To what extent will I be disadvantaged? I got 3As in A-level one year early and resit

Hi all! I am an international student and exchanged in the UK last year in year 11 (AS year). Because I have learned most of the knowledge in my home country already, I took A2 full A-level one year early in Math, Further Math (both AQA), and Economics (Edx), but unfortunately, the results were AAAs and not as good as I expected to be honest. The school I went to did not provide further math and economics but because I intended to apply for economics as an undergraduate major, so I did both. My goal is the best universities in the UK for economics (Cam, LSE, UCL, Warrick, etc.), and I am fully aware that the competition is intensive, especially for international students, so I decided to take a gap year and apply for 25 entry instead of 24. I chose to retake all my subjects in the CAIE exam board. Ideally, I will have 2A*s in Math and Further math 3A*s in economics, physics, and EPQ predicted, and 6 IGCSE A*s. I have good extracurricular activities and can write reflective PS. My goal will be 8+ for TMUA and I believe I can listen and react fast in the interview (I will prepare those in the summer). I think my profile will be strong, but the biggest concern is that I retake too many subjects (although I took them one year earlier than most students). Top universities are usually strict about retakes, for example, Cambridge says too many resites will raise concern and be disadvantaged, UCL's math and economic department says they don't accept retakes, etc. I am not sure about what is the principle and logic behind those considerations. Because my case is quite special, I want to ask if I am very disadvantaged in admission unlikely to get into Cam or LSE, and completely impossible to get into UCL. How can I improve my chances and prove to admission officers that I am academically good even if I retook so many subjects... Thanks for your time and help! Really appreciate

Reply 1

ageshallnot

Make sure that your referee explains the reasons for taking exams early and the resulting resits.

Reply 2

Yiheng

Original post by ageshallnot

Make sure that your referee explains the reasons for taking exams early and the resulting resits.

Thanks, what kind of reasons are justified and acceptable?

Reply 3

ageshallnot

Original post by Yiheng

Thanks, what kind of reasons are justified and acceptable?

Self teaching 2 subjects and transitioning to a new country.

Reply 4

Yiheng

Original post by ageshallnot

Self teaching 2 subjects and transitioning to a new country.

So it's better if the teacher in my UK school write reference for me to illustrate those reasons than teachers in my original school ? It might be difficult to contact them especially for discussion of other details that I want them to mention in reference but they may not familiar with.