What grades are 40 UCAS points?

No set of three full A-levels adds up to exactly 40. The total comes from a single qualification or a mix: see the tables above, or add your own results in the calculator.

Is 40 UCAS points a good score?

40 points is at the accessible end of the tariff. It matches foundation years, HNC and HND courses and degrees that keep entry broad, and it is also what a single strong qualification is worth on its own.

Does an EPQ count towards 40 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 40. Some universities exclude it from points offers, so read the course entry requirements before you rely on it.

UCAS Tariff · exact matches only

40 UCAS Points in Grades

40 UCAS points is DE across two A levels. No set of three full A levels adds up to exactly 40. Every combination below is worth exactly 40 points under the UCAS Tariff. Nothing rounded, nothing approximate.

Updated 22 September 2026, checked against the UCAS 2027 Tariff tables.

40 UCAS points at a glance

Route	Grades worth 40 points
Three A levels	none; DE across two A levels
A levels plus an AS	no exact match
A levels plus an EPQ	EE + EPQ E
BTEC Extended Diploma	no grade lands on it exactly
BTEC Diploma	no grade lands on it exactly
BTEC Extended Certificate	no exact match
T Level	none exactly; Pass (core D-E) is 72

Two A-levels worth 40 points

No three-A-level combination lands exactly on 40, but smaller programmes can.

Combination	Points
DE	40

Mixed routes to 40 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 40. Check the course page first: some universities count the EPQ towards a points offer and some do not.

Route	Points
E+E+EEPQ	40

What kind of offers sit around 40 points?

A total of 40 points is smaller than a full three-A-level programme, so you will rarely see it as a complete offer by itself. It usually appears as the value of a single qualification, or as one part of a larger total that a course asks for.

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.

40 UCAS points: questions people ask

What grades are 40 UCAS points?: No set of three full A-levels adds up to exactly 40. The total comes from a single qualification or a mix: see the tables above, or add your own results in the calculator.
Is 40 UCAS points a good score?: 40 points is at the accessible end of the tariff. It matches foundation years, HNC and HND courses and degrees that keep entry broad, and it is also what a single strong qualification is worth on its own.
Does an EPQ count towards 40 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 40. Some universities exclude it from points offers, so read the course entry requirements before you rely on it.