This may all look complicated, but don’t be fooled — it’s not half as easy as it appears. Even though the whole point of the system is that every point is of equal value, some are more equal than others.

Universities not only expect you to get the points, they’ll expect them to be the right points — points that are relevant to whatever you want to study. If you want to study Spanish, for example, it doesn’t really matter how many points you have if your Español only extends to knowing the chorus to ‘Livin’ La Vida Loca’. The same is true for most courses — especially sciences, languages and, to a lesser extent, social sciences and arts.

You don’t have to have A Level statistics to study it at university, but they’ll be looking for maths. Similarly, for genetics, biotechnology and botany, it’d be good to have some biology on show (by which we don’t mean wearing a short skirt to the interview).

Of course, if you want to do something out of the blue — philosophy, for instance — then A Level philosophy is a first step, but pretty much anything will help you get your boots on. The same goes for many modular courses and other mixed bag degrees, where your qualifications can be as wide as the selection of subjects you want to bundle together.

So far so good, that takes care of A Levels and Highers, but how about points racked up on other qualifications?

Push is not dismissing vocational A Levels — however, unless you want to study a directly relevant vocational degree, or at least something in the ball park, then there’s no way they’re actually worth twice the points of regular A Levels to most universities.

Similarly with AS levels — when it comes down to the wire, they may make all the difference, but probably not until then. Points from AS levels only really count when they back up your choice of what you want to study or when they’re straight out of left field — doing English, say, when your A Levels are all sciences shows you can string a sentence together as well as crunch numbers.

As for Key Skills, only a handful of universities (so far) are taking them particularly seriously. Since, in practice, you have to demonstrate you have them in your personal statement on your UCAS form anyway, most universities will give you just as much credit if you write a good statement and can show you’re rounded (personality-wise, rather than just fat).

As well as the above, there’s a bucketful of other qualifications, certificates and brownie badges that may or may not translate into the UCAS points tariff — the International Baccalaureate, for a start. But when all’s said and done, it’s not about points. Universities can’t pick and choose applicants based on that alone. (Well, they can, but they’re doing nobody any favours.)

So, whatever points are listed for a course, take it as a guide only and ask yourself whether you’re likely to get something like the right score in something like the right subjects.

If a previous record in the subject is likely to be important or you’re not getting all your points from regular A Levels and Highers, then aim to get a bit past whatever score the university suggests.

Either way, think about what else you have to offer. You can make yourself a whole deal more attractive — and even make up for points — with a good personal statement, with relevant or interesting experiences or with a good interview.

And remember, you’ve got five spaces. One for somewhere that wants the best score you’re likely to achieve, at least one at well below par and so on.

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