UCAS Tariff

The UCAS Tariff is a system which allocates points to specific qualifications for entry into Higher Education.

For example : a grade A at GCE A Level or 3 Passes at BTEC National Diploma level are both worth 120 UCAS tariff points whereas a pass at BTEC National Award level and a pass at OCR National level are both worth 40 tariff points.

The UCAS Tariff system allows you to use a range of different entry qualifications to help you get a place at university. There is no ceiling to the number of points which can be accumulated.

(Please note : gaining the required number of tariff points does not in itself guarantee a place at university ! Many other factors are taken into account and you will need to complete an application form, talk to the university admissions team and perhaps have an interview as well.)

Qualifications covered by the UCAS Tariff system include :

GCE AS Levels / AS VCE, (Grade A - 60 points, Grade B - 50 points, Grade C -  40 points, Grade D - 30 points, Grade E - 20 points)

GCE A Levels / AVCE, (Grade A - 120 points, Grade B - 100 points, Grade C - 80 points, Grade D - 60 points, Grade E - 40 points)

GCE / AVCE Double Award  (Grade AA - 240 points, Grade AB - 220 points, Grade BB - 200 points, Grade BC - 180 points, Grade CC - 160 points, Grade CD - 140 points, Grade DD - 120 points, Grade DE - 100 points, Grade EE - 80 points)

Irish Leaving Certificates: Higher, (A1 - 90 points, A2 - 77 points, B1 - 71 points, B2 - 64 points, B3 - 58 points, C1 - 52 points, C2 - 45 points, C3 - 39 points, D1 - 33 points, D2 - 26 points and D3 - 20 points)

Scottish Advanced Highers, (Grade A - 120 points, Grade B - 100 points, Grade C - 80 points, Grade D - 72 points)

Scottish Highers, (Grade A - 72 points, Grade B - 60 points, Grade C - 48 points, Grade D - 42 points)

Scottish Intermediate, (Grade A - 42 points, Grade B - 35 points, Grade C - 28 points)

BTEC Nationals : Award, (Distinction - 120 points, Merit - 80 points, Pass - 40 points)

OCR Nationals : Certificate, (Distinction - 120 points, Merit - 80 points, Pass - 40 points)

Key Skills, (Level 2 - 10 points, Level 3 - 20 points, level 4 - 30 points)

Music Examinations : ABRSM, Guildhall, LCMM, Rockschool and Trinity College London, Advanced Level Music Examinations (Practical and Theory) at Grades 6, 7, and 8

Grade 6 Practical (Distinction - 45 points, Merit - 40 points, Pass - 25 points)

Grade 6 Theory (Distinction - 15 points, Merit - 10 points, Pass - 5 points)

Grade 7 Practical (Distinction - 60 points, Merit - 55 points, Pass - 40 points)

Grade 7 Theory (Distinction - 20 points, Merit - 15 points, Pass - 10 points)

Grade 8 Practical (Distinction - 75 points, Merit - 70 points, Pass - 55 points)

Grade 8 Theory (Distinction - 30 points, Merit - 25 points, Pass - 20 points)

There is no double counting and achievement at a lower level will be subsumed into the higher level  (ie. If someone passes an AS Level and later an A level in the same subject then the higher A level points are the ones counted ) - the same principle applies to Scottish Highers and Advanced Highers, VCE A levels and Double awards, Key Skills and Music examinations at different levels or grades.

From 2008 entry onwards

Speech and Drama examinations - LAMDA, LCMM and Trinity Guildhall advanced level Speech and Drama examinations accredited by the National Qualifications Framework

British Horse Society (BHS) Awards