Predicted vs Achieved grades

Hi I’m probably gonna be taking a gap year and reapplying but I’m only planning on doing this if I achieve A*A*A for my final a levels. I plan on applying for economics with entry requirements being A*AA. I’m wondering if unis would prefer a student with achieved A*A*A or a student with predicted A*A*A* and the unis would be those such as King’s, Bath, UCL, Warwick those types

There would unlikely be significant differences in chances between predicted A*A*A* and achieved A*A*A, if all others (PS etc) are the same. Except that you would get unconditional with achieved grades.
If you have predicted A*A*A*, why bother thinking of gap year?

thanks, the reason I’m thinking Of a gap year is because I got rejected from 4/5 of my unis albeit one of them was Cambridge so fair enough

Very sorry to learn that. To be blunt, what is your offer in hand?
You do not need to decide now. Firm your offer and focus at your exam and strive for your best grades. You still have chances as a number of RG law schools went into Clearing last year (like Cardiff and Sheffield; Nottigham very briefly).
Repeating the most important advice, focus at your exam and strive for your best grades. Leave all others until after the exam.

Right now I have Exeter for economics for A*AA which I was planning on firming anyways since it’s still a good uni for my course and in case my a levels go to shambles

That's a good offer!
Do come back. TSR is always here to help.