Would I be entitled to extenuating circumstances?

I was diagnosed with autism just over three weeks before my AS level exams (April 2024) at the age of 17. I was granted extra time and rest breaks in those exams. I was also given a bit of extra help from my teachers but all of this has come just a few weeks before the exams so I feel it is a bit late to fully help this year.
The diagnosis also sort of caught me off guard as I was expecting to be told that I wasn't autistic. For this reason, I've been feeling quite shocked and upset lately. Having many panic attacks in school and become immensely stressed and preoccupied with the diagnosis which has led to me not really focusing on my studies as much as I should be/would if I was not in this situation.
I would say that I had pretty average GCSEs (3 As, 6 Bs and 1 C). The annoying thing is that I was only 1/2 marks off the next grade boundary in many of the exams and struggled with timings so I truly believe that if I did have extra time when I sat them last year I would've done far better.
I obviously don't have my AS results yet so I am not fully sure how I did but I don't think it was great. I am also quite possibly dropping one of my subjects at the end of the year as I truly just don't get along with it (History) and possibly taking up another AS such as French. I am currently predicted BBB but my teachers and I are confident that I can increase that with some extra support now that we are all aware of my additional learning needs.
I currently do Economics, Geography and History. I am VERY interested in International Relations (probably the autism lmao) so that is probably what I would choose to pursue at uni. I would also say that I have relatively strong extra/super curricular (volunteering abroad, work experience in Wales and Canada, lots of wider reading etc.).
Essentially, what I am asking is would this count as extenuating circumstances and would I have a chance at getting into some better universities like Cardiff, Exeter, St Andrews, LSE, KCL, UCL, Bath, Warwick, Edinburgh? This would be for 2025 entry by the way.

(edited 10 months ago)

Reply 1

McGinger

20

Its worth your school mentioning this 'late diagnosis' in your UCAS reference so that this can be considered alongside your GCSE results. Make sure they are aware.

See the info from Bristol for the additional form that you/yourschool need to complete - read the notes carefully - Extenuating circumstances | Study at Bristol | University of Bristol Each Uni will have their own form to complete.

This would not give you a lower grade A level offer, and whilst it might mean that you would be given 'extra consideration' next August if you just missed the offer grades, this does not give you any guarantees of acceptance by any of these Unis.

Original post by lil_a_lil_a

I was diagnosed with autism just over three weeks before my AS level exams (April 2024) at the age of 17. I was granted extra time and rest breaks in those exams. I was also given a bit of extra help from my teachers but all of this has come just a few weeks before the exams so I feel it is a bit late to fully help this year.
The diagnosis also sort of caught me off guard as I was expecting to be told that I wasn't autistic. For this reason, I've been feeling quite shocked and upset lately. Having many panic attacks in school and become immensely stressed and preoccupied with the diagnosis which has led to me not really focusing on my studies as much as I should be/would if I was not in this situation.
I would say that I had pretty average GCSEs (3 As, 6 Bs and 1 C). The annoying thing is that I was only 1/2 marks off the next grade boundary in many of the exams and struggled with timings so I truly believe that if I did have extra time when I sat them last year I would've done far better.
I obviously don't have my AS results yet so I am not fully sure how I did but I don't think it was great. I am also quite possibly dropping one of my subjects at the end of the year as I truly just don't get along with it (History) and possibly taking up another AS such as French. I am currently predicted BBB but my teachers and I are confident that I can increase that with some extra support now that we are all aware of my additional learning needs.
I currently do Economics, Geography and History. I am VERY interested in International Relations (probably the autism lmao) so that is probably what I would choose to pursue at uni. I would also say that I have relatively strong extra/super curricular (volunteering abroad, work experience in Wales and Canada, lots of wider reading etc.).
Essentially, what I am asking is would this count as extenuating circumstances and would I have a chance at getting into some better universities like Cardiff, Exeter, St Andrews, LSE, KCL, UCL, Bath, Warwick, Edinburgh? This would be for 2025 entry by the way.

Hi there,

As McGinger has said, each uni will most likely approach this differently. With Cardiff, the minimum GCSE grades you need for International Relations is a 6 in GCSE English. Most universities (including Cardiff) don't count AS levels as part of the entry requirement - it is usually A-Levels, it is quite early on, and your AS predicted grades may change when you start your 2nd year of A-Levels 🙂 But getting advice from unis for reassurance is always helpful, so if you were interested in attending Cardiff University still, I would recommend contacting admissions team here to ask about your circumstances.

~ Fatiha, Cardiff University Student Rep

Would I be entitled to extenuating circumstances?

Quick Reply

Related discussions

Articles for you