UCAS Tariff · half an A-level
EPQ UCAS points
Every EPQ grade and its exact tariff value, plus how universities actually treat the qualification when they make offers.
The full EPQ points table
| EPQ grade | UCAS points |
|---|---|
| A* | 28 |
| A | 24 |
| B | 20 |
| C | 16 |
| D | 12 |
| E | 8 |
The pattern is easy to remember: every EPQ grade is worth exactly half the same grade at full A-level. An A* is 28 against the A-level’s 56, an A is 24 against 48, and so on down to the E at 8. These are the same numbers our UCAS points calculator uses, so you can add an EPQ to your other results there in seconds.
What the EPQ actually is
The Extended Project Qualification is a level 3 qualification, the same level as A-levels, sized at half an A-level in tariff terms. There is no syllabus and no exam. You choose one question that interests you, research it, and produce either a written report of around 5,000 words or an artefact (anything from a piece of software to a stage set) with a shorter write-up.
Alongside the finished product you keep a production log that records how the project developed, and you close with a short presentation. The marking rewards process as much as product: planning, research skills and an honest evaluation of what went wrong all score.
How universities treat the EPQ
Practice varies, and it is worth knowing the three patterns before you rely on the points. Some courses simply count it: if an offer is expressed in tariff points, EPQ points add to your total like any others, and the 28 from an A* is real, usable currency.
Some universities make dual offers. A course might ask for AAB, or alternatively ABB plus an A in the EPQ, so a strong project effectively lowers the A-level bar by one grade. Where a university does this, it is spelled out on the course page.
And some leave it out of the offer entirely. Plenty of grade offers name three A-levels and nothing else. Even then the project is not wasted: admissions tutors read personal statements, and a genuine piece of independent research gives you something concrete to write and talk about.
Is the EPQ worth doing?
Honest answer: usually yes, with one caveat. On the plus side it is points insurance, up to 28 extra points without another full subject. It hands you personal statement material that is genuinely yours. And it is the closest thing school offers to degree-style work: referencing, self-set deadlines, a long piece of independent research. Students who have done one tend to find the first year of university less of a shock.
The caveat is time. Every hour on the project is an hour not spent on A-levels, and grade offers name A-levels, not EPQs. If your likely offers are grade-based and your A-level grades are already under pressure, put the hours into the A-levels. An EPQ is a supplement to a strong application, not a rescue for a struggling one. For the other ways to add to your total, see our guide on how to get more UCAS points.
EPQ points questions
How many UCAS points is an EPQ A*?
An A* in the EPQ is worth 28 UCAS points, exactly half an A-level A* at 56. An A is 24, a B is 20, a C is 16, a D is 12 and an E is 8.
Is an EPQ the same size as an AS-level?
In tariff terms both count as half an A-level, but the grade scales differ. The EPQ runs up to A*, worth 28 points, while the AS scale stops at A, worth 20. So a top EPQ result actually outscores a top AS result.
Do EPQ points count if my offer is in grades?
Not directly. A grade offer such as AAB names A-level grades, and the EPQ cannot substitute for any of them. Some universities soften grade offers for EPQ students though, for example accepting ABB with an A in the EPQ instead of AAB. The course page will say.
Can EPQ points make up for a missed A-level grade?
In a points-based offer, yes, the arithmetic is all that matters and 28 points can cover a dropped grade. In a grade-based offer, no. If you are short on results day, ring the university: they decide borderline cases on the whole picture.