UCAS Tariff · exact matches only
168 UCAS Points in Grades
168 UCAS points is A*A*A* at A level, D*D*D* in a BTEC National Extended Diploma or a Distinction* T Level. Every combination below is worth exactly 168 points under the UCAS Tariff. Nothing rounded, nothing approximate.
Updated 22 September 2026, checked against the UCAS 2027 Tariff tables.
168 UCAS points at a glance
| Route | Grades worth 168 points |
|---|---|
| Three A levels | A*A*A* |
| A levels plus an AS | A*AA + AS B, A*A*B + AS B |
| A levels plus an EPQ | AAA + EPQ A, A*AA + EPQ C, A*A*A + EPQ E and 3 more |
| BTEC Extended Diploma | D*D*D* |
| BTEC Diploma | no grade lands on it exactly |
| BTEC Extended Certificate | A*A* + BTEC Ext Cert D*, BTEC Diploma D*D* + BTEC Ext Cert D* |
| T Level | Distinction* (full T Level) |
Three A-levels worth 168 points
| Grades | Points |
|---|---|
| A*A*A* | 168 |
Order never matters: A*A*A* is the same total whichever subject earns which grade. The most even combination is listed first, because that is how offers usually quote it.
BTEC grades worth exactly 168 points
| BTEC National | Size | Grade |
|---|---|---|
| Extended Diploma | Three A-levels | D*D*D* |
T Level grade worth exactly 168 points
A full T Level (core, occupational specialism and industry placement) at D* (Distinction*) is worth 168 points on its own, per the T LEVELS sheet of the UCAS 2027 Tariff tables. The whole scale, including what a core-only or specialism-only award is worth, is on the T Level UCAS points page.
Mixed routes to 168 points
Most people do not hold three identical-sized qualifications. These mixes of A-levels with an EPQ, an AS-level or a BTEC also land exactly on 168. Check the course page first: some universities count the EPQ towards a points offer and some do not.
| Route | Points |
|---|---|
| A*+A*+D*BTEC Ext Cert | 168 |
| A+A+A+AEPQ | 168 |
| A*+A+A+CEPQ | 168 |
| A*+A*+A+EEPQ | 168 |
| A*+D*D*BTEC Diploma | 168 |
| D*D*BTEC Diploma+D*BTEC Ext Cert | 168 |
What kind of offers sit around 168 points?
A total of 168 points is at the very top of what three A-levels or one Extended Diploma can produce. Offers this high are unusual in points form: most courses at this level ask for named grades instead. Hitting it needs A and A* grades, or a BTEC packed with Distinction stars.
Holding a mix of qualifications? Add everything up in one go with our UCAS points calculator. The full grade-by-grade tables are on the A-level points and BTEC points pages, and if you are short of a target, see how to get more UCAS points.
168 UCAS points: questions people ask
- What grades are 168 UCAS points?
- At A-level, A*A*A* is the most even way to reach exactly 168 points. Order does not matter: each grade carries fixed points (A* 56, A 48, B 40, C 32, D 24, E 16) and the total is the sum.
- Can I get 168 UCAS points with a BTEC?
- Yes. D*D*D* (Three A-levels) is worth exactly 168 points under the UCAS Tariff, so a BTEC-only route to a 168-point offer exists.
- Is 168 UCAS points a good score?
- 168 points is a high total: AAA is 144 and A*A*A* is 168. Offers this high sit at selective universities and competitive courses such as medicine, law and engineering, and many of those courses ask for specific grades rather than a points total.
- Does an EPQ count towards 168 UCAS points?
- Often, yes. The EPQ carries tariff points (A* 28, A 24, B 20, C 16) and the mixed routes above show where it closes the gap to 168. Some universities exclude it from points offers, so read the course entry requirements before you rely on it.