<p>Well if it helps, I was working on my own university applications and I was in the exact same situation as you a few years ago. I was predicted a 37, but ended up with like a 27 or so if my memory serves correctly (it just feels so long ago now). I can personally say what you heard is true to a great extent - it depends on your school and the type of offer you were given. </p>
<p>If your school is extremely competitive, or if you lack the same quality of recommendation letters, or if you didn’t even do that well in your mock exams, then the offer you receive might be more dependent on your final grades. However, despite my drop I was given the chance to go to UW - a very great school in the USA by all rankings. Either way, you should be emailing to your school admissions officer and international student services officer (equivalents) what happened, asap. Give them a call too, and if they have any forms for you to fill out, do that. The earlier you can explain (and the more prepared you sound in your email/call), the higher chance you will have.</p>
<p>Also, don’t try to make up some weird story about what dragged your points down. They deal with thousands of students every year, anything you can come up with - they’ve probably dealt with before.</p>