UCAS Tariff · BTEC Extended Diploma grades
DDD UCAS points: 144
DDD in a BTEC National Extended Diploma is worth 144 UCAS points. That is D = 48, D = 48 and D = 48, added together under the UCAS Tariff for 2027 entry. DDD at A level is a different qualification and comes to 72 points (see below).
Updated 22 September 2026, checked against the UCAS 2027 Tariff tables.
How DDD adds up to 144 points
| Grade | UCAS points |
|---|---|
| D | 48 |
| D | 48 |
| D | 48 |
| Total for DDD | 144 |
The Extended Diploma is graded as one qualification, but each of its three letters carries the same value as the matching grade in the one-A-level-sized Extended Certificate: D* 56, D 48, M 32, P 16.
DDD at A level: 72 points
The same three letters mean something different at A level. Three D grades at A level are D = 24, D = 24 and D = 24, so DDD there is worth 72 points, not 144. If your offer is in points, check which qualification the grades refer to before you add them up.
| Grade | UCAS points |
|---|---|
| D | 24 |
| D | 24 |
| D | 24 |
| Total for DDD | 72 |
Every route to that total is on the 72 UCAS points page.
What can I do with 144 UCAS points?
Any course with a points-based offer of 144 or fewer is met by DDD on its own. Offers are published as a number on ucas.com, so compare 144 with the figure on the course page. Some courses ask for named grades instead of points, and a points total cannot stand in for a named grade in a named subject.
Every grade combination worth exactly this total, including two A level and single qualification routes, is on the 144 UCAS points page.
Equivalent combinations worth 144 points
These BTEC and A level grades come to the same 144 points as DDD.
One grade higher or lower than DDD
| Change | Grades | Points |
|---|---|---|
| One grade higher | D*DD | 152 |
| This page | DDD | 144 |
| One grade lower | DDM | 128 |
DDD UCAS points questions
How many UCAS points is DDD?
DDD in a BTEC National Extended Diploma is worth 144 UCAS points: D = 48, D = 48 and D = 48. DDD at A level is a different qualification and is worth 72 points.
What A level grades equal DDD?
AAA, A*AB or A*A*C at A level are also worth 144 points. The Extended Diploma is sized as three A levels, so the comparison is like for like.
Is DDD enough for a points-based offer?
If the offer asks for 144 UCAS points or fewer, DDD meets it on its own. Offers above 144 need a higher BTEC grade or extra qualifications such as an EPQ. Courses that name specific BTEC grades or units are a separate matter, so check the course page on ucas.com.
Add DDD to your other qualifications
Holding an EPQ, an AS level or a mix of qualifications alongside? Add everything up in one go with our UCAS points calculator. The whole tariff is on the UCAS points chart, and the grade-by-grade tables are on the A-level points and BTEC points pages.