A Level to CAO Points Calculator
Use this A level to CAO points calculator to turn your A level, AS and EPQ grades into CAO points, by the best of CAO's four combinations.
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Rules as of CAO's GCE A-level/AS Level/GCSE scoring page, 2027 entry cycle. Last reviewed 2026-11-05.
Rule set: CAO's GCE A-level/AS Level/GCSE scoring page, 2027 entry cycle. Enter A level results from one sitting, and AS results from that sitting or the one before.
Put Mathematics, Further Mathematics or Pure Mathematics at A level in the Maths row: only one of them earns the bonus. Leave it blank if you took no maths A level. Do not enter the same subject at both A level and AS.
Rule set: CAO's GCE scoring
CAO points = the best of four combinations of A levels (best-three rate) and AS or EPQ results (lower rate), plus 25 for a maths A level that counts
Rules as of CAO's GCE A-level/AS Level/GCSE scoring page, 2027 entry cycle. Status: confirmed against CAO: GCE A-level/AS Level/GCSE on 4 November 2026.
- Best-three rate: A* 192, A 165, B 142, C 120, D 100, E 67.
- Lower rate, for a fourth A level, an AS or the EPQ: A* 24, A 24, B 20, C 18, D 16, E 14.
- 25 bonus points: For E or better in A level Mathematics, for only one of Mathematics, Further Mathematics or Pure Mathematics, and only if that subject is used for scoring.
- The same subject cannot be counted at both A level and AS.
- The EPQ is scored as an AS, with A* available.
- A sitting is one academic year: 2027 runs from September 2026 to August 2027.
- AS results may come from the previous or the same sitting as the A levels.
- Colleges, not CAO, decide how qualifications are evaluated.
GradeCat's own step: CAO says the bonus counts only for a subject used for scoring, so the calculator adds it inside each combination that counts a maths A level, then takes the highest total.
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How to use this A level to CAO points calculator
- Pick your maths A level grade in the first row, if you took one: Mathematics, Further Mathematics or Pure Mathematics.
- For each other result, pick A level, AS or EPQ with its grade. Names are optional. Add result gives you more rows.
- The calculator tries CAO's four combinations and keeps the one with the most points. A dash in a row means that result does not count.
How CAO scores A levels
CAO's GCE scoring page gives each grade two values. The best three A levels score at the higher rate. A fourth A level, an AS or the EPQ scores at the lower rate.
| Grade | Best three A levels | Fourth A level, AS or EPQ |
|---|---|---|
| A* | 192 | 24 |
| A | 165 | 24 |
| B | 142 | 20 |
| C | 120 | 18 |
| D | 100 | 16 |
| E | 67 | 14 |
An AS runs from A to E. The EPQ is scored as an AS, but it can also have an A*, worth 24.
CAO's four combinations
CAO works out each of these and takes the one with the most points:
- The three best A levels, plus a fourth A level at the lower rate.
- The three best A levels, plus the best AS or EPQ.
- The two best A levels, plus the two best AS or EPQ results.
- The best A level, plus the three best AS or EPQ results.
CAO points = the best of four combinations of A levels (best-three rate) and AS or EPQ results (lower rate), plus 25 for a maths A level that counts
Worked example: 544 points
This example comes from GradeCat's research on CAO's rules: A* in maths, A in physics and B in chemistry at A level, and a B in biology at AS.
| Combination | Sum | Points |
|---|---|---|
| Four A levels | 192 + 165 + 142 + 25 | 524 |
| Three A levels and an AS | 192 + 165 + 142 + 20 + 25 | 544 |
| Two A levels and two AS | 192 + 165 + 20 + 25 | 402 |
| One A level and three AS | 192 + 20 + 25 | 237 |
The student has only three A levels, so the first combination has no fourth. The best is three A levels and the AS: 192 + 165 + 142 + 20 + 25 = 544. The 25 is the maths bonus.
The maths bonus
CAO adds 25 bonus points for E or better in A level Mathematics. It counts for only one of Mathematics, Further Mathematics or Pure Mathematics, and only if that subject is used for scoring. Maths at AS earns no bonus.
Made-up example: A* in three subjects and E in maths, all at A level. Maths is the fourth A level, at the lower rate: 3 × 192 + 14 + 25 = 615. It counts toward the total, so the bonus counts too.
GradeCat's own step: CAO says the bonus is for a subject used for scoring, so the calculator adds it inside each combination that counts a maths A level, then takes the highest total.
Sittings and subjects
- The same subject cannot be counted at both A level and AS.
- The EPQ is scored as an AS, with A* available.
- A sitting is one academic year: 2027 runs from September 2026 to August 2027.
- AS results may come from the previous or the same sitting as the A levels.
- Colleges, not CAO, decide how qualifications are evaluated. Check each course's entry requirements with the college.
What is not covered
- GCSEs: CAO's page names them, but the research did not record how they score, so this calculator leaves them out.
- Leaving Certificate grades: use the CAO Points Calculator for those.
A level to CAO points FAQ
How many CAO points is an A* at A level?
192 for one of your best three A levels. As a fourth A level, or as an EPQ, an A* is worth 24.
How many CAO points is A*AA?
192 + 165 + 165 = 522 from three A levels. With maths among them, add the 25 bonus for 547.
Does an AS level count for CAO points?
Yes, at the lower rate: an A is 24 and a B is 20. CAO takes whichever of its four combinations gives you the most points.
Do I get the maths bonus for Further Maths too?
No. The 25 bonus points count for only one of Mathematics, Further Mathematics or Pure Mathematics, and only if it is used for scoring.
Can I combine AS results from an earlier year?
Yes. CAO says AS results may come from the previous sitting or the same sitting as the A levels.
Related tools
- CAO Points Calculator: CAO points from Leaving Certificate grades.
- How CAO points work: the Leaving Cert grid, the best six and the maths bonus.
- UCAS Points Calculator: UCAS Tariff points for the same A levels.
- All tools for Ireland
Sources
Cite this page
GradeCat. (2026, November 5). A Level to CAO Points Calculator. https://gradecat.com/ie/a-level-cao-points-calculator/
This is an estimate, not an official result. Your university or board decides the official one. Found a wrong result? Report it.