What does Extenuating Circumstances actually do?

I put in my application that I had extenuating circumstances for GCSE's and Year 12 mocks that affected my predicted grades. What does the universities actually use the extenuating circumstances? Does it mean it may make it more likely to give you an offer? Or is it that they will take it into consideration on Results Day and give you the place if you narrowly miss your grades, as my circumstances will affect my actual A-Levels too? I'm just a bit worried as I applied to Warwick Accounting and Finance with AAA predicted and was given an offer of A*AA a few days and am unsure if I can actually achieve that.

Reply 1

McGinger

Either or both.

Yes, they may decide to overlook a lower GCSE grade profile etc. Yes, they may still consider you for an offer with slightly lower predicted A level grades. May. There are no guarantees and every Uni - and every course - will have a different agenda about 'Mit Circs' and what is possible.

They will not lower the grades in any offer they make you. However, on Results Day they will take your 'Mit Circs' into consideration. This doesn't mean you would be accepted on Results Day automatically with whatever grades you achieve. It just means that, depending on the pressure for places, and the grades you had achieved, you would be on the priority list for 'near miss' acceptance.

Bristol's explanation of how this works there -
Extenuating circumstances | Study at Bristol | University of Bristol
and at Birmingham -
Policy for applicants with extenuating circumstances - University of Birmingham