In the past weeks since A-level and GCSE results were released, teenagers have been making life-changing decisions.

The slips of paper listing their grades could be their passport to a new life at college, university or their first job.

But the heady mix of anxiety, disappointment and joy that so often hits home after results are released has passed GCSE pupil Alexander Gordon-Brown by.

Instead of worrying about his career prospects, Alexander is more preoccupied with his Pokemon card collection.

For the pupil who scooped an A* pass at maths GCSE is just nine years old.

His proud mum Erica, of Farlington Close, Haywards Heath, said: "He is just a normal cheeky boy who happens to be brainy."

Alexander's age is not the only thing that differs from most other successful GCSE students.

His revision techniques are certainly something which teachers would probably not normally recommend.

The night before sitting his maths exams, Alexander, then eight, settled down in front of the television to watch four hours of his favourite cartoon Pokemon.

At his first school in London, he was soon academically years ahead of his school pals.

By six he had passed maths exams written for 11-year-olds and a year later he sailed through tests designed for 13-year-olds.

In January Alexander started working on the GCSE syllabus for an hour a week with private tutor Keith Hudson. Erica said: "The only reason he started studying for it is that there is nothing else to challenge him academically."

After starting lessons with Mr Hudson, Alexander's mathematical brain soon put his mum to shame.

She said: "He came home with an exam paper one night but I just put it in a drawer because I couldn't do it."

The Tavistock and Summer Hill Prep School pupil seemed nonplussed about his academical achievements.

He said: "I'm still with my tutor studying parts of the A-level syllabus but I don't really talk about it with my friends."

Despite his GCSE success, his parents do not want to take him out of school or plan for him to sit more exams.

Erica said: "He is a social child who loves going to school.

"Unfortunately it seems working towards exams are the only things available for him to do but I think it is lovely to get results with your friends."