Cambridge Technicals UCAS Points: The 2026 Table

Quick answer: A Cambridge Technicals Extended Diploma is worth up to 168 UCAS points (D*D*D*) — the same as three A* A-levels. Single-grade sizes range from 8 points (Certificate Pass) to 56 (Extended Certificate Distinction*). Cambridge Technicals use exactly the same Tariff scale as BTEC.

Cambridge Technicals are Level 3 vocational qualifications awarded by OCR. For 2026 entry, they carry full UCAS Tariff points — and because they share the BTEC scale, working out your total is simple once you know your size and grade. Below you'll find the complete table, a worked example, and exactly what each grade is worth.

Work out your Cambridge Technicals points now

Use the calculator above the page to get your exact total. Pick your qualification size — Certificate, Extended Certificate, Foundation Diploma, Diploma or Extended Diploma — then choose your grade or grades, and the tool returns your points instantly. Want the standalone version? Open the full Cambridge Technicals calculator, or add other qualifications if you're studying more than one thing.

How to use this calculator

1. Choose your qualification size. Certificate, Extended Certificate, Foundation Diploma, Diploma or Extended Diploma — this is the "size" printed on your course title.
2. Select the grade for each. Distinction*, Distinction, Merit or Pass. Bigger sizes carry more grades (a Diploma has two, an Extended Diploma has three).
3. Read your total. The number you see is your UCAS Tariff total for that qualification.

Enter only your Cambridge Technical here. If you're also taking A-levels, an EPQ or Core Maths, mix qualifications and add them up separately so nothing gets double-counted.

Worked example: an Extended Diploma at DDM

Say you're predicted DDM in a Cambridge Technicals Extended Diploma. That's 128 UCAS points. To put that in context, 128 points is exactly the same as A-level ABB — a strong, in-range score for a wide spread of degree courses, including many business, IT, health and sport pathways. So a DDM Extended Diploma isn't a "lesser" result on the Tariff: it lines up grade-for-points with solid A-level offers. See what 128 points unlocks, or compare ABB to see how the two match up.

The full Cambridge Technicals points table

Here is every Cambridge Technicals size and grade for 2026 entry. The values match BTEC exactly, size for size and grade for grade — so if you've seen a BTEC table, this will look familiar. Distinction* is the top grade, then Distinction, Merit and Pass. The more grades a size carries, the higher its ceiling: a single Certificate tops out at 28 points, while a three-grade Extended Diploma reaches 168.

For the underlying scale (a single Distinction* = 56, Distinction = 48, Merit = 32, Pass = 16 at Extended Certificate level), see the BTEC points table — Cambridge Technicals follow it precisely.

Single-grade sizes: Certificate & Extended Certificate

These sizes report one overall grade, so the maths is straightforward.

An Extended Certificate Distinction* is worth 56 points — exactly the same as one A* A-level. The smaller Certificate is half the size, so its values are roughly half too.

Two- and three-grade sizes: Diploma & Extended Diploma

Larger sizes report two or three grades, and your points are the sum of those grades on the same scale.

Foundation Diploma (one grade): D* = 84 · D = 72 · M = 48 · P = 24

Because the scale is shared, you can see the DDD Extended Diploma row (144 points) and DMM (112 points) explained on our BTEC grade pages — the points are identical.

How OCR grades convert to points

OCR grades Cambridge Technicals as Distinction* (D*), Distinction (D), Merit (M) and Pass (P). Each maps to a fixed number of points on the UCAS Tariff:

• Distinction* is the highest band and carries the most points per grade.
• Distinction sits just below it.
• Merit is the middle band.
• Pass is the entry band that still earns Tariff points.

The bigger the qualification, the more grades it reports, and the more points it can carry — a Diploma adds two grades together, an Extended Diploma adds three. There are no half-grades and no extra bonus marks: your total is simply the grades you achieve, added on this scale. If you'd like the mechanics behind it, read how UCAS points are calculated.

Cambridge Technicals vs BTEC: are the points the same?

Yes — and this is the question we hear most. Cambridge Technicals (OCR) and BTEC (Pearson) use exactly the same UCAS Tariff scale and the same sizes. A Distinction in a given size is worth the same points whether it says "Cambridge Technical" or "BTEC" on the certificate. The only real differences are the awarding body and the subject ranges each offers — not the points. So if a friend on a BTEC quotes their total, you can compare like for like. For the full picture, see the full BTEC table or read BTEC explained.

What counts (and what doesn't)

Only your Level 3 Cambridge Technical counts toward your Tariff total. A few quick rules keep your number accurate:

• GCSEs don't add points — they're Level 2, so they sit outside the Tariff entirely.
• Don't double-count the same subject. If a qualification already includes a unit, you can't claim it twice.
• Not every university uses the Tariff. Some set grade requirements directly instead of points.

Check do GCSEs count? and do all unis use UCAS points? if you want the detail behind these.

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Now you have your number — what's your next step?

You've got your total. The next question is whether it's enough for the courses you want. That depends on the subject and the university: some publish a points figure, others ask for specific grades or named subjects. The good news is that a healthy Cambridge Technicals result puts you in range for a wide spread of degrees. Work out your target with how many points do I need?, then explore what can I study with my points? to see realistic matches.

Boosting your total with another qualification

If your number is close but not quite there, a second Level 3 qualification can lift it. An EPQ adds up to 28 points (A*) on top of your Technical, and Core Maths adds up to 20 (A) — both stack cleanly alongside a Cambridge Technical without overlapping the same subject. That can be the difference between just short and comfortably in range. See add an EPQ or Core Maths points to plan it.

See if your points are in range