Rockschool music qualifications are tailor-made for the contemporary musician.
UCAS Points
RSL Awards’ qualifications aid progression into Higher Education. We have a huge range of qualifications at Level 3 that carry UCAS Points. This page explains what UCAS is, what UCAS Points are, and the amount of UCAS Points our qualifications carry.
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UCAS (Universities & Colleges Admissions Service) is a clearing house for applications to almost all full-time undergraduate degree programmes at UK universities and colleges.
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UCAS rates qualifications and awards them a tariff score based on various factors. The points accrued by completing multiple qualifications which are on the UCAS tariff can be combined together to meet University entry requirements.
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UCAS tariff points have changed for entry to Higher Education in 2017 and beyond. All qualifications in the new system carry far fewer points than was previously the case.
All qualifications have been reassessed by UCAS and had a new rating applied. For example a Grade A* at A Level used to carry 140 points under the old tariff. The same A* grade would now carry 56 points under the new system.
All of RSL’s qualifications have retained their value relative to equivalent qualifications from other Awarding Organisations.
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The following is a list of all our current qualifications which carry UCAS points:
Graded Music Exams and UCAS Points
Which Graded Music Exams carry UCAS Points?
Rockschool
Rockschool’s Electric Guitar, Acoustic Guitar, Bass, Drums, Vocals, Piano, Keyboard, Horn Section, Ukulele, Music Theory and Music Production Grades 6, 7 & 8 all have UCAS points.
Instrument Music Grades (including Music Production)
See the table below for the UCAS points awarded for a given Grade Level (Grade Exam, Graded Certificate & Performance Certificate), grade boundary and mark:
| Grade | Pass | Merit | Distinction |
|---|---|---|---|
| Grade 6 | 8 points | 10 points | 12 points |
| Grade 7 | 12 points | 14 points | 16 points |
| Grade 8 | 18 points | 24 points | 30 points |
Where a candidate has taken more than one exam in one instrument, they can only put forward the exam which gave them the highest number of points. However, where points are awarded for graded exams in different instruments, these can be accumulated, but it would be the decision of the university or college whether or not they choose to accept both sets of points.
Music Theory
See the table below for the UCAS points awarded for a given Music Theory grade and mark:
| Grade | Pass | Merit | Distinction |
|---|---|---|---|
| Grade 6 | 4 points | 5 points | 6 points |
| Grade 7 | 6 points | 7 points | 8 points |
| Grade 8 | 8 points | 9 points | 10 points |
Purchase your graded music exam entry
Booking your graded music exam is an extremely simple process. Whether you want to take your exam in person or online, simply purchase your exam entry from our online shop before completing your exam details via your RSL Awards secure account.
Performance Arts Awards
Which Performance Arts Exams carry UCAS Points?
Performance Arts Award’s Level 3 (Grade 6, 7 & 8) Examinations carry UCAS points, enabling them to help with entry to university. The following is a list of all our Performance Arts qualifications which carry UCAS points:
Musical Theatre Grades 6 – 8
Acting Grades 6 – 8
Screen Acting Grades 6 – 8
Public Speaking Grades 6 – 8
Jazz Dance Grades 6 – 8
Street Dance Grades 6 – 8
UCAS Points Awarded for Musical Theatre, Acting, Screen Acting and Public Speaking Exams
See the table below for the UCAS points awarded for a given grade and mark:
| Grade | Pass | Merit | Distinction |
|---|---|---|---|
| Grade 6 | 8 points | 10 points | 12 points |
| Grade 7 | 12 points | 14 points | 16 points |
| Grade 8 | 24 points | 27 points | 30 points |
UCAS Points Awarded for Dance Exams
See the table below for the UCAS points awarded for a given grade and mark:
| Grade | Pass | Merit | Distinction |
|---|---|---|---|
| Grade 6 | 8 points | 10 points | 12 points |
| Grade 7 | 12 points | 14 points | 16 points |
| Grade 8 | 16 points | 18 points | 20 points |
Where a candidate has taken more than one exam, they can only put forward the exam which gave them the highest number of points
Vocational Qualifications
UCAS Points Awarded for Music Practitioners (Vocational Qualifications)
See the table below for the UCAS points awarded for a given qualification and mark:
| Qualification | Pass | Merit | Distinction | Distinction* |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Level 3 Certificate | 4 | 8 | 12 | 14 |
| Level 3 Extended Certificate | 8 | 16 | 24 | 28 |
| Level 3 Subsidiary Diploma | 24 | 48 | 72 | 84 |
| Level 3 Diploma | 32 | 64 | 96 | 112 |
| Level 3 Extended Diploma | 48 | 96 | 144 | 168 |
UCAS Points Awarded for Creative Music Industry (Vocational Qualifications)
See the table below for the UCAS points awarded for a given qualification and mark:
| Qualification | Pass | Merit | Distinction | Distinction* |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Level 3 Award | 4 | 8 | 12 | 14 |
| Level 3 Certificate | 8 | 16 | 24 | 28 |
| Level 3 Extended Certificate | 16 | 32 | 48 | 56 |
| Level 3 Subsidiary Diploma | 24 | 48 | 72 | 84 |
| Level 3 Diploma | 32 | 64 | 96 | 112 |
| Level 3 Extended Diploma | 48 | 96 | 144 | 168 |
UCAS Points Awarded for Creative
& Performing Arts (Vocational Qualifications)
See the table below for the UCAS points awarded for a given qualification and mark:
| Qualification | Pass | Merit | Distinction | Distinction* |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Level 3 Certificate | 8 | 16 | 24 | 28 |
| Level 3 Extended Certificate | 8 | 16 | 24 | 28 |
| Level 3 Subsidiary Diploma | 16 | 32 | 48 | 56 |
| Level 3 Diploma | 24 | 48 | 72 | 84 |
| Level 3 Extended Diploma | 48 | 96 | 144 | 168 |
UCAS Points Awarded for Creative
Digital Media (Vocational Qualifications)
See the table below for the UCAS points awarded for a given qualification and mark:
| Qualification | Pass | Merit | Distinction | Distinction* |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Level 3 Award | 4 | 8 | 12 | 14 |
| Level 3 Certificate | 8 | 16 | 24 | 28 |
| Level 3 Extended Certificate | 16 | 32 | 48 | 56 |
| Level 3 Subsidiary Diploma | 24 | 48 | 72 | 84 |
| Level 3 Diploma | 32 | 64 | 96 | 112 |
| Level 3 Extended Diploma | 48 | 96 | 144 | 168 |
Related Links
View the Official UCAS Website for more information.
