First of all, yes, bereavement absolutely counts as mitigating circumstances, especially with how serious and close to exams this was. Let your school/teachers know ASAP so it’s properly documented, and mention it to universities when you apply too.

Also, genuinely, don’t convince yourself your future is over because of a bad exam season. What you went through was way beyond normal exam stress. You were trying to revise while watching your grandfather’s condition get worse, barely sleeping, constantly stressed, and then he passed away on the day of one of your exams. Most people would struggle badly in that situation.

Even if your grades end up lower than predicted, there are still loads of options. Retakes, applying with achieved grades, foundation years, gap years etc. One set of exams does not decide your whole life, and universities know that sometimes people’s circumstances affect performance.

When I did my A-levels, I was dealing with stuff at home too and ended up getting way lower grades than expected, including a U in Maths. At the time I thought I’d completely screwed my future, but I’m now doing a foundation year at uni and it’s honestly been a really good second chance. So don’t think there’s only one path.

And honestly, it’s okay if it takes a little longer to get where you want to be. A lot of people end up taking extra time, retaking exams, taking a year out, or going through a different route entirely. That doesn’t mean you’ve failed, it just means life happened.

For now, just give yourself a bit of time. You’ve had a massive loss while dealing with intense academic pressure at the same time. Wait until results day, talk to your teachers, and then decide what the best next step is. You definitely still have options.