What grades are 88 UCAS points?

At A-level, CCD is the most even way to reach exactly 88 points, and 4 other three-A-level combinations land on the same total. 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.

Is 88 UCAS points a good score?

88 points is a solid middle-of-the-tariff total. A large share of published points-based offers fall between 96 and 112, so this is where many degree courses set their entry.

Does an EPQ count towards 88 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 88. Some universities exclude it from points offers, so read the course entry requirements before you rely on it.

UCAS Tariff · exact matches only

88 UCAS Points in Grades

88 UCAS points is CCD at A level (BDD, BCE, ADE and one more add up to the same). Every combination below is worth exactly 88 points under the UCAS Tariff. Nothing rounded, nothing approximate.

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

88 UCAS points at a glance

Route	Grades worth 88 points
Three A levels	CCD, BDD, BCE, ADE (1 more below)
A levels plus an AS	DDD + AS B, CDE + AS B, BEE + AS B
A levels plus an EPQ	DDD + EPQ C, DDE + EPQ A, CDD + EPQ E and 15 more
BTEC Extended Diploma	no grade lands on it exactly
BTEC Diploma	no grade lands on it exactly
BTEC Extended Certificate	EE + BTEC Ext Cert D*, BC + BTEC Ext Cert P, CD + BTEC Ext Cert M and 5 more
T Level	none exactly; Pass (core D-E) is 72, Pass (core A*-C) is 96

Three A-levels worth 88 points

Grades	Points
CCD	88
BDD	88
BCE	88
ADE	88
A*EE	88

Order never matters: CCD is the same total whichever subject earns which grade. The most even combination is listed first, because that is how offers usually quote it.

Mixed routes to 88 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 88. Check the course page first: some universities count the EPQ towards a points offer and some do not.

Route	Points
B+B+EEPQ	88
C+C+AEPQ	88
E+E+D*BTEC Ext Cert	88
D+D+D+CEPQ	88
D+D+D+BAS	88
D+D+E+AEPQ	88
A*+PPBTEC Diploma	88
B+MPBTEC Diploma	88
D+MMBTEC Diploma	88
PPBTEC Diploma+D*BTEC Ext Cert	88

What kind of offers sit around 88 points?

The band around 88 points is one of the busiest in the tariff. A large share of published points-based offers falls between 96 and 112, which is why searches for this exact number are so common. It maps to solid, middle-of-the-scale grades rather than top marks.

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.

88 UCAS points: questions people ask

What grades are 88 UCAS points?: At A-level, CCD is the most even way to reach exactly 88 points, and 4 other three-A-level combinations land on the same total. 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.
Is 88 UCAS points a good score?: 88 points is a solid middle-of-the-tariff total. A large share of published points-based offers fall between 96 and 112, so this is where many degree courses set their entry.
Does an EPQ count towards 88 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 88. Some universities exclude it from points offers, so read the course entry requirements before you rely on it.