Guides
Guides to UCAS points and the routes around them
Longer than an FAQ, shorter than a prospectus. Each guide answers one question the calculator tends to raise, in plain English, with the honest bits left in.
All guides
Do BTECs count for UCAS points?
Yes, and in some cases they score higher than A levels. Which BTECs are on the Tariff, how the letter grades convert, and the two situations where the points do not help.
4 minute read · September 2026 GuideHow UCAS Tariff points work
Size bands, grade bands and the arithmetic behind the number on your calculator, plus the three things the Tariff was never designed to do.
4 minute read · September 2026 GuideRoutes into university without A levels
Six ways people reach degree-level study without the classic three A levels, what each one costs in time, and which of them carry UCAS Tariff points.
4 minute read · September 2026 GuideWhat a Level 3 diploma leads to
The honest map from an OTHM or Qualifi Level 3 diploma through Level 4 and 5 towards a degree, what each stage means, and who makes the decisions.
4 minute read · September 2026 GuideWhat are UCAS points worth, grade by grade
A walk through the values that matter most, why an A level C and a BTEC Merit are the same, and the common totals that university offers are built around.
4 minute read · September 2026Not sure which route fits? Ask someone who will tell you straight.
We are an independent agent, not LSPM's sales team, and we will say whether a UCAS application, an Access course or a Level 3 diploma is the better option for you, even when the answer earns this site nothing. Replies within two working days.