How many UCAS points is A*AA at A-level?

A*AA is worth exactly 152 UCAS Tariff points — the A* scores 56 and each A scores 48, giving 56 + 48 + 48 = 152.

What is the difference between A*AA and AAA in UCAS points?

A*AA is 152 points and AAA is 144 points — a difference of 8, because an A* scores 56 while an A scores 48. That single-grade shift puts you above the standard selective benchmark.

Is A*AA a common university offer?

Yes, but mainly at selective institutions. A*AA is a typical offer for competitive Russell Group courses in subjects like engineering, economics, computer science, and some law programmes. It is less common at post-1992 universities where points-based offers are more usual.

Does A*AA meet a course that asks for AAA?

Yes. A*AA exceeds an AAA grade offer — you have three strong grades and one is actually above the A threshold. Most courses that specify AAA will accept A*AA without question.

Do all universities use UCAS points for A*AA?

Not all. Many courses — particularly those at selective universities in Medicine, Law and Engineering — make offers in specific grades rather than points. A*AA is 152 points, but the course may ask for the grade combination itself, sometimes with subject conditions attached.

Can I add an EPQ to A*AA for more points?

Yes. An EPQ at grade A adds 24 Tariff points on top of A*AA's 152. Whether it counts towards an offer depends on how the university has structured their entry requirement.

A*AA UCAS Points: A Top-Selective Grade Combination

By The UCAS Points Calculator editorial team Reviewed by Dr. Lila Sharma, UK Education Policy Specialist Last updated 28 April 2026 Checked against the official UCAS Tariff

Quick answer: A*AA at A-level is worth 152 UCAS points — above the AAA selective benchmark, placing you in the top-selective tier of UK undergraduate admissions. For courses that make grade-based offers, A*AA is exactly the combination they are looking for.

What A*AA signals in admissions

A*AA is not just a high number on the Tariff scale. It is a specific grade combination that a particular group of courses have chosen as their standard offer. Engineering departments at research-intensive universities, economics programmes at selective institutions, strong computer science courses — these routinely publish A*AA as their target. When they do, they are communicating something about the level of mathematical and analytical ability they expect, and about the type of performance they want to see in at least one subject.

Understanding this distinction changes how you should think about your position. If you are predicted A*AA or holding it after results day, the relevant question is not "is this enough?" — in almost all cases, it is — but rather "which of the courses that want this combination is the right one for me?"

The breakdown and equivalent routes

A*AA = 152 UCAS points

A* (56) + A (48) + A (48) = 152

Same total, other routes: A*A*B (A-level), D*DD (BTEC Extended Diploma (3 grades)).

The component above shows how A*AA is scored under the current Tariff, and which other qualification combinations land on the same 152-point total. Because 152 is less common as a standard points-based threshold than 144 or 136, the equivalents here are worth examining: the Tariff does have ways to reach this number through non-A-level routes, though courses that publish their offer as A*AA specifically are typically expecting three A-level grades.

The position of the A* in your combination

Most courses that ask for A*AA specify which subject the A* should be in. An engineering programme might specify A* in Maths. A computer science course might specify A* in Maths or Further Maths. An economics programme might want the A* in Economics or Maths specifically. If you hold A*AA but your A* is in a subject the course does not prioritise, it is worth checking the exact wording of the offer.

This is one reason why A*AA can feel more constraining than a simple points total. The grade is not interchangeable across subjects in the way a tariff number is. Read each course's offer conditions carefully and, if you have the A* in a relevant subject, make sure that is clear in your UCAS application.

Where 152 sits on the Tariff

Where this sits

One band lower: 144 (AAA) — 8 points below.
This band: 152 — High-tariff / selective.
One band higher: 160 (A*A*A) — 8 points above.

The band immediately above A*AA is A*A*A at 160 — one more A grade replaced by an A*. The band immediately below is AAA at 144. Knowing where you sit relative to these adjacent bands matters when you think about Adjustment (if you exceed your firm offer) and about how the courses you are considering respond to results that are marginally above or below A*AA.

Applying with A*AA: the practical framing

Students with A*AA have earned a position in the most selective tier of UK undergraduate admissions. The practical challenge is matching that position to courses that are genuinely a good fit — not simply the courses with the highest offer level.

Some courses that publish A*AA offers are oversubscribed and highly competitive by applicant quality, not just grade level. Others at the same offer level have more space and are genuinely seeking applicants at this standard. Do your research on each course, visit if you can, and read beyond the entry requirement to understand what the programme actually delivers.

Your insurance choice at this level should still be a course you would genuinely study. Because A*AA is a high offer, your insurance will often be at AAA or AAB — which are still selective results in their own right. Do not pick an insurance choice far below your firm out of excessive caution; the gap tends to be smaller than it feels.

One more thing worth planning for: if your results on the day exceed your firm offer, UCAS Adjustment gives you a window to explore higher-ranking options. Students who secure A*AA when their firm asked for AAA are in a strong position to make Adjustment enquiries. Keep an eye on the timeline and know the process before results day arrives — it moves quickly and you will want to act with confidence rather than scrambling to understand the rules under pressure.

If results day brings something slightly different from what you expected, the A-level results day 2026 guide walks through exactly what to do, step by step. And if you beat your offer, UCAS Adjustment explains how to explore further options before your place is confirmed.

See what A*AA puts in range

Frequently asked questions

Sources

Checked against official sources on 25 June 2026. Always confirm exact requirements on the university's own course page.