In any event most of us have quite unrealistic expectations for our exam results so, I would not suggest that you immediately think that there has been a mistake in marking your scripts. Even with the recent poor administration of grading exams, it is still rare that a student’s grade is improved upon remarking.

What to do?
If you have missed your offer(s) by a small margin you should contact the admissions department of the faculty of the universities to which you applied; they may still be willing to accept you.
If you have been rejected by the universities whose offers you accepted, you will be sent a clearing card and may wish to enter the clearing system. Remember that few degree courses have specific subject requirements at A level so you might wish to explore new possibilities. Information about courses is available on a daily basis in the Independent newspaper.
Taking a gap year might be for you. Travel and work experience often deepen academic desire and thus make the years following at university more enjoyable and productive.

Resitting
Naturally we would like you to consider this option but take pride in not encouraging students to do so unless they are properly informed. For example, if you have achieved DEE grades your chances of winning a place to study Medicine are very small.

Colleges like Ashbourne can offer surprising opportunities. Perhaps most important is the informal atmosphere which characterises most tutorial colleges. Much like universities, they treat students as adults and avoid the often annoying regimentation of schools. In short, attending a college makes a clean break with the past  is capable of instilling new enthusiasm and dispels the notion of failure.

Because of our examination-orientation. we are often called ‘crammers’; we make no apologies for our chosen focus which is successful more often than not and are proud of our record with resit candidates.

Small classes and outstanding teachers provide an ideal setting for education with an academic focus. Students learn quickly because of the constant stream of homework, assignments and tests and are left in no doubt about their strengths and weaknesses.

Finally tutorial colleges are expert in the application to university and spend long hours with their candidates preparing an effective ucas form. Certainly worth considering!