Rory Bidwell achieved the maximum score of 162 on the Cattell III-B test - despite not knowing anything about the test or preparing for it in advance, the North Devon Gazette reported.

Hawking and Einstein are both said to have had IQs of around 160.

Rory's mother, Abi Bidwell, told the newspaper her son was relaxed during the assessment and "even took a leisurely stroll to the toilet during one section".

Rory sat the two-hour test in Exeter a fortnight after his twelfth birthday and was reportedly invited to join Mensa days later.

Mensa is a society for people who have IQs in the top 2% of the public, as judged in standardised tests.

Ms Bidwell said her son had been "blessed with an incredible brain, capable of working things out and memorising information".

Rory displayed early signs of intelligence at the age of two when he completed 100-piece puzzles on his own, the North Devon Gazette reported.

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He was also said to have mastered Year 7 algebra when he was in Year 2 and read all seven Harry Potter books in the first eight weeks of the COVID-19 lockdown.

Besides academia, the Year 7 student at Great Torrington School was said to be a keen athlete, representing the school in cross-country, football, and rugby.

His mother said despite his abilities, he is still a normal 12-year-old who needs the occasional reminder to concentrate on schoolwork.