All About The UCAS Tariff Points!

Are you planning to study in the UK? Tuition fees, student accommodation, and adjusting to a new environment get really overwhelming. But if you're planning to study in the UK, one of the basic criteria to get into universities is the UCAS points. Well, you might be wondering what UCAS is or what UCAS points are for that instance. Essentially, UCAS Tariff points refer to the allocation of your qualifications into points so that the admission team of your preferred university can easily compare you to other applicants. These points can be accredited with any vocational or professional job you pick up, courses, or certificates. In this blog, we will dive into what UCAS points are and what importance they have while applying for schools in the UK.

What is UCAS?

The Universities and Colleges Admission Services, commonly known as UCAS, is a scoring system set up in the UK to assist universities with the admission process. The score, also known as the UCAS points, helps universities compare the qualifications of students applying to that university. Some qualifications have a numerical value that is determined by the points. However, the numerical value is not assigned to every qualification. 

The UCAS tariff points basically help the university to understand if you are eligible to apply for that particular university or not. These tariff points determine the difficulty level and the general value of the qualification. The higher the level of difficulty, the higher the tariff points. If you have any doubts or are confused, you can go through how to apply to UK universities.

UCAS Tariff Points Meaning

The points are a way to gauge the relative value of all post-16 qualifications in the UK. As we have already seen, tariff points can be earned with every type of qualification in many courses and universities. A different number of points are achieved depending on the difficulty level of qualification, the highest being A-level UCAS points. Tariff points have five different levels of difficulty, which are:

1. UCAS Tariff Points A Level

2. UCAS Tariff Points Scottish Highers

3. UCAS Tariff Points Welsh Baccalaureate

4. UCAS Tariff Points International Baccalaureate

5. UCAS Tariff Points BTEC

The 5 Levels are again divided into categories that determine the number of points that can be earned for each category in the specific level. 

Understanding the Levels of UCAS Tariff Points

As we saw previously, there are 5 Levels of tariff points. The level of the tariff points determines the difficulty level, and the points are assigned accordingly. Since we have a fair idea about how they work and how you can calculate them, let's see how many points each level or category comprises. 

1. Level A & Level AS 

The level is a common level taken by students. Levels are subject-based, where the student usually chooses 3-4 subjects to specialise in. You can refer to the following tables and analyse how your Level A or Level AS grades can turn into points. 

2. Scottish Highers & Scottish Advanced Highers

Students usually take this qualification during their final year in secondary school. It is a subject-based qualification, where students usually study 5 subjects at a higher level. The student can refer to the following UCAS points table and analyse how their Scottish Higher or Scottish Advanced Higher grades can turn into points.

3. Welsh Baccalaureate

The Welsh Baccalaureate level combines subject-based and vocational education. You can refer to the following and analyse how your Welsh Baccalaureate grades can turn into points.

4. International Baccalaureate

The International Baccalaureate is an alternative to the A level and includes six subjects. The following table shows how this level's grade is calculated; you can refer to it and analyse how your International Baccalaureate grades can turn into points.

5. BTEC

The Business and Technology Education Council (BTEC) is basically vocational qualifications available in the United Kingdom. The students can refer to the following table and analyse how their BTEC grades can turn into UCAS points.

Importance of UCAS Tariff Points

Now that you know how UCAS points to grades get converted let us look at how exactly are the A Level points used. Since your qualifications are given a numeric value and translated into points, you must be curious then how these points are further used. Well, all the universities that use Tariff Points use them to measure the students' aptitude and suitability for the institution. Some universities keep tariffs as a metric to determine entry requirements and cutoffs. At the moment, about a third of UK colleges have a tariff requirement for admissions.

How are UCAS Points Converted into Entry Standards?

The Entry Standards column does not measure the UCAS score required to get into a university. It is an average of the total points scored by potential undergraduates entering the university.

Ideal UCAS Score 

If you actually take a look, the tariff points differ from university to university, and in some cases, they vary from course to course. However, the minimum tariff score required is 112. Every university has its requirements, and you can check them out on the university websites. Earning points might seem like a task, but actually, it isn't. If you're wondering how many ucas points is a merit, here are some ways you can achieve them.

You can try participating in extracurricular activities and courses that might interest you. And without realising, you'll achieve a tariff score, which will help you while applying to the university. There is no ideal or good UCAS score, as it is different for every institution, but getting a multitude of A-level points is the best way to go. Try engaging yourself with several activities you can participate in or volunteer in.

UCAS Points Calculator

Calculating and analysing how much you have scored can get a little tedious and confusing. It is very crucial to know how to calculate UCAS points. Keeping track of how many points you have achieved and what qualifications you have, along with the level of difficulty, can be overwhelming. To help you through this, you can use the UCAS tariff calculator to calculate the tariff points you have earned. You just need to select your qualifications and the level; the subject is optional, and Voila! You can see the total UCAS tariff points you have earned. 

How can one earn UCAS Tariff Points?

Now that we have a brief idea of what these points are, let's take a look at how you can earn tariff points. In order to score points, you must complete relevant courses. With each course completion, points are gained. You can also earn points by achieving level 3 qualifications through college or school. The minimum UCAS points are generally 112. However, the number might vary depending on which university you wish to study in. 

One can also earn extra points by participating in extracurricular activities in school or even volunteering in several activities. For instance, students can earn almost 8 points if they complete a volunteer programme at ASDAN (Award Scheme Development and Accreditation Network) or 16 points for the certificate. Students can also showcase their English skills through the ESOL qualification and earn uCAS tariff points between 12-42.

What if my UCAS Tariff Scores are not ideal?

While we wish you the best on your journey to further studies and education, there are chances that sometimes things may not go your way. Don't stress. After converting your UCAS points to grades, or rather your grades to points, if the scores do not add up well, you can still salvage something!

1. Resit Your Exams 

If you didn't get the grades you had hoped for and got scores that have a stray D or C in them, attempting those subjects again for your exams can be a major help and help you get your UCAS scores up! This method is only helpful if you have poor grades in one or two subjects only, because usually most institutions only allow up to two resits.

2. Resit the Entire Course

If you receive unfavourable grades in more than two subjects, resitting the entire module can be beneficial in helping you get better A Level UCAS points as well as building a foundation in the subjects that you aren't confident in! You can even sit in fast-track courses that help you finish the entire module in a year. The important thing is to not panic and chase after those A Level UCAS points, best of luck!

Do all Universities Require UCAS Tariff Points?

Absolutely not! As we mentioned earlier, the minimum tariff score differs for different institutions. Some universities do not require tariff points, and those universities consider your final grades instead. Universities require your A-levels or equivalent qualifications. It is key that you know the conversion of UCAS points to grades to have clarity on where you stand. One can check which universities need these points for admission with the help of the UCAS search tool! You can check the hardest and easiest UK universities and see if they require tariff points. We have listed down the top 10 universities whose entry requirements require a UCAS score to apply to the university. 

1. The University of Manchester
2. University of Leeds
3. Newcastle University
4. Manchester Metropolitan University
5. University of Cambridge
6. University of Oxford
7. Imperial College London
8. King's College London
9. Cardiff University
10. Durham University

Since not every qualification gains points, it does not mean that your UCAS score is the only thing that will be considered. The university may consider your application, but make sure that you are looking at each institution's entry requirements. Additionally, keep in mind that the highest level of tariff points is considered. 

That means your Scottish higher points and Advanced Highers points are for separate subjects and cannot be combined. You can check the latest updates of UCAS here for further information! We hope this gave you a fair idea of the crux and working of tariff points. Hope you find your ideal pick!