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Tot it up... Mikhail, 3 is sum genius
The precocious talents of Mensa's youngest member... with an IQ of 137
exclusive
by Vicki Shaw Health Reporter
HE'S the maths-mad toddler for whom it all adds up.
Tiny Mikhail Ali has become the youngest member of Mensa – aged just three.
The tot – who has an IQ of 137 – now ranks alongside computer boffin Sir Clive Sinclair and TV presenter Carol Vorderman as one of the top brains of Britain.
Mikhail, from Bramley, Leeds, underwent intensive psychological testing at York University before being accepted by the intelligence society – which only the top two per cent of the country are eligible to join.
Today mum Shamsun, 26, said: "We're incredibly proud of him.
"We knew he was a gifted child but we had no idea quite how gifted until now!
"Every day he amazes us, but underneath it all he's still our little boy, too. He still plays with his toys and demands food!"
Mikhail had to complete a series of gruelling tests, from maths and number sequences to logic and picture puzzles, under the close scrutiny of scientists.
His IQ – based on intelligence and age – came out as a whopping 137. The national average is 100.
But it's not just maths and logic little Mikhail's an expert at – he learnt to read and write basic words at the age of two.
And in the past year he's also mastered the Arabic alphabet.
He can spell much longer words like "elephant", can add and subtract four digit numbers and is now learning multiplication.
Surprising
In fact, so confident is he that he often plays tricks on Shamsun and husband Tahir, 37.
Shamsun said: "If I ask him to spell something and he knows he's being tested, he'll show off and spell it backwards.
"He's always shocking and surprising us. The other day he picked up a takeaway menu and was reading through all the words on it."
Mikhail has now started part-time in a nursery class, but ideally Shamsun and Tahir would like him to start school full-time.
However, each school they have asked have so far refused, saying Mikhail may not be "emotionally ready" to start lessons.
Shamsun said: "We really think he's ready to start school. He's progressing so quickly that it's difficult for us to keep him challenged."
Dad Tahir added: "We're keen for him to get on but we also want him to have a normal life. We don't want to put too much pressure on him."
Mensa spokeswoman Caroline Garbett confirmed that Mikhail was the youngest member on their books. The previous youngest entrant was an unidentified four-year-old, but at just three years and one month Mikhail beats that significantly.
She said: "It is very unusual for such a young child to join, but clearly Mikhail has all the credentials. He is in the top two per cent of the country for his age.
"We'd be very pleased to see him at our social events – though, for now, perhaps he had best bring a parent along."
vicki.shaw@ypn.co.uk
l Is your child a genius? Call the YEP newsdeck on 0113 2432701 extension 1917.
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Friday 10 February 2012
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