WJEC · Advanced Skills Baccalaureate Wales

Welsh Bacc UCAS points

The Advanced Skills Baccalaureate Wales is worth exactly what an A level is: 56 points at A*, 48 at A, down to 16 at E. Most students in Wales take it next to three A levels, so whether a university counts it can be worth a whole grade on your offer.

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

Welsh Bacc points table

Grade	UCAS points	Same as
A*	56	A level A*
A	48	A level A
B	40	A level B
C	32	A level C
D	24	A level D
E	16	A level E

Source: UCAS 2027 Tariff tables (WJEC Advanced Skills Challenge Certificate). For the Advanced Skills Baccalaureate Wales, Qualifications Wales and WJEC publish the same figures from the UCAS Tariff calculator.

Three A levels plus the Welsh Bacc

A levels	Alone	+ Bacc A	+ Bacc B	+ Bacc C
AAA	144	192	184	176
AAB	136	184	176	168
ABB	128	176	168	160
BBB	120	168	160	152
BBC	112	160	152	144
BCC	104	152	144	136
CCC	96	144	136	128

Because the Bacc is A level sized, it moves a total far more than an AS or an EPQ. BCC (96) with a B in the Bacc is 136, the same as AAB.

How universities treat it

Qualifications Wales says the qualification is accepted by most UK universities, and that entry policies vary. In practice there are three patterns:

The Bacc counts as one of the three grades, so ABB could be met with AB at A level and a B in the Bacc.
An alternative offer: AAB, or ABB plus a B in the Bacc. Common at Welsh universities and some English ones.
The offer is in A level grades only and the Bacc isn’t counted. Selective courses such as medicine often do this.

In a points offer, the full 16 to 56 usually counts, unless the university limits points to A levels. Check the course page, which normally says “Welsh Baccalaureate” or “Advanced Skills Baccalaureate Wales” by name.

Skills Challenge Certificate and older Welsh Baccs

The Advanced Skills Challenge Certificate (first taught 2015) was the graded part of the old Welsh Baccalaureate and carries the same A* 56 to E 16. It was last awarded in summer 2024. The Welsh Government says the Advanced Skills Baccalaureate Wales, first taught in September 2023 and first awarded in summer 2025, directly replaces it.

Older versions are still on the Tariff tables too: the Welsh Baccalaureate Advanced Diploma awarded until 2016 is worth 48 points as a Pass. If you’re applying with one of these, put the exact title and year on your application.

Welsh Bacc questions

How many UCAS points is the Welsh Bacc?

The Advanced Skills Baccalaureate Wales is worth the same as an A level: A* 56, A 48, B 40, C 32, D 24, E 16. So was the Advanced Skills Challenge Certificate it replaced.

Do universities accept the Welsh Bacc?

Qualifications Wales says most UK universities accept it, but there is no single approach. Some count it as one of the three A level grades in an offer, some make an alternative offer with it (for example ABB, or AAB including the Bacc), and some leave it out. The course page will say.

Is the Welsh Bacc the same as an A level?

Same size (360 guided learning hours), same A* to E grades and same Tariff points, but it is not a GCE A level. It is assessed through three projects rather than exams.

What replaced the Skills Challenge Certificate?

The Advanced Skills Baccalaureate Wales, first taught in September 2023 and first awarded in summer 2025. The Welsh Government calls it a direct replacement, with the same size and grades.

A levels	Alone	+ Bacc A	+ Bacc B	+ Bacc C
AAA	144	192	184	176
AAB	136	184	176	168
ABB	128	176	168	160
BBB	120	168	160	152
BBC	112	160	152	144
BCC	104	152	144	136
CCC	96	144	136	128

A levels	Alone	+ Bacc A	+ Bacc B	+ Bacc C
AAA	144	192	184	176
AAB	136	184	176	168
ABB	128	176	168	160
BBB	120	168	160	152
BBC	112	160	152	144
BCC	104	152	144	136
CCC	96	144	136	128