should I take a gap year to apply? (help)

I am an IB student graduating in spring.
My classes are maths AA hl, english literature hl, economics hl, chemistry sl, physics sl, and swedish sl. My goal is to study mathematics in university.
These past years I have cofounded a math club at school as well as worked with a software company to develop and create a mathematical model. The program we created will be released later this year. I have a bunch of academic awards from previous years in secondary (our school doesn't do awards during the last two years) and I attended a mathematics course at a local university during the last summer (and loved it). For predicted grades I have 42, with 776 in my hls (the 6 is in literature), but I think my school was too harsh on tok. They gave people too high scores last year so now they're not giving anyone 3 points. I think if I work really hard (which I will) I have a good chance in getting 43 points in the finals. Also, I'm not sure if this is relevent but I have competeted in sports both nationally and internationally.
Due to some circumstances, I was unable to apply to oxford this year and I think I kinda messed of tmua (for imperial).
If I take a gap year and study really hard for the entrance exams do you guys think I have a chance at oxford and/or imperial for maths next year?
If I take a gap year I was thinking of volunteering as a math tutor at a local organisation and preparing so I do well on the MAT and TMUA.
What do you guys think? Right now I dont know what to do and I kind of feel like a failure because all my friends are getting interviews at really prestigious universities and stuff...
Please give me any advice you guys have. Also sorry about the extremely long message.

Reply 1

jijohihiuhyiuhi

yes do it! im on my gap year right now and im resitting my a levels but i still have managed to get an interview from oxford.

Reply 2

n68r

Original post

by jijohihiuhyiuhi

yes do it! im on my gap year right now and im resitting my a levels but i still have managed to get an interview from oxford.

Hello, I also want to take a gap year since I think my predicted grades aren’t a good reflection of what I can achieve, however are you less likely to get into university if you apply with real grades?

Reply 3

jijohihiuhyiuhi

Original post

by n68r

no they dont unless it is maths or fine art that youre applying to. i definitely think you should go for it

Reply 4

n68r

Original post

by jijohihiuhyiuhi

no they dont unless it is maths or fine art that youre applying to. i definitely think you should go for it

I want to apply for Computer science, do you think that’ll matter? And I also wanted to try apply for Oxford as well, and how does reapplying affect MAT scores and things? Thanks!

Reply 5

jijohihiuhyiuhi

Original post

by n68r

I want to apply for Computer science, do you think that’ll matter? And I also wanted to try apply for Oxford as well, and how does reapplying affect MAT scores and things? Thanks!

no i dont think it will matter. you will have to retake the MAT. for MAT they won't see your last score. they will only see the score you get the year you apply (so next year's score will be the only one that counts).