Help! Gap year or take 4 A2 Subjects in O/N?

I'm just abt to start my 2nd year of alevels. I took my as levels last month and am expecting my results by august.

The only universities I want to enter are NUS and NTU. Due to financial reasons, it's a must for me to get the ASEAN Undergraduate Scholarship.

If I take O/N 26, I can apply for the 27 intake. If I take M/J 27, I'll have to take a gap year and apply for the 2028 intake.

I'm not too sure abt my AS Level grades. I'm predicting AAAB (B in Chem). To be considered for the scholarship, the standard is 4 A stars.

If I choose to not take a gap year, I'd have to take A2 in O/N 2026. As of now, I've only covered 1 chapter in Biology and nothing else. I pretty much did nothing through out my break as I felt very burnt out. I know I won't be able to cover, much less master, all 4 A2 syllabus in less than 3 months.

Not only that, I also do not have enough impressive ECs/achievements. I can participate in SEAMO, Biology comps, etc, but more possible to get awards if I take my a2 in M/J 27.

I'm scared that if I do take a gap year, I'll have fomo and feel very unproductive. There's not much competitions I can participate in without representing a school.

But then, if I do take a gap year, I can maybe earn some money, start my own research or projects, find more ectracurriculars, and learn more skills (AI/coding).