

GCSE results may be required by a university, but they do not add to your UCAS Tariff total.

Treating an AS Level as a full A Level

An AS qualification has its own lower tariff values. Do not use the full A-level table for an AS grade.

Adding every qualification automatically

A qualification having a tariff value does not guarantee that a particular course will accept it. Check the provider's conditions carefully.

Ignoring named grades or subjects

A tariff total cannot replace a specific requirement unless the course says it can. Read beyond the headline number.

Turn the table into a revision target

The A-level tariff points table gives you clarity, not certainty. Use it to translate grades, then return to the work that changes those grades: learning methods, answering questions and marking honestly.

Start with MathsGenie's free revision lessons and practice questions. Build speed through mini tests, then use past papers, predicted papers, mark schemes and video solutions under timed conditions. When you want to connect marks with likely grades, visit the grade boundaries page and make your next revision target specific.

Frequently Asked Questions

How many UCAS points is an A* at A Level?

An $A^{\ast }$ in a standard full A Level is worth $56$ UCAS Tariff points.

How many UCAS points are A, B and C grades worth?

At A Level, an $A$ is worth $48$ points, a $B$ is worth $40$, and a $C$ is worth $32$.

Do GCSE grades add to my UCAS points?

No. GCSEs are Level $2$ qualifications and do not receive UCAS Tariff points, although universities may require particular GCSE grades.

Do all universities use UCAS Tariff points?

No. Some courses use tariff totals, while others ask for specific qualifications, subjects and grades. Always check the individual course requirements.

Is an AS Level worth the same number of points as an A Level?

No. An AS Level has separate, lower tariff values because it is a smaller qualification. Use the official tariff value for the exact qualification taken.