Mahnoor Cheema, an 18-year-old girl has stunned the UK education system by getting an extraordinary 23 A-levels, all with grades of A and A*. What makes her story even more significant is that her IQ is measured at 161—one point higher than Stephen Hawking, a legendary physicist.
Mahnoor’s results have earned her an unconditional offer to study medicine at the University of Oxford, fulfilling a dream she has been carrying from childhood. But her journey was anything but smooth.
Despite her brilliance, Mahnoor was at one point challenged by her school over attendance issues.
Teachers at the Henrietta Barnett School (HBS) in north-west London initially objected to her wish to sit 31 A-levels, a target far beyond the norm. After negotiations, both sides agreed on 23—a workload still more than seven times the national average, as most students attempt only three.
Unflinching Passion for Knowledge
Mahnoor describes herself as someone who thrives under pressure. She dismisses the idea of burnout, calling it “a choice,” and insists she would have been “bored and understimulated” with only three A-levels.
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Her subjects ranged from Physics, Chemistry and Biology to law, politics, film studies, and Latin is a clear reflection of her wide-ranging curiosity and intellectual drive.
Her determination is not new. While at Langley Grammar School, she completed 24 GCSEs in her own time alongside the school curriculum, achieving an extraordinary 33 A*s and one A. By age 11, she had memorized much of the Oxford English Dictionary, and by six, she had read all the Harry Potter books.
Family Support and Future Plans
Tayyaba Cheema is Mahnoor’s mother, and she has a master’s degree in economics. She has been her strongest supporter. Her family had spent most of the years in Pakistan and returned to the UK in 2016, where Mahnoor’s unique abilities became increasingly evident.
Mahnoor was so surprised after checking the A-levels results. “There was never a world in my mind where I would not get in [to Oxford],” Mahnoor told this.
Her story is a true and inspiring example for students everywhere—that curiosity, hard work, and self-belief can give you any kind of success.