How UCAS points work (2026): the tariff tables for A-level, AS and EPQ, and what offers really ask for

"You need 120 UCAS points" sounds precise, but the tariff confuses almost everyone, partly because the numbers changed in 2017 and old totals still float around, and partly because many of the universities students most want to attend do not actually use points at all. This guide gives you the exact 2026 tariff values for A-levels, AS levels and the EPQ, shows how they add up, and explains when points matter and when grades are what really count.

What the tariff is for

The UCAS Tariff is a way of giving different Level 3 (post-16) qualifications a common currency of points, so a university can set an entry requirement that a mix of qualifications can satisfy. A student doing three A-levels, a student doing a BTEC, and a student combining A-levels with an EPQ can all be measured against the same points total.

Two boundaries to set immediately:

• Tariff points apply only to Level 3 / SCQF Level 6 qualifications. GCSEs are Level 2 and earn no tariff points. Your GCSEs matter for entry requirements (many courses ask for GCSE English and maths at grade 4 or above), but they do not feed the points total.
• The tariff is optional for universities. UCAS publishes it; each university chooses whether to use points, grades, or both. A great many of the most competitive courses ignore points and ask for grades.

The A-level tariff (2026)

The current values for a full A-level:

So three A-levels at grades A, A, B come to 48 + 48 + 40 = 136 points. Three Cs come to 96. The gap between adjacent grades is a steady 8 points per grade.

The AS-level tariff (2026)

An AS level is half the size of an A-level and is positioned by UCAS at roughly 40% of the A-level value at each grade. The values:

Note there is no A* at AS level. An AS grade A (20 points) is worth less than an A-level grade C (32 points), which surprises students; it reflects that an AS is a smaller, less demanding qualification than a full A-level.

The EPQ tariff (2026)

The Extended Project Qualification is a standalone research project worth, for tariff purposes, half the size of an A-level, but unlike the AS it is considered to operate at the same level of demand as an A-level. Its values:

An EPQ at A* (28 points) is worth half an A-level grade A* (56). Crucially, many universities make a reduced offer in exchange for a strong EPQ (for example, "AAB, or ABB with an A in the EPQ"), which can matter far more than the raw 28 points. More on that in our choosing-your-A-levels guide.

How points add up: a worked example

A made-up applicant studying three A-levels and an EPQ achieves:

• A-level Biology: grade A = 48
• A-level Chemistry: grade B = 40
• A-level Maths: grade B = 40
• EPQ: grade A = 24

Total: 48 + 40 + 40 + 24 = 152 UCAS points.

If a course's offer were "120 points from three A-levels", this applicant clears it comfortably on the A-levels alone (128 from ABB) before the EPQ is even counted. If the offer were "AAB", however, the same applicant misses it, because they got ABB, and the points total is irrelevant to a grades-based offer. This is the trap.

Points offers vs grade offers

Universities write offers in one of two ways:

• Grade offers, e.g. "AAA", "AAB", "BBC". You must achieve those specific grades (sometimes with a named subject, e.g. "A in Chemistry"). The selective universities, including all of the Russell Group, overwhelmingly use grade offers. Points are not how they decide.
• Points offers, e.g. "112 UCAS points". Common at universities and courses with broader intakes, and useful because they let an applicant reach the total through different combinations of qualifications. Many post-1992 universities and a lot of vocational and arts courses use points.

A rough sense of typical requirements (these vary enormously by course and institution, so treat them as orientation, not gospel):

• Highly selective courses (Oxbridge, medicine, top Russell Group): grade offers around A*AA to AAA.
• Selective courses: grade offers around AAB to ABB (roughly 128-136 points if expressed as points, but usually expressed as grades).
• Mid-tariff courses: often 112-120 points (around BBC to BBB).
• Lower-tariff and many foundation-year routes: 48-96 points and upwards.

What does and does not count

• Counts: A-levels, AS levels, the EPQ, BTECs and other Level 3 vocational qualifications, Scottish Highers and Advanced Highers, the International Baccalaureate, and more. Each has its own tariff line published by UCAS.
• Does not count: GCSEs (Level 2), and qualifications below Level 3 generally. The core maths qualification and general studies are accepted by some universities but rejected by others, so never assume a borderline qualification will count towards an offer.
• Usually capped: most universities count your three main A-levels (or equivalent) for a grades offer and will state how additional qualifications such as the EPQ are treated. You cannot usually "stack" extra small qualifications indefinitely to inflate a points total for a selective course.

What this means for you

• Learn the current tariff, not the old one. A-level A = 48, B = 40, C = 32. If a source quotes 120 for an A, it is out of date.
• Read your offer's currency. Grade offer or points offer? Named subjects? This determines exactly what you must achieve in August.
• Use the EPQ strategically. Its points are modest, but a strong EPQ frequently unlocks a one-grade-lower offer, which is worth far more.
• Do not chase points for selective courses. For Russell Group and similar, the grades in the offer are everything; the points total is a distraction.

In summary

UCAS points turn your Level 3 results into one number: A-level A* = 56 down to E = 16, AS A = 20 down to E = 6, EPQ A* = 28 down to E = 8. Add up your qualifications for a total, but remember that many universities, especially selective ones, make grade offers, so the precise grades, not the points, are what you must hit. Know the current numbers, read the offer's wording, and let the EPQ work as a grade-reducer rather than as a points top-up.