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Level 3 Certificate · the size of an AS

Core Maths UCAS points

Core Maths is worth 20 UCAS points at A, 16 at B, 12 at C, 10 at D and 6 at E, the same as an AS level, whichever board you sit it with. Below: the table, what it adds to three A levels, and where it helps more than the points suggest.

Checked against the UCAS 2027 Tariff tables on 26 October 2026how we check

The Core Maths points table

GradeUCAS pointsSame as
A20AS grade A
B16AS grade B
C12AS grade C
D10AS grade D
E6AS grade E

Three A levels plus Core Maths

Most Core Maths students take it next to three A levels in other subjects. Read across from your A levels to your Core Maths grade.

A levelsAlone+ Core Maths A+ Core Maths B+ Core Maths C
AAA144164160156
AAB136156152148
ABB128148144140
BBB120140136132
BBC112132128124
BCC104124120116
CCC96116112108

BBC plus an A in Core Maths is 132, four points short of AAB’s 136; BBB plus a B is 136 exactly. The EPQ is the other common fourth qualification and is worth a little more at the top grade (28 for an A*).

What Core Maths is

Core Maths is a level 3 maths qualification for students who passed GCSE maths at grade 4 or above but are not taking AS or A level maths. It is the size of an AS (about 180 guided learning hours) and can be taught over one year or two, alongside A levels, BTECs or a T Level. The emphasis is on using maths on real problems: reading data, money, estimation and risk, rather than the pure maths and proof of the A level. The Department for Education sets what counts as Core Maths in its technical guidance.

Where it earns its keep is on degrees with a statistics strand but no A level maths requirement: psychology, geography, business, sports science and the social sciences. First-year statistics modules come as a shock to students who stopped maths at GCSE, and Core Maths keeps the habit going for another year or two.

Core Maths qualifications on the Tariff

Every one of these carries the same points. The number in brackets is the qualification number on your certificate.

  • AQA Certificate in Mathematical Studies601/4945/0
  • Pearson Edexcel Certificate in Mathematics in Context601/4857/3
  • OCR Level 3 Certificate in Core Maths A (MEI)601/4783/0
  • OCR Level 3 Certificate in Core Maths B (MEI)601/4782/9
  • WJEC Eduqas Certificate in Mathematics for Work and Life601/4842/1
  • NCFE Level 3 Certificate in Mathematics for Everyday Life603/3437/X

Source: UCAS 2027 Tariff tables. Older Core Maths certificates that are no longer taught (City & Guilds, some earlier OCR titles) are still on the tables with the same values.

Core Maths questions

How many UCAS points is Core Maths?

An A is 20 points, B 16, C 12, D 10 and E 6. That is exactly the AS level scale, because Core Maths is the same size as an AS.

Is Core Maths the same as AS level maths?

Same size and same Tariff points, different course. AS and A level maths go deeper into pure maths and proof. Core Maths is about using maths on real problems: data, finance, estimation and statistics. It is meant for students who passed GCSE maths at grade 4 or above and are not taking AS or A level maths.

Do all Core Maths boards give the same UCAS points?

Yes. Every Core Maths certificate on the 2027 Tariff tables, from AQA, Pearson Edexcel, OCR MEI, WJEC Eduqas and NCFE, carries the same A 20 down to E 6.

Does Core Maths count towards a university offer?

In a points offer, usually, yes, as long as the university counts qualifications beyond three A levels. In a grade offer such as ABB it sits outside the offer. Some courses with a lot of statistics, such as psychology or business, mention it as helpful, and a few make alternative offers with it. The course page says.

Can I take Core Maths and A level maths?

Core Maths is designed for students who are not taking AS or A level maths, and schools normally only offer it to them. If you already take A level maths, the EPQ or an AS in another subject is the usual way to add points.

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