13 and ready for university

Muhammad Haikal Abdullah Zain, 13, is aiming for a place to study medicine at the National University of Singapore this year. He sat for A-level equivalent papers last year in Maths, Physics, Biology and Chemistry and scored As in all four subjects. -- ST PHOTO: DESMOND LIM

A SINGAPOREAN boy sat for the British equivalent of the GCE A-level examinations last year and aced all his papers - and he was not even 13 yet.

Muhammad Haikal Abdullah Zain, a former student of Rosyth School, scored straight As in Biology, Physics and Chemistry, which he took last November.

He turned 13 a month later and plans to apply to study medicine at the National University of Singapore (NUS).

The A-level exams Haikal sat last year carry the same weight as the GCE A levels taken by junior college students here, said the British Council, which administers the exam.

NUS confirmed it would accept students with those qualifications.

Said its office of admissions director R. Rajaram: 'We recently learnt of his interest in applying to NUS. We will be pleased to assess his application when we receive it.'