UCAS Tariff Table 2023

UCAS Tariff Table In The 2024 Entry

If you’re new to the UCAS Tariff Table, it can be confusing to navigate. However, don’t worry - it’s pretty easy to work out.

The A-levels you complete equate to UCAS tariff points - the table is here to help convert A-levels and other qualifications into the appropriate points. 

This point system is used by some universities to assess how suited a candidate will be. You’ll need to learn how UCAS tariff points work to succeed.

Understanding the Table

The tariff points that you earn are used to collect information that government organisations use to learn about the higher education system in the UK. When it comes to your UCAS undergraduate application, you need to remember that only some universities include tariff points as part of their entry requirements.

Generally speaking, the rule for working out a score is that higher grades equate to higher scores. We’ll give a proper breakdown of scores later on.

If you use the search tool and look at courses, you’ll find that each university has certain entry requirements. You’ll find that some require grades, whereas others put an emphasis on points. For example, you might need 144 UCAS points for a course.

Qualifications are updated every year, and you may need to speak to your chosen university if you can’t see your qualification on the list. The table is used mostly for UCAS undergraduate entry submissions. You’ll need to know what your undergraduate entry requirements are.

Why do Universities Need the Table?

The table was first made back in 2001 as a way to address the growing number of different qualifications that were coming into mainstream usage. Things like BTECs and apprenticeships were more popular than ever before. The result was the tariff table - a method to convert all qualifications into a single value.

Does the UCAS Tariff System Always Apply?

There are some qualifications which won’t immediately appear on the list - don’t worry. The types of qualifications are constantly updating, so if the course you’ve taken doesn’t appear, it may have only just been added to the system,

There are some qualifications which are not included in the table because they’re not worth any points in the system. This restriction only applies to the GCSE and Level 2 qualifications. Everything above that will be counted.

International students need to check if their qualifications have an equivalent value here - most major universities accept qualifications if they’re the same value as GCSE or A-Level.

UCAS Points at A-Level

If you’ve taken the same subject for both your AS and A-Level, then your college or university will only count the A-Level, because it’s the more advanced qualification.

However, the AS Levels you take do still count. They’re only worth 40% of your full A-Level at best, but this can still count and help with your entry.

The Table for A-Level Tariff Points

  • UCAS provides a calculator for your total A-level tariff score. Let’s take a look at the value of each qualification.

A-Level Grades

A* = 56 Points

A = 48 Points

B = 40 Points

C = 32 Points

D = 24 Points

E = 16 Points

AS Level Grades

A* = 56 Points

A = 20 Points

B = 16 Points

C = 12 Points

D = 10 Points

E = 4 Points

Using the UCAS Tariff Points Table

  • Not all universities use the tariff system. Grades are usually the required entry deciders - ⅔ of all institutions don’t use the point system.

  • Those universities which do use the points may also combine the number of points with grades to determine entry.

The New Table

The UCAS table system has been in practice since 2001. However, it regularly sees updates to reflect changes to qualifications and new vocational courses. The “new” table was introduced in 2017 after reviews found that the old model was ineffective. All qualifications, including vocational and non-traditional courses, now received equal consideration.

While the new system does allow for more non-traditional courses to be included, this doesn’t change the level of difficulty involved in getting into specific courses. The purpose of the course is to simply make it so that more qualifications and courses can be used to apply for university and expand the number of people who can access higher education through non-traditional routes.

A prime example is to look at the traditional A-level as a qualification. The old system would have seen A* grades worth 140 points. However, the new system makes it worth only 56 points. The value of the grade hasn’t changed, just the number of available points for each applicant.

The points calculator changes to be as fair and broadly covering as possible - to help as many candidates as possible get into university.

How This Will Affect You

The average student probably doesn’t care how their points are calculated and are more concentrated on their results and studying, which is understandable. However, it’s always useful to know how it works in case you need to use alternative qualifications.

Ultimately, it shouldn’t impact the decisions you make when it comes to studying. It answers questions like “is 120 UCAS points good?” but otherwise, it’s mostly extra knowledge.

You’ll still be expected to reach the requirements for entry one way or the other - it’s only really worth knowing about all the points and their value if you’re going to approach university from a non-traditional route like an apprenticeship.

The only real difference under the new system is that the AS level results don’t get as many points as they would have done in the past, but that’s neither here nor there - they’re only ever auxiliary qualifications.

The best thing you can do is take a look at the UCAS website if you have any questions about your application. You can also ask your teachers and mentors about the system - they can explain it to you properly.

The best thing you can do is pick a course which is reflective of your strengths and passions - if you can do something well, then it’s recommended you do it.