Friday, February 05, 2010

Muhammad Haikal Abdullah Zain, only 13 and ready for university


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For today's Talented Thursday, we'll look into this guy. A whiz kid to be exact who is only 13 years old but is ready to go for university. Let Abang Long introduce to you to this prodigy, Muhammad Haikal Abdullah Zain.

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.'

Read the full story in Friday's edition of The Straits Times.


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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.'

He added that applicants who seek admission to the university ahead of their peers must 'show evidence of exceptional talent and passion beyond good examination grades'. They must also be mature enough to deal with much older classmates and handle the demands of a broad-based university education.

The son of an engineer and a housewife, Haikal told The Straits Times at his family's maisonette home yesterday that he wanted to try the higher-level exams four years ago when he heard about Singaporean boy Ainan Cawley, who at seven became the youngest person in the world to pass the GCE O-level chemistry examination. 'I thought this guy was only seven and could get a C at the O-levels. Since I'm older I should be able to get an A,' he said.

During Haikal's study leave, he also took time off to pursue his other interests such as chess and computer programming. He has won medals at international and national competitions for chess, holds a Grade 8 certificate in violin, and practises taekwondo.

He studied for the exams without any coaching from anyone, said his mother.

Haikal said he has dreamt of studying medicine since he was six and hopes to become a neurologist because 'the brain controls almost all the functions of the body and I think it will be interesting to study how it works'.
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From what Abang Long have searched about this whiz kid, there are few things that I can say about Muhammad Haikal Abdullah Zain.

Time is definitely on this guy side.

He is 13 and is ready to be enrol to a local university. He sat for A-level equivalent papers last year in Maths, Physics, Biology and Chemistry and scored As in all four subjects. Muhammad Haikal is aiming for a place to study medicine at the National University of Singapore this year.

By the time Haikal complete his university studies, he's still in his teenage years. I hope he do make Singapore proud and I believe he can contribute a lot to Singapore.

From my research about Muhammad Haikal, he's an all-rounder.

2006
7th ASEAN Age-Group Championships 2006
Boys Under-10 section : Muhammad Haikal Abdullah Zain - 1st
Source


2007
Year 2007 Physical & Aesthetics Excellence
59th National Schools Individual Chess Championship 2007
AM Session - Category Open Boys, Open U11 - 1st Placing

48th National Inter-Schools Team Chess Championship 2007
Boys Under 11 - Muhd Haikal, Deborah Ng Wan Yun, Willard Tan, Vincent Ng Chek Thai, Matthew Lou Yong Xin - 1st

Year 2007 Academic Excellence
National Mathematical Olympiad Of Singapore : Haikal participated in the Individual Category


2008
Year 2008 Physical & Aesthetics Excellence
60th National Schools Individual Chess Championship 2008
Category Open U13, Muhd Haikal bin Abdullah Zain - 13th placing

Year 2008 Academic Excellence
RI Primary Mathematics World Contest 2008 (National)
Muhammad Haikal Bin Abdullah Zain
- Certificate of Distinction (Round 1)
- Certificate of High Distinction (Round 2) 5th in position
- Selected for further training at RI for further selection to represent S’pore in the 12th Primary Maths World Contest in Hong Kong in July 2008.
- Selected to represent Singapore to participate in the 12th Primary Maths World Contest in Hong Kong in July 2008. And he was awarded First Class Honour for individual performance.

Asia-Pacific Mathematical Olympiad For Primary Schools 2008 (Invitational Round)
Participant : Muhammad Haikal Bin Abdullah Zain

Singapore Mathematical Olympiad for Primary Schools
Platinum Awards : Muhammad Haikal Bin Abdullah Zain
Source


2009
Top 30 Individual Ranking for Singapore Mathematics Olympiad Competition 2009
A total of 4933 students took part in the Junior competition.
Rank No. 8: Muhammad Haikal Bin Abdullah Zain, NUS High School of Mathematics and Science
Source

He's someone that should be on the watchlist in the future. Go Haikal!

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