What are UCAS points made up of?

When a University wants let's say, 300 points for example - are those points taken from your last year of college/sixth form (your results from 3 subjects at A2) or are they made up from the results your received at AS too? (Combined AS & A2 ???)

Reply 1

KH94

Original post by caitlinlouise97

AS and A2 are on the UCAS Tariff. However it is your final result that gives you the points. If you take 3 subjects, but only 2 at A2 your A2 subjects will get points and your AS will get half as many.

Take a look on the UCAS website at the Tariff.

Each grade gets a certain number of points, for example at AS an A is worth 60, but at full A-level it is worth 120. An E is 20 at AS and 40 at A2.

Hope this helps.

Reply 2

caitlinlouise97

Original post by KH94

Thanks for answering :smile:

So, basically the points you get at A2 are double the points at AS?

Reply 3

KH94

Original post by caitlinlouise97

Thanks for answering :smile:

So, basically the points you get at A2 are double the points at AS?

Yes, they are double. The A2 is worth double but cancels out the AS so you don't get say 20+40 for A-level you just get 40, but if you did not continue to full A-level you would get 20 for that and 40 in your other subjects. Each grade you go up is 10 points more 20 (E), 30 (D), 40 (C), 50 (B), 60 (A), then twice as much at A-level so 20 more points for each grade 40 (E), 60 (D), 80 (C), 100 (B), 120 (A), 140 (A*). Then your 3 subjects are added up to create your UCAS Tariff Points. So if you get AAB you would get 120+120+100=340 or if your B was at AS for example, then it would be 120+120+50 = 290.

For Higher Education you will usually be asked for a certain number of points or certain grades. Usually it is 280 upwards. Some places don't use the UCAS system to offer places, but many do and it is well worth knowing how to get the points you need. The system is rather complicated in that the number of points are random such as starting at 20 rather than 5 or 10, however the good thing with the system is higher grade = more points so if you get top grades you will have no issue in getting the points you need.

Good luck. Let me know if you need any further explanation.