Q: What does 70RP vs 90RP: What the New A-Level University Admission Score Means for IP Students cover? A: From AY2026 admissions the maximum University Admission Score (UAS) used by universities is expressed on a 70-point scale (instead of 90), with PW becoming pass/fail and the fourth content subject counted only if it improves your score.
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The one-line change
Best 3 H2 + GP form the base 70-point score
Grade conversion
Quick reference: grade-to-point conversion
Old vs new system
Snapshot - old 90RP vs new 70RP
Whether extra subjects help
How the 70RP is calculated
Concrete example: what changed
Under the revised score, a core H2 grade carries more weight because the base score is GP plus the best three H2 subjects. If H2 Maths or H2 Physics is central to your target course, treat each weighted assessment as signal for university readiness, not just a school checkpoint.
TL;DR Three H2s + General Paper will decide ≈86%(60/70)
Status: Current university admissions pages still use the revised AY2026 UAS framing: GP and three H2 content subjects form the base score, PW is a pass/fail eligibility requirement, and the fourth content subject or MTL is counted only if it improves UAS. Always confirm programme prerequisites and application rules on each university's admissions pages.
Quick reference: grade-to-point conversion
H2 Grade
Points
H1 Grade
Points
A
20
A
10
B
17.5
B
8.75
C
15
C
7.5
D
12.5
D
6.25
E
10
E
5
Base UAS = Best 3 H2 + GP (max 70). The 4th content subject and H1 MTL are only counted if they improve your score via rebasing (see Section 2 below).
1 Snapshot - old 90RP vs new 70RP
Feature
A-Levels 2024 or earlier (legacy 90-point computation)
A-Levels 2025 and after (revised framework used from AY2026 admissions)
Content subjects counted
Best 4 content subjects (at least 3 H2; the 4th is H1, or the weakest H2 is treated as H1).
Best 3 H2 + GP form the base UAS. The 4th content subject (H1, or the weakest H2 treated as H1) and/or H1 MTL are only counted if they improve the final UAS (via rebasing).
General Paper
10 pts
10 pts (unchanged)
Project Work
10 pts (counted in score)
Pass / fail, no points (but Pass is required for eligibility)
Max score (base case)
3×20+10+10+10=90
3×20+10=70
Weight of each H2 A
9020=22.2%
7020≈28.6%
Who is “first affected”
-
AY2026 admissions (first affected: A-Levels 2025)
Important transition note (repeat applicants): If you sat for A-Levels in 2024 or earlier, universities may still compute a legacy /90 score for AY2026 to AY2027 applications, then proportionately weight it to the /70 scale for comparison. From AY2028 admissions, UAS is computed on the /70 scale regardless of exam year.
2 How the 70RP is calculated
Each H2 grade still maps to a maximum of 20 rank points and H1 General Paper maps to a maximum of 10.
Let H21,H22,H23 be the best three H2 content subjects (after converting grades to rank points) and GP the GP rank points.
2.1 Base UAS (default)
The default University Admission Score is:
UAS70=H21+H22+H23+GP.(1)
2.2 What exactly is the “4th content subject”?
The “4th content subject” depends on your subject offering:
If you offer 3 H2 + 1 H1 content subjects, the “4th” is your H1 content subject (max 10).
If you offer 4 H2 content subjects, the “4th” refers to your weakest H2, treated as an H1-equivalent for UAS purposes (max 10).
2.3 Optional subjects: only counted if they improve UAS (rebasing)
If you present either:
an H1 content subject / fourth H2 treated as H1-equivalent (call this X, max 10), and/or
H1 Mother Tongue Language (call this MTL, max 10),
then your score may be computed with “rebasing” - and only used if it increases your final UAS.
Include either ONE of (X OR MTL):UAS70=(80H21+H22+H23+GP+X)×70.(2)
Include BOTH (X AND MTL):UAS70=(90H21+H22+H23+GP+X+MTL)×70.(3)
Key takeaway: your UAS will not be “punished” for taking an extra subject - the fourth content subject / MTL are only brought in if they improve the final UAS.
2.4 PW: pass/fail, but still a gate
Project Work now appears on the certificate as Pass / Fail, and its old PW=10 contribution in the 90RP computation is removed from UAS.
However, a Pass in PW is still required for eligibility for local AU admissions (with exceptions such as some private candidates / exempted cases).
2.5 Quick math shortcut (optional, for planning)
If your base score from (1) is S, and you're considering whether adding one optional 10-point subject via (2) can help:
(80S+X)×70>S⟺X>7S.
So:
if S≈66, you typically need X≈10 (an H1 A / H1-equivalent A) to move the needle;
if S≈60, even X=8.75 (an H1 B) may help.
2.6 Rebasing “scenario cheat sheet” (so you don’t overthink it)
Rebasing is designed so you aren’t punished for taking an extra subject - but it also means the extra subject might not help.
Use these as intuition builders (not a substitute for the actual calculation):
If your base UAS is already very high, only an A (or near-A) H1-equivalent tends to improve it. (Because the scaling down from /80 or /90 can cancel out a “not-perfect” bonus.)
If your base UAS is mid-range, an extra “solid” H1-equivalent grade can help. That’s why some students see their 4th content subject matter, while others don’t.
If your H1 MTL is strong, it can matter - but only if it improves your final computed UAS. Don’t assume it always counts; calculate (or use a calculator) to confirm.
3 Why IP Maths & Physics students must recalibrate
3.1 Harder to “average out” a missed A
Under the 90RP scheme an A in H2 Maths contributed 22% of the cap score; under 70RP it jumps to 28.6%.
So a single A→B slip in a core H2 is now harder to offset with GP/PW.
3.2 Subject-combination strategy (what matters vs what is still required)
STEM hopefuls should anchor three H2s that the admissions algorithm always counts: H2 Maths, H2 Physics and a companion (H2 Chem or H2 Further Maths). Your contrasting subject is still required at A-Levels - but its grade becomes a buffer rather than a guaranteed “must-count”.
Hybrid combinations such as Maths-Physics-Econs retain breadth, but the Math and Physics tuition clocks must adjust - each slip directly cuts the base UAS.
For a full breakdown of how to structure your H2/H1 choices across Science and Arts tracks, see our A-Level subject combination guide.
Tuition calendars should now front-load Term 1 WA drills on calculus (Maths) and uncertainty spreadsheets (Physics), because those two H2s can easily dominate ≈40/70 of the score by themselves.
Upgrade PW prep to pass/fail mode (but don't ignore it). You no longer chase PW points, but you still must clear the Pass requirement. Focus on meeting the rubric efficiently, lock the Pass early, then redeploy time to H2s.
Use LINEST for Physics labs. A 4% gradient error can translate into a full grade step; the 70RP leaves less headroom to absorb that loss.
Add X=8.75 through (2): (8066.25+8.75)×70=65.625, which is lower.
So the H1 Econs grade is not counted here.
The same 2.5-point slip represents a larger share of the cap under 70RP (3.6%) than under 90RP (2.8%): 702.5=3.6% vs 902.5=2.8% - the absolute delta is identical, but the relative penalty is higher under the new system.
5.2 Fourth subject rescue (two different “rescues”)
Rescue A: take 4 H2s so the best 3 H2s can be used.
If the student adds H2 Further Mathematics and scores an A (20 RP), the best three H2s become 20+20+20, so:
UAS70=20+20+20+8.75=68.75RP.
Rescue B: a strong H1 (or H1-equivalent) can sometimes bump you via rebasing.
Using the shortcut X>S/7, if your base S is around 60, even an H1 B (8.75) may help.
But if your base S is already mid/high-60s, you usually need an H1 A (10) to see a gain - and even then it's often a small nudge.
5.3 H1 Mother Tongue rebasing example (when it helps)
Suppose a student gets:
H2 Maths: B (17.5)
H2 Physics: A (20)
H2 Chemistry: B (17.5)
GP: E (5)
H1 Mother Tongue: B (8.75)
Base S=17.5+20+17.5+5=60.
Apply (2) with MTL=8.75:
(8060+8.75)×70=60.15625.
So H1 Mother Tongue gives a small increase, and would be included.
5.4 When BOTH the 4th content subject and H1 MTL help
Using the same base S=60, suppose the student also has an H1 content subject (or a weakest H2 treated as H1-equivalent) with X=8.75, and H1 Mother Tongue MTL=8.75.
Apply (3) with both:
(9060+8.75+8.75)×70≈60.278.
This is slightly higher than using just one optional subject via (2), so in a borderline case both can matter.
5.5 4 H2s: the weakest H2 doesn’t “drag you down”
Suppose a student offers 4 H2s and scores:
H2 Maths: A (20)
H2 Physics: A (20)
H2 Chemistry: B (17.5)
H2 Economics: E (10)
GP: B (8.75)
Base uses the best three H2s:
S=20+20+17.5+8.75=66.25.
The weakest H2 is treated as an H1-equivalent optional subject (max 10). Here, grade E corresponds to X=5.
Rebasing with (2):
(8066.25+5)×70=62.34375,
which is lower, so it is ignored and the final UAS remains 66.25.
6 FAQ
When does the 70-point UAS apply? From AY2026 admissions onwards. The first affected cohort is those sitting A-Levels in 2025 (i.e. JC1 in 2024). For applicants who sat A-Levels in 2024 or earlier, universities may compute a legacy /90 score for AY2026 to AY2027 applications and then proportionately weight it to /70. From AY2028 admissions, UAS is computed on the /70 scale regardless of exam year.
Is Project Work now unimportant? PW no longer contributes points to UAS, but a Pass is required to be eligible for local AU admission (with exceptions such as private candidates / exempted cases). Failing PW can mean you need to re-take it, depending on your situation and school's assessment.
Does the 4th subject still matter? Yes - but only if it improves your final UAS. That means it's a buffer, not a guaranteed component. Strategically, it's still worth doing properly because it can rescue borderline cases.
What about Knowledge & Inquiry (KI)? From AY2026 admissions, KI is no longer considered in lieu of GP (if offered, it's treated as a content-based subject). This matters mainly for students on older syllabuses / legacy cases.
Will university COPs “fall by exactly 20 points”? Don't treat it as “minus 20”. The scale changed, and admissions also depend on subject prerequisites, demand, interviews/tests (for some courses), and aptitude-based admissions. Use the latest IGP / admissions guidance from each university and compare carefully across years.
How is the 70-point score calculated? Add your best 3 H2 grades (max 20 each) plus GP (max 10) to get your base UAS out of 70. If your 4th content subject or H1 MTL improves the total via rebasing, it is included; otherwise it is ignored. See Section 2 above for the full formulas.
Does my 4th H2 count towards RP70? Only if it helps. If you take 4 H2s, your weakest H2 is treated as an H1-equivalent (max 10 points) and only included via rebasing if it raises your final UAS. Your base UAS always uses your best 3 H2s.
How do I convert from the old 90-point system? You cannot simply subtract 20. The 70-point scale removes PW points and changes how the 4th subject is handled. Universities may proportionately weight legacy 90-point scores to the 70-point scale for AY2026 to AY2027 applications. From AY2028, all scores use the 70-point computation.
What is rebasing and does it apply to me? Rebasing is the mechanism that checks whether adding your 4th content subject and/or H1 MTL improves your UAS. The extra subjects are scaled (divided by 80 or 90, then multiplied by 70) and only used if the result is higher than your base score. It applies to everyone under the new system - the calculation is automatic.
