UCAS points are how many UK universities turn exam grades into a single number. If a course asks for 120 UCAS points, your child needs A Level results that add up to at least 120, rather than one fixed set of grades. This guide explains how UCAS points work, what each A Level grade is worth and what families in Dubai should know about International A Levels.
What Are UCAS Points?
UCAS points, officially called UCAS Tariff points, give a value to Level 3 qualifications such as A Levels, AS Levels and the Extended Project Qualification (EPQ). UCAS is the organisation that runs undergraduate applications to UK universities.
Universities use the points in one of two ways:
- Offers in points: for example, “112 UCAS points”, which a student can reach with different grade combinations.
- Offers in grades: for example, “AAB”, where each grade must be met. Many of the most selective universities make offers this way and do not use points at all.
IGCSE and GCSE grades do not carry UCAS points. Universities still look at them, but they are not part of the points total.
The Tariff is a UK system. Universities in the UAE, the US and other countries set their own entry requirements, and many of them read A Level grades directly rather than converting them into points.
UCAS Points Table for A Level
| A Level grade | UCAS points |
|---|---|
| A* | 56 |
| A | 48 |
| B | 40 |
| C | 32 |
| D | 24 |
| E | 16 |
Each step up the scale is worth 8 points, so moving from a B to an A in one subject adds 8 points to the total.
UCAS Points for AS Level and the EPQ
| Grade | AS Level points | EPQ points |
|---|---|---|
| A* | Not awarded | 28 |
| A | 20 | 24 |
| B | 16 | 20 |
| C | 12 | 16 |
| D | 10 | 12 |
| E | 6 | 8 |
An AS Level is worth less than half of a full A Level at the same grade. Some universities do not count AS Levels or the EPQ in their offers, so always check the course page.
How to Work Out Your UCAS Points
Add together the points for every qualification the course counts. These are common three A Level combinations:
| A Level grades | Total points |
|---|---|
| A*A*A* | 168 |
| AAA | 144 |
| AAB | 136 |
| ABB | 128 |
| BBB | 120 |
| BBC | 112 |
| CCC | 96 |
An EPQ at grade A would add 24 points to any of these totals. For mixed qualifications, UCAS offers a free Tariff calculator on its website.
For example, a student with an A in Maths, a B in Physics, a B in Chemistry and a B in the EPQ has 48 + 40 + 40 + 20 = 148 points. If the university does not count the EPQ, the total is 128.
Points Offers Still Have Conditions
An offer in points often comes with subject conditions. A course might ask for 120 points including a B in Biology, or state that points from AS Levels or the EPQ do not count.
That means a student with 128 points but a C in the required subject would not meet the offer. The total matters, but the required grades matter more.
Do International A Levels Carry UCAS Points?
Many British curriculum schools in Dubai teach International A Levels from Pearson Edexcel or Cambridge. UCAS states that International AS and A Levels do not attract Tariff points on its scale, and Cambridge International confirms the same for its qualifications.
This does not hold students back. UK universities accept International A Levels as equal to UK A Levels grade for grade, so an A* in a Pearson Edexcel International A Level carries the same weight as an A* in a UK A Level.
When a course makes its offer in points, check the international entry requirements on the course page or ask the admissions team for the grade equivalent. Our guide to university pathways in Dubai covers the wider application process.
How to Plan for the Points You Need
Planning works best when it starts before Year 12. These steps keep a student on track from subject choices to final exams:
- Start with the course, not the points. Look up the entry requirements for a few courses your child is interested in.
- Check how each offer is written. Note whether it asks for points or grades, and which subjects are required.
- Choose subjects that fit. Choices start earlier than many families expect, because IGCSE subjects shape which A Levels a student can take.
- Use mock exams well. Mock results help teachers set the predicted grades that go on the UCAS application.
- Aim above the offer. A margin of one grade gives room if one exam goes less well than planned.
The points total only matters when a course uses points. For an offer in grades, the focus is simply on reaching each required grade.
UCAS Points and the Exam Timeline
Points come from final exam results, but the decisions that shape them start two years earlier.
| Stage | What happens |
|---|---|
| Year 11 | IGCSE exams. Results and subject strengths guide A Level choices |
| Year 12 | A Level or AS teaching, internal assessments and the first mock exams |
| Year 13, autumn | Teachers set predicted grades and students send their UCAS application. Oxford, Cambridge and most medicine courses close in October, and most other courses in January |
| Year 13, spring | Universities reply with offers, usually conditional on final grades |
| Year 13, summer | Final exams in May and June, results in August, then offers are confirmed |
Because offers arrive before the exams, predicted grades and mock results carry real weight in Year 12 and the first term of Year 13.
UCAS Points and Sixth Form at Dubai Scholars
Sixth Form at Dubai Scholars offers International A Levels (AS and A2), with Pearson Edexcel International Advanced Level and Cambridge (CAIE) qualifications, and prepares students for university and life beyond school.
How many A Levels a student takes depends on what the target university requires or the points the course asks for. The most common combination is three full A Levels.
To see Sixth Form life for yourself, book a school tour.
Frequently Asked Questions
How many UCAS points is an A*?
An A* at A Level is worth 56 UCAS points. An A is worth 48 and a B is worth 40.
How many UCAS points do I need for university?
It depends on the course and the university. Some course pages list a points total, such as 112 or 128, while the most selective universities ask for specific grades instead.
How many UCAS points are three A grades?
AAA at A Level is worth 144 UCAS points.
Do IGCSE results count towards UCAS points?
No. The Tariff only applies to Level 3 qualifications such as A Levels. Universities may still look at IGCSE grades as part of the application.
Do International A Levels count for UCAS points?
Not officially. UCAS does not attach Tariff points to International AS and A Levels, but UK universities accept them as equal to UK A Levels grade for grade.
Does the EPQ give UCAS points?
Yes. An A* in the EPQ is worth 28 points, half the value of an A* at A Level. Some universities do not count the EPQ in their offers.
When do students know their final points total?
In August of Year 13, when A Level results are published. Until then, universities make conditional offers based on predicted grades.
