History of the UCAS Tariff (2017 Reform Explained)

Quick answer: The UCAS Tariff changed in 2017. The old system scored an A-level A* at 140 points; the current Tariff scores it at 56. UCAS rescaled every qualification onto a smaller, simpler points table — so old points figures you find online no longer apply.

If you have just seen a figure like "A-level A* = 140" and panicked that your maths was wrong, take a breath. That is the old scale, retired years ago. Your real, current total is much smaller — and we will show you exactly what changed and how to calculate your current UCAS points in a minute. Old numbers are not your numbers.

What were the old UCAS Tariff points?

Before 2017, the UCAS Tariff used much bigger numbers. An A-level A* was worth 140 points, and each grade dropped by 20 points down the scale. These are the legacy values that applied to roughly 2010 to 2016 entry — and they have since been retired completely. If you are reading an old prospectus, forum post or blog that quotes three-figure A-level points, that is the system you are looking at, not the one universities use for you today.

These figures are kept here for history only. They are not a way to "score more" — no university will accept them. To see what UCAS points are today, keep reading.

Old vs new UCAS Tariff: the 2017 comparison

Here is the cleanest way to see what happened. UCAS did not change how good your grades are — it just changed the size of the numbers. The same A* that used to read 140 now reads 56. Grade by grade, the current A-level scale moves down in steps of 8.

So three A-levels at AAA used to read 360; today AAA is 144. The grades are identical — only the scale shrank. You can check any combination on our current A-level UCAS points page.

Why did UCAS change the Tariff in 2017?

The old Tariff had grown messy. Big numbers made qualifications hard to compare fairly, and different awards were scored in inconsistent ways. The 2017 reform fixed that. Here is what UCAS set out to do:

• Fairer comparison across qualifications. A-levels, BTECs, the IB and Scottish Highers could finally be lined up against each other on one consistent logic.
• Smaller, simpler numbers. Three-figure points per grade were replaced with a tidy scale — A-level steps of 8, for example — that is easier to read and add up.
• Consistent per-qualification scoring. Every qualification got its own clear table instead of a patchwork of historic conversions.
• A per-component method. The biggest behind-the-scenes shift: many qualifications are now scored part by part rather than as a single lump. The International Baccalaureate, for instance, is summed per subject (HL H7 = 56, H6 = 48, H5 = 32, and so on) instead of mapping one 24 to 45 diploma total to a points figure.

The result is the system we use now. If you want the mechanics, see how UCAS points are calculated now.

How the change affects different qualifications

The 2017 reform was not just an A-level story. A-levels, BTECs, the IB and Scottish Highers all moved onto the current per-qualification tables at the same time. If you study any of these, the points you find quoted before 2017 will be wrong for you.

• A-levels dropped from the 40–140 scale to the current 16–56 scale (A* = 56 down to E = 16).
• BTEC moved to its own current tables — for example the Extended Diploma now scores D*D*D* = 168, DDD = 144, DMM = 112 and PPP = 48. Check yours on BTEC UCAS points.
• The IB is the clearest example of the method change. Pre-2017 it was a single diploma total mapped to one figure. Now it is summed per subject and core: HL H7 = 56, SL S7 = 28, plus core points up to A = 12. See IB UCAS points.
• Scottish Highers moved to the current scale too — a Higher A = 33, B = 27, C = 21, D = 15, with Advanced Highers higher again (A = 56). See Scottish Highers UCAS points.

The headline is the same across all of them: smaller numbers, scored per component, on one consistent system.

Is the Tariff still changing today (2026)?

For the most part, no — and that is good news for your planning. The grade-to-points values have been stable since the 2017 reform, so the figures on this site are the ones that apply to your 2026 application. You are not chasing a moving target.

What has changed recently is the range of qualifications inside the Tariff, not the points per grade:

• Level 3 Apprenticeships are a new Tariff category for 2026 entry.
• Reformed BTECs and AAQs (Alternative Academic Qualifications) score at the same points as before.

So the scale itself is steady; UCAS has mostly been adding new qualification types onto it. For the full list, read our new UCAS Tariff qualifications guide.

Get your current UCAS points (next step)

Now the practical bit. Forget any old number you found — it is history, not your application. Run the current calculator and get your real, current total in seconds, then use it to plan. If you study A-levels, BTEC, the IB or any mix, use the UCAS points calculator and add your grades. From there you can check how many points you need for the courses you want, or explore what you can study with your points. One clear number, then a confident next step.

Related guides and tools

Related reading to round things out:

• Do all universities use UCAS points?
• Do UCAS points expire?
• Do GCSEs count for UCAS points?