Mark Sim Ma Ke scored an A-grade in IGCSE Physics in his first attempt. He sat for the exam in Nov 2014 at the age of 8 years and 3 months. International General Certificate of Secondary Education (IGCSE) is of a similar standard to GCE ‘O’ levels. Mark represented his school, Nanyang Primary School in chess and was qualified for the chess national junior squad at the age of 6. In 2014, he received an ‘award for high honors in mathematical, verbal or spatial ability’ in the Johns Hopkins University International Talent Search. His parents are Harry Sim Lim Onn and Wun Ju Sing.