UCASPoints.co.uk

Level 2 · not on the Tariff

Do GCSEs count for UCAS points?

No. GCSEs carry no UCAS points at any grade, and neither do National 5s or the Duke of Edinburgh’s Award. The Tariff only starts at Level 3. GCSE grades still decide plenty of offers, though, and a few extras you might already be doing do carry points.

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

Why GCSEs get no points

UCAS is direct about it: Tariff points only apply to Level 3 (SCQF Level 6) qualifications, not Level 2 qualifications such as GCSEs. The Tariff is built to compare the qualifications people use to get into higher education: A levels, BTEC Nationals, T Levels, Highers, the IB and so on. GCSEs, iGCSEs, Level 2 BTECs and Cambridge Nationals, and Scottish National 5s all sit a level below.

So a row of grade 9s adds nothing to a points total, and a weak GCSE doesn’t take points away either.

Why GCSE grades still matter

Points are only one part of an offer. Very often the entry requirements add a line such as “GCSE English and maths at grade 4 (C) or above”, sometimes grade 5 or 6. Courses that lead to a profession set these most firmly: in England the Department for Education requires GCSE English and maths at grade 4 (or an equivalent) for anyone training to teach, and nursing, midwifery and many health courses ask for them too.

Selective universities may also read your full set of GCSEs, because when you apply in Year 13 they are the only finished grades on the form. Your A level or BTEC grades at that point are predictions.

If you are missing a required GCSE, check whether the university accepts a Level 2 Functional Skills qualification or a resit taken during Year 12 or 13. Policies differ by course.

Duke of Edinburgh, volunteering and work experience

None of these is a regulated Level 3 qualification, so none of them is on the Tariff tables. That includes the Duke of Edinburgh’s Award at every level, the National Citizen Service, Scouts and Guides awards, and work experience.

They still earn their place in your application. The useful way to write about them is what you did and what it taught you, linked to the course, rather than the name of the award.

Extras that do carry points

Some things students do alongside school are Level 3 and do get Tariff points. From the UCAS 2027 tables:

Music grades 1 to 5 and the Level 1 and 2 sports leadership awards are below Level 3 and carry no points. Whether a university counts any of these extras depends on the course, so check before you sign up for one just for the points.

GCSE and extras questions

Do GCSEs count for UCAS points?

No. UCAS Tariff points only apply to Level 3 qualifications (SCQF Level 6 in Scotland). GCSEs are Level 2, so a grade 9 and a grade 4 both carry zero points.

Does the Duke of Edinburgh’s Award give UCAS points?

No. Bronze, Silver and Gold are not on the UCAS Tariff tables. A Gold Award is still worth mentioning in your application, because it shows commitment and the skills behind it.

Do National 5s get UCAS points?

No. National 5 is SCQF Level 5. In Scotland the Tariff starts at SCQF Level 6, which is where Highers sit.

Why do universities ask for GCSEs if they have no points?

Because GCSE results are one of the few finished grades a university sees when you apply in Year 13. Many courses set minimum GCSE grades in English and maths, and some competitive courses look at the whole GCSE profile.

Do music grades count for UCAS points?

Only grades 6, 7 and 8, because those are Level 3. Grade 8 at Distinction is 30 points. Grades 1 to 5 carry none.

More guides