Updated: Sunday, September 9, 2001
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The UCAS Tariff
A New Points Score System for Entry to Higher Education.

Introduction.
We've been asked on many occasions to explain the new UCAS Tariff system - so here's some information from UCAS which might help.

What is the new UCAS Tariff ?

  • It is a completely new points score system to report achievement for entry to Higher Education (HE).
  • It gives numerical values to qualifications.
  • It establishes agreed equivalence between different types of qualifications.
  • It provides comparisons between applicants with different types of achievement.

Why do we need a new Tariff ?

  • The current system was never intended for use in offer-making by HE.
  • The current GCE A level points scores (A = 1O to E = 2) do not reflect the relative values of the levels of achievement.
  • The present system does not cover other qualifications such as Advanced GNVQ and Scottish qualifications - there is a need for a new Tariff capable of giving value to achievement in a range of qualifications in the new National Qualifications Frameworks in England, Wales and Northern Ireland, and Scotland.

What qualifications does it cover ?
Initially it will cover:

  • GCE Advanced and Advanced Subsidiary and stand-alone GCE Advanced units in Mathematics.
  • GNVQ Advanced (12-unit, 6-unit and 3-unit, plus units taken in addition to the 12-unit award).
  • The three main Key Skills (Application of Number, Communication and IT) at levels 2, 3 and 4.
  • New Scottish Higher and Advanced Higher.
  • Intermediate 2 and Standard Grade Credit (Scotland).

The Tariff will be scheduled in due course to include other qualifications and entry routes.

How will HE use the Tariff ?.

  • The Tariff is a facility offered to HE to assist in expressing entrance requirements and making conditional offers.
  • It is not obligatory for HEIs to use the Tariff, although they will be encouraged to do so.
  • The current points score system will be discontinued.
  • Entry requirements expressed as a points score may be qualified to require a minimum level of depth and/or achievement in specified subjects.

When will it take effect ?
The new Tariff will be used for the first time for 2002 entry when the first cohort of applicants with the new post-16 qualifications will enter HE.

How does the points score system work ?.
The following chart indicates the agreed points scores:

UCAS Tariff
Single Units GCE A/AS and GNVQ Advanced Score Scottish Qualifications
Main Key Skills (1) 1-unit award (2) 3-unit award (3) 6-unit award (4) 12-unit award (5) Advanced Higher Higher Intermediate 2 Standard Grade Credit
        A 240        
        B 200        
        C 160        
      A D 120 A      
      B   100 B      
      C E 80 C      
          72   A    
    A D   60   B    
    B     50        
          48   C    
          42     A  
    C E   40        
          38       Band 1
          35     B  
Level 4   D     30        
          28     C Band 2
Level 3 A E     20        
  B       17        
  C       13        
Level 2 D       10        
  E       7        

Notes:
1. The scores shown are for each unit - for the Key Skills qualification the individual scores are aggregated.
2. Covers stand-alone GCE Advanced Mathematics units, and GNVQ Advanced units over and above those required to achieve the 12-unit award.
3. GCE Advanced Subsidiary and 3-unit GNVQ Advanced.
4. GCE Advanced and 6-unit GNVQ Advanced.
5. 12-unit GNVQ Advanced.

  • Points scores can be aggregated from different qualifications, eg GCE Advanced/Advanced Subsidiary and Advanced GNVQ.
  • There is no ceiling to the number of points which can be accumulated, thereby recognising the full breadth and depth of students achievements.
  • There will be no double counting - students cannot count the same or similar qualifications twice.
  • GCE Advanced Subsidiary scores will be subsumed into a GCE Advanced score in the same subject. Similarly, Scottish Higher scores will be subsumed into Advanced Higher scores in the same subject.
  • Points scores for Key Skills achievement will be reported separately.

More Information.
Click here to go to the UCAS website.
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