A-level grades explained: A* to E, UCAS points and who gets what

A-level grades from A* to E

An A level is graded A*, A, B, C, D and E, and a result below E is ungraded (U). A level is a level 3 qualification, according to GOV.UK, which lists A level and AS level at level 3. Here is each grade with its UCAS points, and the share of UK entries that earned it in 2026, from the Joint Council for Qualifications (JCQ).

The JCQ figures cover all 906,425 A level entries in the UK in 2026, up 2.7% from 882,653 in 2025. They are provisional, because they are not informed by late entries and the review of marking. The share at A* was 9.6% in 2026 against 9.4% in 2025, and the share at A* or A was 28.5% against 28.3%.

UCAS points for A-level grades

Universities and colleges use the UCAS Tariff to turn grades into points. UCAS says the points give a numerical value that course providers use to assess whether you meet their entry requirements, that not every qualification has a Tariff value, and that you should check the course entry requirements carefully. The 2026 Tariff values for A level are A* 56, A 48, B 40, C 32, D 24 and E 16, and for AS level an A is 20 points. Many courses write their offers in grades, such as AAB, rather than points. Here are some common sets of three A levels:

The points add up by simple sum: AAB is 48 + 48 + 40 = 136, and A*AA is 56 + 48 + 48 = 152. See how Scottish grades compare in National 5 and Higher compared with GCSE and A-level.

How many students get each A-level grade, by subject

The share at each grade differs a lot by subject. These are UK results in 2026 for subjects we cover, from JCQ's A level tables.

Further Maths has the highest share at A*, at 29.0%, and Computing has the lowest of these subjects at 6.3%. Who takes a subject matters as much as how hard it is, so compare a subject with itself over the years rather than with another subject. See our guides to A-level Maths, A-level Further Maths, A-level Physics, A-level Chemistry and A-level Biology.

How A-level grades are set

Ofqual says grade boundaries are set after students have taken their assessments and marking is nearly complete, that exam boards are responsible for setting them, and that there is no cap on the number of students who can get a particular grade. Boundaries change from year to year to reflect how hard each paper was, and different boards have different boundaries. The boundary is the lowest mark that earns a grade, so a student on the boundary gets that grade.

Predicted grades and mocks

Your school or college predicts your A-level grades for UCAS, and the prediction is not your result. UCAS says around half of UK 18-year-olds were predicted AAA or above in 2025, while 26% of accepted applicants secured AAA and above. Ofqual says it is normal for many students to miss their UCAS predicted grades. Read A-level predicted grades for how predictions are made, and A-level mocks for how mock results relate to your final grade.

Use today's paper to see your grade

Sit today's paper on our A-level papers, such as A-level Maths: Algebra and Functions, A-level Physics: Year 1, A-level Chemistry: Year 1 or A-level Biology: Year 1. It is a short timed paper of 8 questions worth 25 to 35 marks, not a full exam board paper. When you mark it, the results page shows a predicted grade and the marks needed for each grade. The cut-offs are typical ones, not an exam board's: A* from 80% of the marks, A from 70%, B from 60%, C from 50%, D from 40% and E from 30%. Real boundaries differ by board, paper and year, so treat the prediction as a guide.

Common mistakes about A-level grades

• Treating AS and A level points as the same. An AS grade A is 20 points, against 48 for an A level A, and there is no A* at AS.
• Assuming a university will use points. Many write offers in grades, so read the course page.
• Reading predicted grades as results. They are your school's estimate, set before the exams.
• Comparing subjects by grade share alone. The students who take Further Maths are not the same group as those who take Computing.

Read next

UK · A-levelA-level predicted grades: how they are set and raisedHow A-level predicted grades work: who sets them, what UCAS says about evidence and accuracy, and how to raise yours with timed papers.